Supermarkets mislabeled oilfish filet as codfish filet. Stores claimed whelk pieces as abalone slides. 'Fraudulent substitutions' is hot in the city. They damage the confidence of both locals and tourists in food products in Hong Kong.

The Innovative and Technology Commission of the Hong Kong Government funded a HK$3 million project 'First-Stage Development of Platform for Authentication of Dried Seafood and Tonic Food Products'. The leader of the project is Professor Kwan Hoi Shan, Director of the Food Research Centre at CUHK. The project aims to develop a database and platform with morphological data and DNA sequences of common dried seafood and tonic food products in Hong Kong. This platform enables the government, local industry, and testing laboratories to monitor food products with DNA sequence markers. The second target of the project is to develop a rapid DNA-based diagnostic kit for species authentication. Laboratories can quickly distinguish genuine products from the fake ones with the database and the kit.

With these efficient quality assurance controls, mislabeling and fraudulent substitution in the local markets can be controlled. The project will contribute to food safety and enhance the reputation of the local food market.

Professor Kwan received a Bronze Bauhinia Star (BBS) of 2012 for his meritorious public and community service, particularly his contribution to promoting food safety and quality assurance.

KwanHS 1    KwanHS 2   KwanHS 3

Address

(Office): Rm 201A, Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory
(Lab): Rm 201, Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory

 People LM Tsang 

Phone

(Office): (852) 3943 3057
(Lab): (852) 3943 6775
Fax (852) 2603 5391
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web https://www.mmeelab.com/
 

 

Education

2010 PhD (Biology), The Chinese University of  Hong Kong
2007 MPhil (Biology), The Chinese University of  Hong Kong
2005 BSc (Biology), The Chinese University of  Hong Kong

Positions

  • 2025-present    Associate Professor, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
  • 2018-2025         Assistant Professor, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
  • 2016-2018         Associate Professor, Institute of Marine Biology, National Taiwan Ocean University
  • 2013-2016         Assistant Professor, Institute of Marine Biology, National Taiwan Ocean University
  • 2010-2013         Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Research Interests

  • Phylogeny and genome evolution of crustaceans
  • Molecular ecology of marine invertebrates
  • Marine biodiversity, biogeography and conservation
 

Representative Publications

  1. Tsang CTT, Hui TKL, Chung NM, Yuen WT, Tsang LM* (2024) Comparative analysis of gut microbiome of mangrove brachyuran crabs revealed patterns of phylosymbiosis and codiversification. Molecular Ecology 33: e17377<.
  2. Hui TKL, Lo ICN, Wong KKW, Tsang CTT, Tsang LM* (2024) Metagenomic analysis of gut microbiome illuminates the mechanisms and evolution of lignocellulose degradation in mangrove herbivorous crabs. BMC Microbiology 24:57.
  3. Chow LH, Ahyong ST, Tsang CTT, Lam YF, Naruse T, Ng PKL, Tsang LM* (2023) Shift in symbiotic lifestyle as the major process shaping the evolution of pinnotheroid crabs (Decapoda: Brachyura). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 188:107904.
  4. Chow LH, Yu VPF, Kho ZY, See GCL, Wang A, Baker DM, Tsang LM* (2022) An updated checklist of sea slugs (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia) from Hong Kong supported by citizen science. Zoological Studies 61:52.
  5. Tsang CTT, Schubart CDS, Chu KH, Ng PKL, Tsang LM* (2022) Molecular phylogeny of Thoracotremata crabs (Decapoda, Brachyura): Toward adopting monophyletic superfamilies, invasion history into terrestrial habitats and multiple origins of symbiosis. Molecular Phylogenetic and Evolution 177:107596.
  6. Chow LH, De Grave S, Tsang LM* (2021) Evolution of protective symbiosis in palaemonid shrimps (Decapoda: Caridea) with emphases on host spectrum and morphological adaptations (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea). Molecular Phylogenetic and Evolution 162:107201.
  7. Lee BY, Wakabayashi K, Sin SYW, Ohtsuka S, Tsang LM* (2021) DNA metabarcoding revealed interspecific dietary difference and prey selectivity in juvenile horseshoe crabs Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda and Tachypleus tridentatus from Hong Kong. Frontiers in Marine Science 8:752806.
  8. Ma KY, Qin J, Lin C-W, Chan T-Y, Ng PKL, Chu KH, Tsang LM* (2019) Phylogenomic analyses of brachyuran crabs support early divergence of primary freshwater crabs. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 135:62-66.
  9. Tsang LM, Schubart CD, Ahyong ST, Lai JCY, Au EYC, Chan TY, Ng PKL, Chu KH (2014) Evolutionary history of true crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura) and the origins of freshwater crabs. Molecular Biology and Evolution 31:1173-1187.
  10. Tsang LM, Chan T-Y, Ahyong ST, Chu KH (2011) Hermit to king, or hermit to all: Multiple transitions to crab-like forms from hermit crab ancestors. Systematic Biology 60:616-629.

Research Grants

  • 2025-2027, Research Grants Council (RGC) GRF, A genus-level tree of life for Decapoda: disentangling the factors driving speciation and diversity distribution in marine invertebrates, HK$1,545,203
  • 2024-2026, Research Grants Council (RGC) GRF, Multi-omics study on the lignocellulose degradation by holobionts in mangrove sesarmid crabs: a game-changer for terrestrialization, HK$1,565,590
  • 2023-2025, Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF), Discovering Hong Kong sea slug diversity, distribution and habitat preference through joint effort of scientific survey and citizen scientist programme, HK$1,365,000
  • 2023-2025, Lantau Conservation Fund (LCF), Investigating the impacts of flow regulation on the ecosystem functioning and fauna connectivity in ecologically important freshwater streams of Lantau: implications to habitat restoration and biodiversity enhancement, HK$1,725,880
  • 2022-2024, Marine Conservation Enhancement Fund (MCEF), Study on the diversity and distribution of octocoral community and associated invertebrates in southern waters of Hong Kong, HK$1,359,600
  • 2022-2023, Marine Ecology Enhancement Fund (MEEF), Genetic connectivity of octocoral populations in South and Western Hong Kong water: implications to conservation management of deep-water community, HK$595,100
  • 2021-2024, Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF), Study on coral reef crustaceans - Identifying the biodiversity hotspot and promoting marine conservation, HK$1,191,800
  • 2020-2024, Research Grants Council (RGC) GRF, On the origin of Southwest China biodiversity hotspot: A biogeographic study of atyid shrimps, HK$996,285
  • 2020-2022, Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF), Integrated systematics and conservation genomics of Platygyra and Porites corals in Hong Kong - Resolving taxonomic uncertainties and promoting coral conservation, HK$1,040,600
  • 2020-2022, Research Grants Council (RGC) GRF, Phylosymbiosis of mangrove dominant Sesarmidae crabs (Crustacea: Brachyura): insights into mechanisms of adaptive radiation in herbivorous crustaceans, HK$1,039,124

Award

  • 2012, Higher Education Outstanding Scientific Research Output Award, in the category of Natural Sciences (Second Class), from the Ministry of Education (MoE), China

 

 

 

 

Cerebellum is a region of the brain concerned primarily with the maintenance of posture and balance and the coordination of movement. Disease or damage to it can result in abnormalities of motor control. The culprit is exceptionally elusive if it runs in the family of the sufferer. That is why Spinocerebellar Ataxia, or SCAs, the group of rare genetic diseases that causes progressive deterioration of the nervous system, particularly the cerebellum, is at present considered incurable. SCA patients gradually lose the fine motor functions of their bodies. Although their minds are fully clear and active, they often have blurred speech and vision.

Our research team has unveiled that, among the 40 odd subtypes of Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCAs), one group known as polyglutamine (polyQ) is the result of cell death in the neurons of the brain that disrupts the function of the cerebellum. Having identified the pathogenic process termed nucleolar stress, we managed to identify a peptide out of a family of six to act as a decoy for the toxic RNA to prey on, thus relieving the nucleolin to function normally. Collaborating with scientists in different countries, we developed a novel drug called P3 peptide inhibitor that could pass through the blood-brain barrier. This peptide inhibitor drug is a promise of help for patients suffering from polyQ and a number of fatal, inherited neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's disease. It also carries the potential to be developed to treat others not so rare neurodegenerative diseases. Most importantly, peptide drugs are desirable for treating brain diseases because of its low toxicity. Well known for its specificity and can reach target cells precisely, they are also very potent so that the amount to be administered could be concise. So far P3 has already come to its 31st version, after the concerted efforts in Denmark and France.

Edwin2   Edwin1
 

Director

Chan, Ho Yin Edwin 陳浩然
Biochemical and genetic studies of human diseases

 

Professor

Au, Wing Ngor Shannon 區詠娥
Molecular and structural biology
Chan, Michael Kenneth 陳文博
Protein Crystallography and Chemical Biology
Chan, Ting Fung 陳廷峰
RNomics and bioinformatics in biological processes and diseases; Platform development for structural variation detection and comparative analysis of complex genomic variation
Cheung, Chi Keung Peter 張志強
Structure-function of cell wall polysaccharides/dietary fiber; Fungal/mushroom bioactive substances; Prebiotics, probiotics and gut microbiome
Hui, Ho Lam Jerome 許浩霖
Insect and arthropod biology, cnidarians, invertebrates, animal-plant interactions, marine biotechnology, molecular ecology and conservation of biodiversity, evolutionary biology, genomics
Jiang, Liwen 姜里文
Plant cell and molecular biology; Protein targeting and trafficking in plant cells; Organelle biogenesis and function in plants; and Plant biotechnology
Kang, Byung Ho 姜秉昊
Plant Cell Biology; 3D electron microscopy
Kwan, Kin Ming 關健明
Genetic Control of Organogenesis in Development
Lam, Hon Ming 林漢明
Plant and agricultural biotechnology
 Lau, Kwok Fai 劉國輝
Molecular neuroscience
Tsang, Suk Ying Faye 曾淑瑩
Stem cell biology and Cardiovascular physiology;
Wong, Kam Bo 黃錦波
Using structural biology (NMR, X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM) to understand the molecular mechanism of life; The maturation pathway of urease; Vacuolar sorting in plant cells; Protein Engineering, Design, Simulation and Modelling


Associate Professor

Chen, Sijie 陳斯杰
Fluorescent materials and fluorescence-based technologies
Guo, Dianjing 郭殿京
Computational and systems biology; and Plant genomics and metabolomics
Luo, Haiwei 羅海偉
Microbial evolution and ecology; genomics; bioinformatics
Ngo, Chi Ki Jacky 敖志祺
Structure-function relationship of macromolecules; Structure-based drug discovery; Kinase-substrate interaction and phosphorylation mechanisms
Tsang, Ling Ming 曾令銘
Phylogeny and genome evolution of crustaceans; Molecular ecology of marine invertebrates; Marine biodiversity, biogeography and conservation
Tsui, Tsz Ki Martin 徐子祺
Environmental pollution; ecosystem biogeochemistry; stable isotope applications
Wong, Wing Tak Jack 黃永德
Vascular and metabolic biology; Stem cell biology; and Cardiovascular regeneration
Zhong, Silin 鍾思林
Epigenetics and genomics; Hormone signaling network; Fruit ripening; and Sequencing technology


Assistant Professor

CHEN, Zhefan Stephen 陳哲凡
Neurobiology of primary cilium; Pathogenic mechanisms of human neurological diseases; Human stem cells and their neuronal derivatives
Chow, Hei Man Kim 周熙文
Metabolic changes in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia; Neuronal senescence and brain aging
Li, Cheng 李成
Starch structure-function relationships; Carbohydrates and health; Cereal chemistry and processing
 Mcilroy, Shelby E. 麥瑞比
Ecology and Evolution of Coral Symbioses; The Impact of Anthropogenic Change on Marine Biodiversity.
Pittman, Michael 文嘉棋
Dinosaur-to-bird transition - feathered dinosaur anatomy, systematics, biology and evolution; Other dinosaur biology and evolution; Lagerstätten & fossilised soft tissues - imaging, geochemistry and palaeobiology
Thibodeau, Benoit
Ocean Biogeochemical Dynamics; Stable Isotope Geochemistry; Anthropogenic impacts; Paleoceanography & paleoclimate
Wang, Guanqun 王冠群
Transcriptional regulation mediated by RNA modifications for the crop improvement; RNA modifications in regulation of crop hybrid vigor
Zhuang, Xiaohong 庄小紅
Autophagy and autophagosome formation in plants and green algae; Signalling mechanisms of selective autophagy in plant stress resistance; Lipid metabolism and membrane dynamics


Research Professor

Chen, Zhenyu 陳振宇
Food and Nutrition
Shaw, Pang Chui 邵鵬柱
Protein structure and function study; and Quality control and authentication of Chinese medicinal material

Research Associate Professor

He, Junxian 何軍賢
Hormone signal transduction and signaling cross-talks in plants; Plant stress resistance and application in agriculture

Research Assistant Professor

Cheng, Kaihao 程愷豪
Spectral biology in coastal health and food security; Precision agriculture and plant physiology; Ecological remote sensing; Coastal algal blooms and fecal pollution
 Chui, Pui Yi Apple 崔佩怡
Impact of climate change on marginal coral communities; Interventions that might increase coral resilience; Coral restoration
 Lao, Xiangzhou 勞祥周
Fluorescence microscopy; Fluorescent materials; Spectroscopy; Optical instrumentation; Cellular structures
 Liang, Zizhen 梁子臻
Organelle dynamics in developing pollens; Plastid transformation in Arabidopsis cotyledon; 3D electron microscopy, cryo-electron microscopy
 Zhai, Liting 翟麗婷
Structure-function study (using X-ray crystallography and Cryo-EM) of the molecular mechanism in bacteria and plant; Structural and functional study of suppressors of free1 in plant


Senior Lecturer

Chiu, Chi Ming Lawrence 招志明
Cell signaling in apoptosis; Reversal of drug resistance in cancer cells by targeting their apoptosis signaling pathways with bioactive molecules; and Applications of flow cytometry
Koon, Chun Alex 管進
Synaptic plasticity; Neurodegenerative and neuromuscular diseases; Drosophila neurobiology; Science communication; and Humour as a pedagogical approach


Lecturer

Kwek, Erika
Food Processing Technology and Product Development; Fat and Cholesterol Metabolism; Gut Microbiota Regulation
Li, Yuk Man Charis 李毓雯
Fat and cholesterol metabolism; Anti-aging and nutraceutical; and Food Toxicology
Law, Man Suet Michelle 羅文雪
Earthworm Ecology and Biodiversity; Soils and the Environment; Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Functioning; and Sustainability & Environmental Researches Management
Lo, Fai Hang 羅輝恒
Cancer and natural product research; Immunobiology; Molecular endocrinology; Neurogenetics; Wilderness medicine education
Ngai, Hung Kui 魏雄鉅
Protein biochemistry; Metabolic diseases
Siow, Lam Nina 蕭琳
Molecular and cellular neuroscience; cell signaling and gene regulation
Yam, Kwan Mei 任君美
Molecular biology; Endocrinology; Popular science promotion; and Learning & teaching methodologies
Yip, Pui Sze Peggy 葉珮詩
Community nutrition; Public health; and Nutrition education and promotion


Assistant Lecturer

Sin Man Ching Daisy 冼雯菁
Nutrition education and behavioral modification; Weight and chronic disease management; Food, health and environmental sustainability

Director

Wong, Kam Bo 黃錦波
 Structure-function studies of proteins; Structural basis of protein thermostability; and Structural studies of proteins by NMR and X-Ray crystallography

Professor

Chan, Ho Yin Edwin 陳浩然
 Biochemical and genetic studies of human diseases
 Chan, Michael Kenneth 陳文博
 Protein Crystallography and Chemical Biology
Chen, Zhenyu 陳振宇
 Food and nutrition
Cheung, Chi Keung Peter 張志強
 Structure-function of cell wall polysaccharides/dietary fiber; Fungal/mushroom bioactive substances; Prebiotics, probiotics and gut microbiome
Chu, Ka Hou 朱嘉濠
 Molecular systematics and ecology; Marine biotechnology and genomics; Crustacean biology; Seafood allergy
Fong, Wing Ping 方永平
 Structure and function study of antiquitin; and Anti-cancer activities of novel photosensitizers
Jiang, Liwen 姜里文
 Plant cell and molecular biology; Protein targeting and trafficking in plant cells; Organelle biogenesis and function in plants; and Plant biotechnology
Kong, Siu Kai 江紹佳
 CBiol; MIBiol; Mitochondria as regulators of cell death; Erythropoiesis and apoptosis; Cancer biochemistry; and Development of biosensors
Lam, Hon Ming 林漢明
 Plant and agricultural biotechnology
Lee, Shing Yip Joe 李成業
 Ecology and biogeochemistry of estuarine wetlands such as mangroves and saltmarshes; Application of stable isotopes in marine environmental research; Marine ecosystem dynamics, rehabilitation and restoration
Shaw, Pang Chui 邵鵬柱
 Protein structure and function study; and Quality control and authentication of Chinese medicinal material
Wong, Po Keung 王保強
Environmental biotechnology/microbiology; Ecotoxicology; and Environmental technology/management


Associate Professor

Au, Wing Ngor Shannon 區詠娥
Molecular and structural biology
Chan, King Ming 陳竟明
Fish endocrinology and Aquatic toxicology
Chan, Ting Fung 陳廷峰
RNomics and bioinformatics in biological processes and diseases; Platform development for structural variation detection and comparative analysis of complex genomic variation
Chu, Lee Man 朱利民
Industrial ecology; Restoration ecology; Pollution studies
Chung, Hau Yin 鍾厚賢
Food flavor; Food quality; Bioactive components from food and herb in health; and Food by-product utilization
Guo, Dianjing 郭殿京
Computational and systems biology; and Plant genomics and metabolomics
Kang, Byung Ho 姜秉昊
Plant Cell Biology; 3D electron microscopy
Kwan, Kin Ming 關健明
Genetic Control of Organogenesis in Development
Lau, Kwok Fai 劉國輝
Molecular neuroscience
Leung, Lai Kwok 梁禮國
Food toxicology
Ngai, Sai Ming 倪世明
Bioinformatics and proteomics; Protein/Peptide biochemistry; PTMs, structural and functional studies; and Research and development on modern Chinese medicine
Tsang, Suk Ying Faye 曾淑瑩
Stem cell biology and Cardiovascular physiology

Assistant Professor

He, Junxian 何軍賢
Hormone signal transduction in plants; Nitrogen signaling and nitrogen use efficiency of plants; Functional genomics of pant stress resistance
Hui, Ho Lam Jerome 許浩霖
 microRNA biology; animal evolution; comparative endocrinology; genomics and transcriptomics; and arthropods, marine and freshwater invertebrates
Laura, Falkenberg
 Global change biology – particularly ocean acidification and warming; Marine ecosystem dynamics, shifts, and resistance/resilience; Herbivore-autotroph ecophysiology, behaviour, and interactions; Socio-economic consequences of environmental change
Luo, Haiwei 羅海偉
 Microbial evolution and ecology; genomics; bioinformatics
Ngo, Chi Ki Jacky 敖志祺
Structural biology
Tsang, Ling Ming 曾令銘 
Biogeography and conservation genetictructural biology; Evolution and phylogeny of crustaceans; and Molecular ecology of marine animals
Wong, Wing Tak Jack 黃永德
Vascular and metabolic biology; Stem cell biology; and Cardiovascular regeneration
Zhong, Silin 鍾思林
Epigenetics and genomics; Hormone signaling network; Fruit ripening; and Sequencing technology


Research Professor

Kwan, Hoi Shan 關海山
Food safety, microbiology, chemistry and biotechnology; Fungal and crustacean genetics; Molecular biology and genomics; and Molecular analysis of Chinese medicine and food

Research Associate Professor

Ang, Put O Jr. 伍澤賡
 Marine Benthic Ecology and Phylogeography; Coral Reef Ecology and Biology; Seaweed Ecology, Eco-physiology and application; and Conservation biology


Research Assistant Professor

Chen, Liyuan 陳麗媛
Investigate the versatile functions of Plant E3 ligases; Determine the dynamic functions of stem cells expressed proteins in plants; and Identify the transcription regulatory networks of plant hormone signal pathways
 Koon, Chun Alex 管進
Synaptic plasticity; Neurodegenerative diseases; Neurobiology; Developmental biology
Lau, Wilson Chun Yu 劉振宇
Cryo-electron microscopy; Structural biology
Qin, Jing 覃靜
 Bioinformatics; Integrative omics approaches for gene regulation studies; Gene regulatory networks; Marine genomics; Stem cell and cancer multi-omics
Zhang, Shoudong 張守棟
Plant mobile macromolecules, Plant epigenetics and alternative splicing, plant adaptive mechanisms to harsh environments


Senior Lecturer

Chiu, Chi Ming Lawrence 招志明
 Cell signaling in apoptosis; Reversal of drug resistance in cancer cells by targeting their apoptosis signaling pathways with bioactive molecules; and Applications of flow cytometry


Lecturer

Chow, Cheung Ming Cherry 周祥明
Plant cell biology; and Membrane trafficking
 Chui, Pui Yi Apple 崔佩怡
Reproductive and larval ecology of corals; Coral recruitment dynamics; Reef restoration using sexually reared corals
Lo, Fai Hang 羅輝恒
 Molecular cell biology, cancer Research; natural product research
 Ngai, Hung Kui 魏雄鉅
Protein biochemistry; Metabolic diseases
Pang, Kok Shuen Iris 彭珏琁
Immunology; Innate activation of adaptive immunity; Pathogen recognition by innate receptors; Influenza virus infection; Immune regulation by commensal bacteria
Siow, Lam Nina 蕭琳
Molecular and cellular neuroscience; cell signaling and gene regulation
Yam, Kwan Mei 任君美
Molecular biology; Endocrinology; Popular science promotion; and Learning & teaching methodologies
Yip, Pui Sze Peggy 葉珮詩
 Community nutrition; Public health; and Nutrition education and promotion

Assistant Lecturer

Chu, Kin Kan Astley 朱建勤
Food Processing Technology and Product Development; and Teaching Material Development in Food Science

Part-time Lecturer

Chung, Kwok Cheong 鍾國昌
Aquaculture, Systematics and reproduction of teleost fish; and Recirculated aquaculture systems