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Prof. Hector Sun-on Chan

Professor Hector Sun-on Chan

Associate Vice-President (Education)
Head, New Asia College
Professor and Associate Director, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine

BSc, MPhil (CUHK), DPhil (Oxon)

Curriculum Vitae

Education & CUHK Employment

Education

  • 1986, BSc (Biology), First Class Honours, CUHK
  • 1988, MPhil (Basic Medical Sciences), CUHK
  • 1991, DPhil (Medicine/Neuroscience), Oxford

CUHK Employment

  • 2022-present, Associate Vice-President
  • 2021-present, Head of New Asia College
  • 2021-present, Associate Director (External Links), School of Biomedical Sciences
  • 2017-2021, Associate Director (Undergraduate Education), School of Biomedical Sciences
  • 2010-2020, Associate Head, New Asia College
  • 2009-2020, Dean of General Education, New Asia College
  • 2009-present, Professor, School of Biomedical Sciences
  • 2004-2021, Assistant Dean (Education), Faculty of Medicine
  • 2002-2009, Professor, Department of Anatomy
  • 1998-2000, Dean of Students, New Asia College
  • 1991-2002, Lecturer/Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy

Research Interests

  • Roles of axon growth regulating molecules in development of neural connections in the brain.
  • Signaling mechanisms of growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor in ocular diseases.
  • Protective and therapeutic effects of green tea extract on eye diseases.

Honours & Awards

  • 2000-2014, 10 awards: Teacher of the Year Award, Faculty of Medicine, CUHK
  • 2005, Master Teacher, Faculty of Medicine, CUHK
  • 2012, Vice-Chancellor’s Exemplary Teaching Award 2011
  • 2005, Visiting Professor, Shantou University Medical College, China

Selected Community & Professional Services

  • Section Editor in Chief (Neurology), Biomedical Research and Clinical Practice
  • Member, Editorial Board, Developmental Biology, BioMed Research International
  • Member, Editorial Board, Chinese Journal of Neuroanatomy
  • Member, Chinese Society for Anatomical Sciences
  • Member, Hong Kong Society for Developmental Biology
  • Member, The Hong Kong Institution of Science
  • Deacon and member, Board of Trustees of the Christian Fellowship Centre
  • Program Faculty in “Basic Sciences” subspecialty, International Ophthalmology Fellowship Program, organized by CUHK-HKEH-PWH
  • Reviewer, The Wellcome Trust, UK
  • Reviewer, National Natural Science Foundation of China, High Impact Project Grant
  • Reviewer, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Major International (Regional) Joint Research Projects
  • Chief Examiner in Basic Sciences for the Examination in Professional Knowledge of the Licensing Examination (First Sitting) of Medical Council of Hong Kong

Selected Publications

  • Qin, Y.J., Zhang, Y.L., Zhang, Y.Q., He, B.T., Wang, S., Yu, H.H., Chan, S.O., Zhang, H.Y. (2022). Elevated level of uric acid, but not glucose, in aqueous humor as a risk factor for diabetic macular edema in patients with type 2 diabetes. Retina 42:1121–1129.
  • Cen, L.P., Ng, T.K., Liang, J.J., Xu, C.Y., Zhuang, X., Liu, Y.F., Chen, S.L., Xu, Y.X., Yang, Q.C., Yuan, X.L., Qin, Y.J., Chan, S.O., Chen, H.Y., Zhang, M.Z., Schally, A.V., Pang, C.P. (2021). Agonist of growth hormone releasing-hormone enhances retinal ganglion cell protection induced by macrophages after optic nerve injury. Proceedings of National Academy of Science USA, 118 (28) e1920834118.
  • Du, L., Yip, Y.W.Y., Ng, H.K., Ho, B.M., He, J.N., Chan, S.O., Pang, C.P., Chu, W.K. (2021). Ruxolitinib alleviates uveitis caused by Salmonella typhimurium endotoxin. Microorganisms 9:1481.
  • Qin, Y.J., Chan, S.O., Lin, H.L., Zhang, Y.Q., He, B.T., Zhang, L., Yu, H.H., Chu, W.K., Pang, C.P., & Zhang, H.Y. (2020) Increased expression of growth hormone-releasing hormone in fibrinous inflammation of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. American Journal of Ophthalmology 215:81-90.
  • Liang, W.C., Ren, J.L., Yu, Q.X., Ng, T.K., Chu, W.K., Qin, Y.J., Chu, K.O., Schally, A.V., Pang, C.P., & Chan, S.O. (2020) Signaling mechanisms of growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor in LPS-induced acute ocular inflammation. Proceedings of National Academy of Science USA 117(11):6067-6074.
  • Ren, J.L., Yu, Q.X, Ma, D., Liang, W.C., Leung, P.Y., Ng, T.K., Chu, W.K., Schally, A.V., Pang, C.P., & Chan, S.O. (2019). Growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor mediates cytokine production in ciliary and iris epithelial cells during LPS-induced ocular inflammation. Experimental Eye Research, 181, 277-284.
  • Hu, F., Liu, H., Su, D.Q., Chen, H., Chan, S.O., Wang, Y., & Wang, J. (2019). Nogo-A promotes inflammatory heat hyperalgesia by maintaining TRPV1 function through stabilization of actin cytoskeleton in the rat dorsal root ganglion neuron. FASEB Journal, 33, 668-682. doi: 10.1096/fj.201800382RR.
  • Ren, J.L., Yu, Q.X., Liang, W.C., Leung, P.Y., Ng, T.K., Chu, W.H., Pang, C.P., & Chan, S.O. (2018). Green tea extract attenuates LPS-induced retinal inflammation in rats. Scientific Reports, 8, 429, doi:10.1038/s41598-017-18888-5.
  • Qin, Y.J., Chu, W.K., Huang, L., Ng, C.H.Y., Chan, T.C.Y., Cao, D., Yang, C., Zhang, L., Huang, S.P., Li, J., Lin, H.L., Li, W.Q., Chen, L., Schally, A.V., Chan, S.O., Zhang, H.Y., & Pang, C.P. (2018). Induction of apoptosis in pterygium cells by antagonists of growth hormone-releasing hormone receptors. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, 59, 5060-5066.
  • Liang, W.C., Ren, J.L., Wong, C.W., Chan, S.O., Waye, M.M.Y., Fu, W.M., & Zhang, J.F. (2018). LncRNA-NEF antagonized epithelial to mesenchymal transition and cancer metastasis via cis-regulating FOXA2 and inactivating Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Oncogene, 37(11), 1445-1456. doi: 10.1038/s41388-017-0041-y.
  • Li, J., Ren, J., Yip, Y.W.Y., Zhang, X., Chu, K.O., Ng, T.K., Chan, S.O., Pang, C.P., & Chu, W.K. (2017). Quantitative characterization of autoimmune uveoretinitis in an experimental mouse model. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, 58, 4193-4200. DOI:10.1167/iovs.17-22436.
  • Wang, L., Yu, C., Wang, J., Leung, P., Ma, D., Zhao, H., Taylor, J.S.H., & Chan, S.O. (2017). Nogo-B is the major form of Nogo at the floor plate and likely mediates crossing of commissural axons in the mouse spinal cord. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 525, 2915-2928. doi: 10.1002/cne.24246.
  • Chu, W.K., Law, K.S., Chan, S.O., Yam, J.C.S.Y., Chen, L.J., Zhang, H., Cheung, H.S., Block, N.L., Schally, A.V., & Pang, C.P. (2016). Antagonists of growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor induce apoptosis specifically in retinoblastoma cells. Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences of The United States of America, 113(50), 14396-14401. doi:10.1073/pnas.1617427113.
  • Yang, Y.P., Qin, Y.J., Yip, Y.W.Y., Chan, K.P., Chu, K.O., Chu, W.K., Ng, T.K., Pang, C.P., & Chan, S.O. (2016). Green tea catechins are potent anti-oxidants that ameliorate sodium iodate-induced retinal degeneration in rats. Scientific Reports, 6, 29546, doi:10.1038/srep29546.
  • Wang, L., Wang, J., Ma, D., Taylor, J.S., & Chan, S.O. (2016). Isoform Specific Localization of Nogo Protein in the Optic Pathway of Mouse Embryos. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 524, 2322-2334.
  • Qin, Y.J., Chan, S.O., Chong, K.K.L., Li, B.F.L., Ng, T.K., Yip, Y.W.Y., Chen, H., Zhang, M., Block, N.L., Cheung, H.S., Schally, A.V., & Pang, C.P. (2014). Antagonist of GH-releasing hormone receptors alleviates experimental ocular inflammation. Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences of The United States of America, 111, 18303-18308.
  • Qin, Y.J., Chu, K.O., Yip, Y.W.Y., Li, W.Y., Yang, Y.P., Chan, K.P., Ren, J.L., Chan, S.O., & Pang, C.P. (2014). Green tea extract treatment alleviates ocular inflammation in a rat model of endotoxin-induced uveitis. PLoS ONE, 9, e103995, pp. 1-12.
  • Yang, Y., Ng, T.K., Ye, C., Yip, Y.W.Y., Law, K.S., Chan, S.O., & Pang, C.P. (2014). Assessing sodium iodate induced outer retinal changes in rats using confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy and optical coherence tomography. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 55, 1696-1705.
  • Wang, J., Chan, C.K., Taylor, J.S.H., & Chan, S.O. (2008). The growth inhibitory protein, Nogo, is involved in midline routing of axons in the mouse optic chiasm. Journal of Neuroscience Research, 86, 2581-2590.
  • Wang, J., Chan, C.K., Taylor, J.S.H., & Chan, S.O. (2008). Localization of Nogo and its receptor in the optic pathway of mouse embryos. Journal of Neuroscience Research, 86, 1721-1733.
  • Lin, L., Wang, J., Chan, C.K., & Chan, S.O. (2007). Effects of exogenous hyaluronan on midline crossing and axon divergence in the optic chiasm of mouse embryos. European Journal of Neuroscience, 26, 1-11.
  • Chung, K.Y., Leung, K.M., Lin, C.C., Tam, K.C., Hao, Y.L., Taylor, J.S.H., & Chan, S.O. (2004). Regionally specific expression of L1 and sialylated NCAM in the retinofugal pathway of mouse embryos. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 471, 482-498.
  • Lin, L., & Chan, S.O. (2003). Perturbation of CD44 function affects chiasmatic routing of retinal axons in brain slice preparations of the mouse retinofugal pathway. European Journal of Neuroscience, 17, 2299-2312.
  • Leung, K.M., Taylor, J.S.H., & Chan, S.O. (2003). Enzymatic removal of chondroitin sulfates abolishes the age-related axon order in the optic tract of mouse embryos. European Journal of Neuroscience, 17, 1755-1767.
  • Chung, K.Y., Taylor, J.S.H., Shum, D.K.Y., & Chan, S.O. (2000). Axon routing at the optic chiasm after enzymatic removal of chondroitin sulfate in mouse embryos. Development, 127, 2673-2683.
  • Chung, K.Y., Shum, D.K.Y., & Chan, S.O. (2000). Expression of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans in the chiasm of mouse embryos. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 417, 153-163.
  • Chan, S.O., & Chung, K.Y. (1999). Changes in axon arrangement in the retinofugal pathway of mouse embryos – A confocal microscopy study using single- and double-dye label. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 406, 251-262.
  • Chan, S.O., Chung, K.Y., & Taylor, J.S.H. (1999). The effects of early prenatal monocular enucleations on the routing of uncrossed retinofugal axons and the cellular environment at the chiasm of mouse embryos. European Journal of Neurosciences, 11, 3225-3235.
  • Chan, S.O., Wong, K.F., Chung, K.Y., & Yung, W.H. (1998). Changes in morphology and behaviour of retinal growth cones before and after crossing the midline of the mouse chiasm – a confocal microscopy study. European Journal of Neuroscience, 10, 2511-2522.
  • Chan, S.O., & Guillery, R.W. (1993). Developmental changes produced in the retinofugal pathways of rats and ferrets by early monocular enucleations: The effects of age and the differences between normal and albino animals. Journal of Neuroscience, 13, 5277-5293.