HKUST 30 Anniversary Redbird Talk  - Connecting the Dots - My Journey at HKUST

In this talk I will share my career journey, from finding my passion for science and developing a career as a scientific researcher - first in industry and later in academia, to building credibility in my chosen field and finding ways to give back to society.     

I will share with you the evolution of my work on Alzheimer’s disease. Initial studies were in basic research where my team investigated how memory forms and what causes memory loss in AD, leading to the discovery of new therapeutic targets. More recent work has sought to understand the role of the immune system in AD. Specifically, how immune cells become impaired in AD and what causes the accumulation of toxic amyloid beta in the diseased brain. I will also talk about our most recent and exciting study on blood proteins, which has led to a simple but accurate blood test to screen, diagnose, and monitor the progression of AD. This innovation may revolutionize diagnosis and management of the disease.

To make a genuine impact on society, it is important to think big. I will also share my goals of building neuroscience as a strategic area and developing Hong Kong into a neuroscience hub, as well as my contributions to shape science policy locally, in Mainland China, and globally.  I will end my talk on my efforts as an advocate, educator, and mentor to inspire and develop the next generations of scientists.