Academic Qualification
Ph.D. in University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, U.S.A.
Master in University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, U.S.A
Bachelor in Lewis University, Lockport, IL, U.S.A.
Research Area
Pathogenesis of diabetic and ischemic complications and drug discovery
Cellular osmotic, oxidative and ischemic stress
Development, degeneration and regeneration
Diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus
Stem cells and drug discovery for stroke, Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s and depression
Biopharmaceutical research for vascular disease
Working Experience
2019 ~ present, Professor Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Avenida
Wai Long, Macau
2018 ~ 2019, General Education Office/Division of Science and Technology (Food Science and Technology), Beijing Normal University ~ Hong Kong Baptist University, United International College, Zhuhai, China
2015 ~ 2018, Professor, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong
2006 ~ 2015, Professor, Department of Anatomy, The University of Hong Kong
2005 ~ 2006, Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, The University of Hong Kong
1998 ~ 2005, Honorary Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, The University of Hong Kong
1992 ~ 2005, Investigator, Institute of Molecular Biology, May, 2001 substantiated, The University of Hong Kong
1991 ~ 1998, Honorary Lecturer, Department of Anatomy, The University of Hong Kong
1991 ~ 1992, Research Officer, Institute of Molecular Biology, The University of Hong Kong
1988 ~ 1991, Winston Foundation Fellow, Laboratory of Neurobiology and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, USA
1987 ~ 1988, NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of physiology, Northwestern University Medical Center, Chicago, USA,
1982 ~ 1987, Research and teaching assistant, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Health Sciences Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
OTHER ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS:
2007 ~ present, Visiting Professor, The Airforce Medical University (previously called The Fourth Military Medical University)
2018 ~ present, Honorary Professor, School of Biomedical Sciences, HKU
2019 ~ present, Honorary Professor, Beijing Normal ~ HKBU UIC, China
2017 ~ present, Honorary Professor, Chungnam National University Medical School, Korea
2007 ~ 2018, Honorary Professor, Dept Ophthalmology, The University of Hong Kong
2007 ~ 2010, Research Fellow (equivalent to Honorary Professor), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China
2001 ~ 2011, Management Committee for the Area of Excellence in Molecular Neuroscience (hosting Institution, HKUST, Program Director Prof. Nancy Ip)
2012 ~ present, Management Committee for the Theme-based Research Scheme (TBRS) Project “Stem Cell Stem for Nervous System Disorder” (T13 ~ 607/12R)
Academic Publication (selected)
1. Tao X, Shao Y, Xu D, Huang Y, Yu X, Zhong T, Wang L, Chung SK, Chen D, Yu L, Xiao Y. Dietary Patterns and Nutrient Intake in University Students of Macao: A Cross-Sectional Study. Nutrients. 2022 Sep 3;14(17):3642. doi: 10.3390/nu14173642. PMID: 36079899; PMCID: PMC9460302.
2. Virwani PD, Cai L, Yeung PKK, Qian G, Chen Y, Zhou L, Wong JWH, Wang Y, Ho JWK, Lau KK, Qian PY, Chung SK. Deficiency of exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (EPAC)-1 in mice augments glucose intolerance, inflammation, and gut dysbiosis associated with Western diet. Microbiome. 2022 Nov 4;10(1):187. doi: 10.1186/s40168-022-01366-0. PMID: 36329549; PMCID: PMC9635209.
3. Zhong K, Huang Y, Zilundu PLM, Wang Y, Zhou Y, Yu G, Fu R, Chung SK, Tang Y, Cheng X, Zhou L. Correction: Motor neuron survival is associated with reduced neuroinflammation and increased autophagy after brachial plexus avulsion injury in aldose reductase-deficient mice. J Neuroinflammation. 2023 Jan 2;20(1):2. doi: 10.1186/s12974-022-02683-9. Erratum for: J Neuroinflammation. 2022 Nov 9;19(1):271. PMID: 36593504; PMCID: PMC9809037.
4. Oaks Z, Patel A, Huang N, Choudhary G, Winans T, Faludi T, Krakko D, Duarte M, Lewis J, Beckford M, Blair S, Kelly R, Landas SK, Middleton FA, Asara JM, Chung SK, Fernandez DR, Banki K, Perl A. Publisher Correction: Cytosolic aldose metabolism contributes to progression from cirrhosis to hepatocarcinogenesis. Nat Metab. 2023 Feb;5(2):349. doi: 10.1038/s42255-023-00752-8. Erratum for: Nat Metab. 2023 Jan;5(1):41-60. PMID: 36755183.
5. Cheong LY, Wang B, Wang Q, Jin L, Kwok KHM, Wu X, Shu L, Lin H, Chung SK, Cheng KKY, Hoo RLC, Xu A. Fibroblastic reticular cells in lymph node potentiate white adipose tissue beiging through neuro-immune crosstalk in male mice. Nat Commun. 2023 Mar 3;14(1):1213. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-36737-0. PMID: 36869026; PMCID: PMC9984541.
6. Virwani PD, Qian G, Hsu MSS, Pijarnvanit TKKTS, Cheung CN, Chow YH, Tang LK, Tse YH, Xian JW, Lam SS, Lee CPI, Lo CCW, Liu RKC, Ho TL, Chow BY, Leung KS, Tsang HW, Lo EKK, Tung KTS, Chung SK, Yuen MF, Leung SY, Ip P, Hung IF, Louie JCY, El-Nezami H, Ho JWK, Lau KK. Sex Differences in Association Between Gut Microbiome and Essential Hypertension Based on Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring. Hypertension. 2023 Jun;80(6):1331-1342. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.122.20752. Epub 2023 Apr 19. PMID: 37073724; PMCID: PMC10191209.
7. Zhang J, Cheng H, Di Narzo A, Zhu Y, Xie S, Shao X, Zhang Z, Chung SK, Hao K. Profiling Microbiota from Multiple Sites in the Respiratory Tract to Identify a Biomarker for PM2.5 Nitrate Exposure-Induced Pulmonary Damages. Environ Sci Technol. 2023 May 16;57(19):7346-7357. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.2c08807. Epub 2023 May 3. PMID: 37133311
8. Yan Z, Zhong L, Zhu W, Chung SK, Hou P. Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases ─ Targeting cardiac ion channels. Pharmacol Res. 2023 Apr 18;192:106765. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106765. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37075871.
9. Li J, Jiang W, Cai Y, Ning Z, Zhou Y, Wang C, Chung SK, Huang Y, Sun J, Deng M, Zhou L, Cheng X. Astrocytic endothelin-1 overexpression impairs learning and memory ability in ischemic stroke via altered hippocampal neurogenesis and lipid metabolism. Neural Regen Res. 2024 Mar;19(3):650-656. doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.380906. PMID: 37721297.
10. Wang L, Huang B, Zeng Y, Yang J, Li Z, Ng JPL, Xu X, Su L, Yun X, Qu L, Chen R, Luo W, Wang Y, Chen C, Yang L, Qu Y, Zhang W, Chan JTW, Wang X, Law BYK, Mok SWF, Chung SK, Wong VKW. N-Acetylcysteine overcomes epalrestat-mediated increase of toxic 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal and potentiates the anti-arthritic effect of epalrestat in AIA model. Int J Biol Sci. 2023 Aug 6;19(13):4082-4102. doi: 10.7150/ijbs.85028. PMID: 37705749; PMCID: PMC10496504.
11. Heo JY, Park AH, Lee MJ, Ryu MJ, Kim YK, Jang YS, Kim SJ, Shin SY, Son HJ, Stein TD, Huh YH, Chung SK, Choi SY, Kim JM, Hwang O, Shong M, Hyeon SJ, Lee J, Ryu H, Kim D, Kweon GR. Correction: Crif1 deficiency in dopamine neurons triggers early-onset parkinsonism. Mol Psychiatry. 2023 Oct 2. doi: 10.1038/s41380-023-02254-1. Epub ahead of print. Erratum for: Mol Psychiatry. 2023 Aug 30;: PMID: 37783789.
12. Winans T, Oaks Z, Choudhary G, Patel A, Huang N, Faludi T, Krakko D, Nolan J, Lewis J, Blair S, Lai Z, Landas SK, Middleton F, Asara JM, Chung SK, Wyman B, Azadi P, Banki K, Perl A. mTOR-dependent loss of PON1 secretion and antiphospholipid autoantibody production underlie autoimmunity-mediated cirrhosis in transaldolase deficiency. J Autoimmun. 2023 Sep 22;140:103112. doi: 10.1016/j.jaut.2023.103112. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37742509
13. Wang X, Hu W, Qu L, Wang J, Wu A, Lo HH, Ng JPL, Tang Y, Yun X, Wu J, Wong VKW, Chung SK, Wang L, Luo W, Ji X, Law BYK. Tricin promoted ATG-7 dependent autophagic degradation of α-synuclein and dopamine release for improving cognitive and motor deficits in Parkinson's disease. Pharmacol Res. 2023 Oct;196:106874. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106874. Epub 2023 Aug 14. PMID: 37586619.
14. Zhang J, Cheng H, Zhu Y, Xie S, Shao X, Wang C, Chung SK, Zhang Z, Hao K. Exposure to Airborne PM2.5 Water-Soluble Inorganic Ions Induces a Wide Array of Reproductive Toxicity. Environ Sci Technol. 2024 Mar 5;58(9):4092-4103. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.3c07532. Epub 2024 Feb 19. PMID: 38373958.
15. Li J, Jiang W, Cai Y, Ning Z, Zhou Y, Wang C, Chung SK, Huang Y, Sun J, Deng M, Zhou L, Cheng X. Astrocytic endothelin-1 overexpression impairs learning and memory ability in ischemic stroke via altered hippocampal neurogenesis and lipid metabolism. Neural Regen Res. 2024 Mar;19(3):650-656. doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.380906. PMID: 37721297; PMCID: PMC10581554.
16. Ng RC, Jian M, Ma OK, Xiang AW, Bunting M, Kwan JS, Wong CW, Yick LW, Chung SK, Lam KS, Alexander IE, Xu A, Chan KH. Liver-specific adiponectin gene therapy suppresses microglial NLRP3-inflammasome activation for treating Alzheimer's disease. J Neuroinflammation. 2024 Mar 27;21(1):77. doi: 10.1186/s12974-024-03066-y. PMID: 38539253; PMCID: PMC10967198.
17. Moussa AY, Alanzi A, Luo J, Chung SK, Xu B. Potential anti-obesity effect of saponin metabolites from adzuki beans: A computational approach. Food Sci Nutr. 2024 Feb 22;12(5):3612-3627. doi: 10.1002/fsn3.4032. PMID: 38726452; PMCID: PMC11077217
18. Wang J, Zhang J, Yu ZL, Chung SK, Xu B. The roles of dietary polyphenols at crosstalk between type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease in ameliorating oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction via PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. Ageing Res Rev. 2024 Aug;99:102416. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102416. Epub 2024 Jul 13. PMID: 39002644.
19. Zhong L, Yan Z, Jiang D, Weng KC, Ouyang Y, Zhang H, Lin X, Xiao C, Yang H, Yao J, Kang X, Wang C, Huang C, Shen B, Chung SK, Jiang ZH, Zhu W, Neher E, Silva JR, Hou P. Targeting the IKs Channel PKA Phosphorylation Axis to Restore Its Function in High-Risk LQT1 Variants. Circ Res. 2024 Aug 21. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.124.325009. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39166328
20. Cheng X, Hu D, Wang C, Lu T, Ning Z, Li K, Ren Z, Huang Y, Zhou L, Chung SK, Liu Z, Xia Z, Meng W, Tang G, Sun J, Guo J. Plasma Inflammation Markers Linked to Complications and Outcomes after Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage. J Proteome Res. 2024 Oct 4;23(10):4369-4383. doi: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.4c00311. Epub 2024 Sep 3. PMID: 39225497.
21. Wang XX, Ji X, Lin J, Wong IN, Lo HH, Wang J, Qu L, Wong VKW, Chung SK, Law BYK. GPCR-mediated natural products and compounds: Potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of neurological diseases. Pharmacol Res. 2024 Oct;208:107395. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107395. Epub 2024 Sep 4. PMID: 39241934.
22. Zhao R, Wang J, Chung SK, Xu B. New insights into anti-depression effects of bioactive phytochemicals. Pharmacol Res. 2025 Feb;212:107566. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107566. Epub 2024 Dec 31. PMID: 39746497.
Research Grants
1. S.K. Chung, PI, To determine the role of exchange protein directly activated by cAMP in the blood-retinal barrier and pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy, Health and Medical Research Fund, 13142231, HK$947,000, July 2016 – 2018
2. S.K. Chung, PI, Interaction between activated aldose reductase, non-enzymatic glycation, PKC and hexoamine pathways for the pathogenesis of diabetic complications, Health and Medical Research Fund, 13142221, HK$967,000, July 2016 – 2018
3. SK Chung, Travel grant to discuss collaborative research with the Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China HKD12,482
4. Wai Ho Tang and SK Chung (co-PI), Guangdong and Hong Kong Joint Innovation Field of Scientific and Technological Cooperation Project. The role and mechanism of platelet transfer by miRNA-143/145 on diabetic vascular disease”, May 2017 to Apr 2019 Total cost: RMB1,000,000
5. SK Chung (PI), NSFC, Endothelin-1 and tanshinone IIA, Chinese RMB 540,000, Jan 2018 to Dec 31, 2021
6. 省部共建中医湿证国家重点实验室项目“基于差异蛋白组学探讨湿邪致缺血性中风的生物学机制”申报合作框架协议书, 600,000 Yuen, 2021
7. Sookja Kim Chun, Molecular Docking of G Protein-coupled Receptor, Glucagon-like Peptide 1 Receptor, and Development of Exchange Protein Activated by cAMP-based Biosensor for Identifying Therapeutic Natural Small-molecules from Chinese Medicines Macau University of Science and Technology, Faculty Research Grants (General Research Grants, GRFs), FRG-22-024-FMD, 100,000 MOP, 2022
8. Riming Huang, Io Nam Wong, Sookja Kim Chung (Co-I), Baojun Xu, FDCT-NSFC, Project code: 0069/2021/AFJ, September 30, 2021- September 29, 2024
Patents
1. Sookja Kim Chung, Stephen Chung and Chihiro Hibi, Preventive or therapeutic agent for cerebral ischemic injury or cerebral ischemia reperfusion in stroke, Filed on Aug 30, 2007, Patent No. 000144577
2. Sookja Kim Chung, Stephen Chung and Chihiro Hibi, Protective agent for retinal nerve or optic nerve, Patent Application 20100216856, 08/26/2010
3. Ip, Nancy Y, Ip, Fanny Chui Fun, Hu, Yueqing, Han, Yifan, Chung, Sookja Kim Heterodimers and methods of using them, United States Patent 7605265, Oct 20, 2009
4. Sookja Kim Chung, Stephen Chung and Chihiro Hibi, Protective agent for retinal nerve or optic nerve, European Patent Application, 13155114.5-1464, 23.04.13
5. Sookja Kim Chung and Philip So: 3D printing of microneedles: 201910278559.3
6. Licensing of aldose reductase-deficient Schwann cell line (IKARS1) in collaboration with Prof. Kazunori Sango, Japan to Applied Biological Materials Inc. (“Licensee”), with offices located at 1-3671 Viking Way Richmond, B.C.V6V 2J5 Canada.
Professional Certification and Awards
Norman and Rosita Winston Fellowship (1988-1991), The Rockefeller University
Academic Scholarship (1974 - 1978), Lewis University
International Molecular Biology Network, elected member
