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CHOW Wang-Ngai, Franklin
B
Sc, MPhil, CBiol, PhD
Research Assistant Professor
(Molecular Microbiology)

Academic Appointments:

2021            Research Assistant Professor, Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

2018 - 2021 Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong

                    (Lab: Prof. Susanna KP Lau)

2015 - 2018 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, The University of Edinburgh

                    (Lab: Prof. Amy Buck)

2013 - 2015 Senior Research Assistant, Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong

Academic Qualifications:

                    PhD in Molecular Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong 

                    (Mentors: Prof. Susanna KP Lau & Prof. Kwok-Yung Yuen)

                    MPhil in Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong

                    (Mentors: Prof. William SB Yeung and Dr. Calvin KF Lee)

                    BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry, The University of Hong Kong

Research Interest:

  • Infectious diseases

  • Extracellular vesicles

  • Host-pathogen interactions

  • Small RNA

  • Environmental Microbiology

  • One Health

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Biography:

Dr. Chow obtained his BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Hong Kong, where he also completed his MPhil research investigating the effects of C3 deficiency on mice fertility and fecundity. He then pursued his PhD in Microbiology at the same university, focusing on the role of dicer-dependent microRNA-like RNAs in the virulence of the thermal dimorphic pathogenic fungi Penicillium marneffei, and viral genomicsAfter completing his PhD, Dr. Chow continued to expand his research portfolio with a postdoctoral position at the Institute of Infection and Immunology at the University of Edinburgh, where he investigated the siRNA guides on a secreted Argonaute protein in extracellular vesicles of a parasitic nematode. He then returned to Hong Kong in 2018 to study coronavirus and fungal pathogens in the lab of Prof. Susanna KP Lau at the Department of Microbiology, University of Hong Kong, before joining the Department of Health Technology and Informatics at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University as a Research Assistant Professor in 2021.

As a PI in PolyU, Dr. Chow investigates the complex interactions between pathogens and their hosts, focusing on the role of small RNAs and extracellular vesicles in these interactions. He also has extensive experience in using cutting-edge sequencing technologies to study the genomics of various pathogens for epidemiology and diagnostics. Additionally, Dr. Chow is committed to the One Health approach, which recognizes the interconnections between human, animal, and environmental health, and aims to develop holistic solutions to global health challenges.

Dr. Chow is dedicated to mentoring and training the next generation of scientists and fostering a collaborative and productive research environment.

Dr. Chow wearing a Scottish klit to the lab in University of Edinburgh. 

Other that studying RNAi and Argonuate of parasitic nemtods, Dr. Chow learned about  Scottish culture as well in Scotland. 

Contact

Location: Y938, 9/F, Block Y, PolyU, Hung Hom, Hong Kong

Phone: 852-3400-8586

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