Name Card
Dr Judith Mak 麥翠和
Title:
Principal Lecturer
Department:
Faculty:
Contact Information
Dr Judith Mak 麥翠和
Title:
Principal Lecturer
Department:
Faculty:
Curriculum Vitae:
Research Interests:(click to check for cognate researchers)
- Investigating the effects of specific pathway inhibitors on the primary cell response to inflammation in the airway epithelium.
- Elucidation of pathophysiological pathways in rodent models of chronic airway diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (i.e. cigarette smoke-exposed rat model or ozone-exposed mouse model), asthma (i.e. ovalbumin sensitized allergen challenged mouse model), and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) [i.e. intermittent hypoxia-exposed rat model].
- Translational research using focused therapeutic tool compounds such as various antioxidants including pure EGCG (the major catechin in Chinese green tea) in human primary cells and then to various rodent models in vivo to identify new targets and pathways.
- Examining the cellular mechanisms of adipokine and serotonin function in chronic airway diseases.
Also Cited As:
Mak, JC
Mak, J
Professional Qualifications
| Year | Awarding Institution | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | University of London | BSc |
| 1992 | University of London | PhD |
Biography
Dr. Judith Mak is currently Associate Professor of Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology & Pharmacy. She received her PhD from the University of London under the supervision of Professor Peter J. Barnes. Following her postdoctoral training and Lecturership at the National Heart & Lung Institute of Imperial College London, she returned to Hong Kong in 2002 and joined the Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, where she went through the ranks of Research Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor and Associate Professor. Her early research has been focused on cellular and molecular mechanisms of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), understanding and developing therapies. Her major research contributions have been in the understanding of the development of b2-agonist tolerance, and the interaction between glucocorticoid receptors and b2-adrenoceptors in the intracellular signaling pathways leading to the combination therapy of long-acting inhaled b2-agonist and inhaled glucocorticoid (e.g. SymbicortÒ and SeretideÒ). She is an internationally recognized scientist in the respiratory field. She has authored and co-authored over 110 scientific papers.
Since returning to Hong Kong, she has initially focused on research into biomarkers for asthma and COPD. Her current interests are focused on the effects of oxidative stress in airway epithelial function. She has developed an interest in pathophysiological mechanisms underlying cigarette smoke (CS)-induced lung inflammation in COPD and intermittent hypoxia (IH, a hallmark feature of obstructive sleep apnea)-induced cardiac and endothelial cell injury. She plays particular focuses on understanding how oxidative stress leads to lung inflammation and how Chinese green tea has the potential as therapeutics for the disease in the CS-exposed rat model. She has more recent interests in serotonin homeostasis in cigarette smoke-related COPD. She has published the first paper ever to show the elevation of plasma 5-HT levels in COPD in a case-control study. She is also the first to show the involvement of serotonin metabolism in cigarette smoke-induced oxidative stress in vivo and the novel anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory role of ketanserin (a selective 5-HT2A receptor antagonist). She is currently researching on the impact of environmental pollution and nanoparticles on the lungs using animal models.
Photomicrographs of H & E staining for histological changes (A and B), and PAS staining for mucin-containing goblet cells (C and D) of rat lung and airway sections after exposure to sham air (A and C) and cigarette smoke (B and D). Cigarette smoke caused alveolar wall destruction (B) and an increase in the number of mucin-containing goblet cells (D).
Research Team Members
Honours, Awards & Prizes
| Awardees | Award Date | Honours / Awards / Prizes | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
LIANG, Yingmin Yeung, SC | 2012-12-01 | Best Poster - Cigarette smoke induces differential alteration of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in rat heart: 17th Congress of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology (APSR) | Research Achievement |
LI, Xiang Zhang, Y LIANG, Yingmin Yeung, SC | 2014-05-01 | Best Abstract - Mitochondrial Transfer Of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells To Airway Epithelial Cells Attenuates Cigarette Smoke-induced Damage: ATS 2014 International Conference | Research Achievement |
Zhang, Y LI, Xiang | 2015-12-01 | Poster Presentation Award at the 20th Research Postgraduate Symposium: The University of Hong Kong, Faculty of Medicine | Research Achievement |
CUI, Yuting Lau, KWW Liu, WKK | 2016-05-01 | International Trainee Scholarship Award for 2016 International Conference: American Thoracic Society (ATS) | Research Achievement |
CUI, Yuting Liu, WKK | 2017-02-01 | Best Oral Presentation Award on Basic Science: Hong Kong Medical Journal ISSN: 1024-2708 ; eISSN: 2226-8707 | Research Achievement |
LIANG, Yingmin Yeung, SC | 2012-12-01 | Best Poster: The 17th Congress of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology | Research Achievement |
Liang, Y | 2016-10-01 | The 3rd Prize for Outstanding Poster Presentation: Journal of the Hong Kong College of Cardiology ISSN: 1027-7811 | Research Achievement |
Liang, Y | 2018-07-01 | Congress Bursary for 18th World Congress of Basic And Clinical Pharmacology (WCP2018): 18th World Congress of Basic And Clinical Pharmacology | Research Achievement |
CHEN, Rui Yeung, SC | 2019-05-01 | 2019 China International Development Award: American Thoracic Society (ATS) and International Society of Respiratory Diseases (ISRD) | Research Achievement |
CHEN, Rui Yeung, SC Liang, Y | 2020-05-01 | 2020 International Trainee Scholarship (ITS): American Thoracic Society | Research Achievement |
Lam, WK Tsang, KWT Chan, MMW Leung, CM Ho, SP Law, KW | 2005-08-01 | Best Poster - Genetic Susceptibility Of Transforming Growth Factor-beta1 Common Polymorphisms To Chinese Patients With Asthma: Hong Kong Allergy Convention 2005 | Research Achievement |
Lam, WK Cho, CH So, HL Chan, MMW Hui, WS Ho, SP | 2007-02-01 | Best Poster - Systemic oxidative stress and inflammation in cigarette smoke-exposed rat model: 12th Medical Research Conference | Research Achievement |
LI, Xiang Zhang, Y LIANG, Yingmin ZHEN, Zhe Yeung, SC | 2014-11-01 | Outstanding Oral presentation - Amelioration of cigarette smoke-induced cardiac dysfunction and inflammation by mesenchymal stem cells: 18th Annual Scientific Meeting of Institute of Cardiovascular Science and Medicine | Research Achievement |
LI, Xiang LIANG, Yingmin ZHEN, Zhe Zhang, Y Yeung, SC | 2014-10-01 | 3rd Prize for Outstanding Oral Presentation: Journal of the Hong Kong College of Cardiology ISSN: 1027-7811 | Research Achievement |
Chan, MMW Ho, SP | 2007-02-01 | Best Poster - Increased oxidative stress in acute asthma exacerbation in Hong Kong Chinese asthmatics: 12th Medical Research Conference | Research Achievement |
LIANG, Yingmin CUI, Yuting | 2015-03-01 | Travel Award - Effects of epigallocatechin gallate on cigarette smoke-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in rat lung in vivo: Airway Vista 2015 | Research Achievement |
WANG, Yan Lee, YKM | 2016-05-01 | International Trainee Scholarship Award for 2016 International Conference: American Thoracic Society (ATS) | Research Achievement |
Professional Societies
| Term Period | Position | Professional Societies |
|---|---|---|
| 2002-present | Assoicated Member | Hong Kong Thoracic Society |
| 2005-present | Assoicated Member | Hong Kong Institute of Allergy |
| 2002-present | Ordinary Member | Hong Kong Pharmacological Society |
| 1993-present | Ordinary Member | British Association for Lung Research |
| 1993-present | Ordinary Member | British Pharmacological Society |
| 1997-present | Ordinary Member | Biochemical Society |
| 2007-present | Ordinary Member | American Thoracic Society |
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