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Professor Hoo, Ruby Lai Chong 何麗莊

Title:
Assistant Professor

Contact Information
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Professor Hoo, Ruby Lai Chong 何麗莊

Title:
Assistant Professor

Curriculum Vitae:

Also Cited As:
Hoo, Lai-chong, Ruby
Hoo, L. C.
Hoo R.L.C.

Short Biography:

My research focuses on deciphering the roles and underlying mechanisms of adipocyte or liver-derived hormones such as adiponectin, fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF21) and adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP) in the regulation of energy metabolism and in the pathogenesis of obesity-related cardio-metabolic and inflammatory diseases such as type-2 diabetes, atherosclerosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. My team discovered that pharmacological inhibition of A-FABP can significantly alleviate the development of both acute liver injury and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice and A-FABP mediates these diseases by enhancing inflammation in Kupffer cells. A-FABP is also a mediator of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury and diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction through its suppression on eNOS/NO pathway and induction of superoxide anion production. We also demonstrated that A-FABP potentiates toxic lipids-induced endoplasmic reticulum and inflammation in macrophages via inhibition of Janus Kinase 2-dependent autophagy. My team discovered the physiological role of A-FABP in energy metabolism which regulates adaptive thermogenesis through promoting the intracellular conversion of thyroid hormone T4 to T3 in brown adipocytes. The study result implicated that global pharmacological inhibition of A-FABP may not be an optimal therapeutic strategy for obesity-related cardiovascular and metabolic diseases due to the potential impairment of adaptive thermogenesis.

Professional Qualifications
YearAwarding InstitutionQualification
2004The University of Hong KongPhD
Biography

Dr. Ruby L.C. Hoo obtained her Bachelor, MPhil and PhD in biological science at The University of Hong Kong. She received her post-doctoral training at division of endocrinology, Department of Medicine at The University of Hong Kong. She took up her post as Research Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor in 2006 and 2017 respectively at Department of Medicine, HKU. She joined the Department of Pharmacolgy and Pharmacy, HKU, in Feb 2018. She is the principal investigator of research projects funded by HMRF, RGC, Shenzhen Basic research fund and NSFC.

 
Honours, Awards & Prizes
AwardeesAward DateHonours / Awards / PrizesCategory
2006-01-01Best Oral Presentation Award: 11th Medical Research Conference 2006
Research Achievement
Shu, L
Cheong, LY
2019-08-01Excellent Presentation Award: Korean Society for the Study of Obesity - KSSO
Research Achievement
Li, FYL
2010-03-01Outstanding Abstract Prize, Fifth International Symposium On Healthy Aging: Is Aging A Disease?: Research Centre Of Heart, Brain, Hormone & Healthy Aging, University of Hong Kong
Research Achievement
LEE, Pui Chi
Zhou, M
2012-12-01Best Oral Presentation Award: 7th International HuaXia Congress of Endocrinology
Research Achievement
LEE, Pui Chi
SHU, Lingling
Zhou, M
2013-01-01Best Oral Presnetation Award: Research Centre Of Heart, Brain, Hormone & Healthy Aging, University of Hong Kong
Research Achievement
LEE, Pui Chi
SHU, Lingling
Zhou, M
2014-01-01Best Abstract in Basic Science and translational (Oral Presentation): 19th Medical Research Conference
Research Achievement
ZONG, Jiuyu
ZHANG, Zixuan
Shu, L
Cheong, LY
Li, J
2021-03-01Young Investigator Award (Oral presentation): 15th International Symposium On Healthy Aging "towards Enduring Youth"
Research Achievement
Pan, Y
2019-01-01Faculty outstanding research output award 2019-2020: Faculty of Medicine
Research Achievement
GENG, Leiluo
LIAO, Boya
2020-09-01Faculty outstanding research output award 2020-2021: Faculty of Medicine
Research Achievement
2019-08-01Travel Grant Award: Korean Society for the Study of Obesity - KSSO
Research Achievement
Li, FYL
2010-08-01Outstanding Scientific Work – Winning poster presentation: Frontiers in Cardiovascular Biology; European Society of Cardiology
Research Achievement
2016-08-01Travel Grant Award: Korean Society for the Study of Obesity - KSSO
Research Achievement
Professional Societies
Term PeriodPositionProfessional Societies
2022-TreasurerHong Kong Society of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Reproduction
2020-Ordinary memberHong Kong Society of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Reproduction
2017-2020Associate memberHong Kong Society of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Reproduction
2012-MemberShenZhen Institue of Research and Innovation
2010-MemberResearch Centre Of Heart, Brain, Hormone & Healthy Aging
2013-Co-investigatorState Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
2013-Associate MemberHK Association for the study of obesity
Major Research Themes & Current Projects
DescriptionTitle
The role of A-FABP in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes
The role of A-FABP in the development of obesity related renal dysfunction
The pathological role of A-FABP in liver fibrosis
The role of A-FABP in the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemic stroke
The role of A-FABP in the regulation of regional fat distribution
The role of mitochondrial membrane protein chchd10 in the regulation of adipose tissue browning and energy expenditure
. Sdc4 as an essential regulator in beige adipocyte differentiation in adaptive thermogenesis
The role of neutrophil and its secretory proteases in the conversion of white to brown adipocytes.
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