Dr. Ip is currently Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor in Department of Pathology, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, HKU under the dual track appointment scheme. He also serves as Consultant Haematopathologist and is the service lead of cytogenetics and genomics in haematology in Queen Mary Hospital. After qualifying as a specialist in 2015, he obtained a master’s degree in genomics and bioinformatics in 2017 and a PhD in cancer genomics in 2024. Equipped with the skill combinations of clinical diagnostics, bioinformatics and genomic research, he strives to introduce statement-of-the-art genetic services in the clinical setting and drive translational research initiatives in haematopathology, with the aim of improving clinical management and outcomes of leukaemia patients.

• Multi-omic approach to define new diagnostic entities in haematological malignancies
• Use of advanced genomic technologies for leukaemia classification and cytogenomic investigation
• Clinical application of machine learning in haematopathology, including digital pathology, flow cytometry and reporting of clinical results

My research emphasises on the use of bioinformatics/data analytics to make meaning to the vast and complex data encountered in clinical genomic and/or haematology laboratories.

My current research focuses on the use of cutting-edge genomic technologies (e.g. long-read genome sequencing) and new data analytic strategies to delineate driver mutations in leukaemias and understand their effects on gene expression and leukaemogenesis in acute myeloid leukaemia, B-lymphoblastic leukaemia and myeloproliferative neoplasms. Our team is also working on the use of genome sequencing technologies to complement and revolutionise conventional cytogenetic investigations in blood cancers.

Apart from blood cancer genomics, our team is also actively applying artificial intelligence to reform traditional workflows in haematology, with initiatives including the use of foundation models to perform cell segmentation and classification in bone marrow aspirate; use of machine learning to analyse measurable residual disease (MRD) in flow cytometric data; and development of refined large language model to draft reports on laboratory haematology results.

• Health and Medical Research Fund (2025-2028, as principal applicant)
  • Transforming clinical cytogenomic investigations of acute myeloid leukaemia by long-read whole genome sequencing (HKD$1,500,000)
• Mainland-Hong Kong Joint Funding Scheme (2022-2024; as co-investigator)
  • Rapid long-read profiling of genomic structural variants to improve the clinical stratification of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (HKD$1,080,000)
• Health and Medical Research Fund (2018-2021, as principal applicant)
  • Long noncoding RNA profiling by whole transcriptome sequencing for classification and prognostication in adult acute myeloid leukaemia (HKD$1,149,150)

• Chief Examiner in Haematology, The Hong Kong College of Pathologists
• Specialty Coordinator for Haematology, Education Committee, The Hong Kong College of Pathologists
• Member, Task Force on Medical Genetics, Hong Kong Accreditation Service, Innovation and Technology Commission, The Government of the HKSAR
• Assessor in haematology, cytogenomics and genomics, Hong Kong Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (HOKLAS), Innovation and Technology Commission, The Government of the HKSAR

• Ng NKL, Lam SSY, Zheng L, Liu X, Liang M, Ng L, Chan KC, Zhang CX, Tse RLS, Cheung AKL, Ip HW, Au CH, Ma ESK, Ng CT, Ni Y, Li RS, Ling GS, Leung SY, Javed A, Leung AYH. Mechanisms of initial favorable response to decitabine in TP53-mutated MDS/AML and potential mechanisms of subsequent relapse. Clin Cancer Res 2025;31:3048-3061.
• Fang H, Yan HHN, Bilardi RA, Flensburg C, Yang H, Barbour JA, Siu HC, Turski M, Chew E, Xu Z, Lam ST, Sharma R, Xu M, Li J, Ip HW, Cheung CYM, Huen MSY, Sweet-Cordero EA, Majewski IJ, Leung SY, Wong JWH. Ganciclovir-induced mutations are present in a diverse spectrum of post-transplant malignancies. Genome Med 2022; 14:124.
• Tsui SP, Ip HW, Saw NY, Zhang C, Cheung AK, Ng NK, Man CH, Lam SS, Tang WF, Lin CH, Cheng GH, Au CH, Ma ES, Chan TL, So JC, Ng MH, Cheng KC, Wong KF, Siu LP, Yip SF, Lin SY, Lau JS, Luk TH, Lee HK, Lau CK, Kho B, Sim JP, Kwong YL, Leung SY, Javed A, Leung AY. Redefining prognostication of de novo cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia in young adults. Blood Cancer J 2020;10:104.
• Gill H, Ip HW, Yim R, Tang WF, Pang HH, Lee P, Leung GMK, Li J, Tang K, So JCC, Leung RYY, Li J, Panagiotou G, Lam CCK, Kwong YL. Next-generation sequencing with a 54-gene panel identified unique mutational profile and prognostic markers in Chinese patients with myelofibrosis. Ann Hematol 2019;98:869-879.
• 5. Lam SS, Ho ES, He BL, Wong WW, Cher CY, Ng NK, Man CH, Gill H, Cheung AM, Ip HW, So CC, Tamburini J, So CW, Ho DN, Au CH, Chan TL, Ma ES, Liang R, Kwong YL, Leung AY. Homoharringtonine (omacetaxine mepesuccinate) as an adjunct for FLT3-ITD acute myeloid leukemia. Sci Transl Med 2016;8:359ra129.
• Malherbe JAJ, Fuller KA, Mirzai B, Kavanagh S, So CC, Ip HW, Guo BB, Forsyth C, Howman R, Erber W. Dysregulation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway mediates megakaryocytic hyperplasia in myeloproliferative neoplasms. J Clin Path 2016;69:1017-1024.
• Ip HW, So CC. Deep molecular response in chronic myelogenous leukemia: ensuring accuracy and consistency. Leukemia 2015;29:1620-1621.
• Ip HW, So CC, Leung YYR, Chan JY, Sin P, Lam CKC. Acquired factor VIII inhibitor and positive lupus anticoagulant testing on silica clotting time. Int J Lab Haematol 2015;37:139-141.
• Ip HW, So CC. Diagnosis and prevention of thalassemia. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 2013;50:125-141.