My current research is focused on:

• Identification and characterization of functional molecular targets in liver diseases

• Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York
• Institute of Liver Studies, King’s College Hospital, London 

Researcher Profile on HKU Scholars Hub

• Chan KK, Wong CY, Au KY, Suen LH, Yip WW, Zhang JM, Fung YM, Lee TK, Ng IO, Cheung TT, Lo RC. Secreted lumican from the tumor microenvironment potentiates hepatocellular carcinoma stemness and progression. Hepatol Commun. [Accepted for publication]
  
  
• Chan KK, Au K, Suen L, Leung B, Wong C, Leow W, Lim TK, Ng IO, Chung CY, Lo RC. Sortilin-driven cancer secretome enhances tumorigenic properties of hepatocellular carcinoma via de novo lipogenesis.  Am J Pathol. 2023 Dec;193(12):2156-2171.
  
  
• Chan KK, Au KY, Fung WC, Wong CY, Chan AC, LO RC. A sex-specific analysis of microRNA profiles in hepatitis B virus-associated cirrhosis by small RNA-sequencing. Hepatol Commun. 2022 Dec;6(12):3473-3486.
  
  
• Chan KK, Hon TC, Au KY, Choi HL, Wong DK, Chan AC, Yuen MF, Lai CL, Lo RC. Stanniocalcin 1 is a serum biomarker and potential therapeutic target for HBV-associated liver fibrosis. J Pathol. 2022 Jun;257(2):227-238.
  
  
• Leung MS, Chan KK, Dai WJ, Wong CY, Au KY, Wong PY, Wong CC, Lee TK, Ng IO, Kao WJ, Lo RC. Anti-tumour effects of PIM kinase inhibition on progression and chemoresistance of hepatocellular carcinoma. J Pathol. 2020 Sep;252(1):65-76.
  
  
• Tan HW, Leung CO, Chan KK, Ho DW, Leung MS, Wong CM, Ng IO, Lo RC. Deregulated GATA6 modulates stem cell-like properties and metabolic phenotype in hepatocellular carcinoma. Int J Cancer. 2019 Oct 1;145(7):1860-1873. . 
  
  
• Lo RC, Leung CO, Chan KK, Ho DW, Wong CM, Lee TK, Ng IO. Cripto-1 contributes to stemness in hepatocellular carcinoma by stabilizing Dishevelled-3 and activating Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Cell Death Differ. 2018 Aug;25(8):1426-1441..
  
  
• Chan KK, Leung CO, Wong CC, Ho DW, Chok KS, Lai CL, Ng IO, Lo RC. Secretory Stanniocalcin 1 promotes metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma through activation of JNK signaling pathway. Cancer Lett. 2017 Sep 10;403:330-338.

• Kristy Chan (Assistant Research Officer)
• Alfred Suen (PhD student)
• Nelson Yip (PhD student)
• Emily Cheng (MPhil student)
• Joyce Zhang (Research Assistant)
• Veronica Cheuk (Research Assistant)
• Hongrui Zhang (Research Assistant)
• Sirena Wu (Research Assistant)

• Awardee, Clinical Research Fellowship Scheme 2016/17, Research Grants Council, Hong Kong
• Junior Investigator Award, International Liver Cancer Association Annual Conference 2015
• Distinguished Young Fellow 2015, The Hong Kong Academy of Medicine
  

• Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF), Hong Kong – 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2024
• General Research Fund (GRF), Research Grants Council, Hong Kong - 2016

Number of students with completed studies

• MPhil/PhD program: 7
• MMedSc program: 12