Adipose tissue remodelling in obesity and type 2 diabetes

Background:

Due to the changes in lifestyle and environment, the incidence of obesity has rapidly increased over the last two decades. Obesity is a major risk factor for a cluster of cardiometabolic diseases including diabetes, heart dysfunction and atherosclerosis. Obesity is not only characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissues but also dysfunctions of this active endocrine tissue including defective glucose metabolism, chronic low-grade inflammation and aberrant production of adipokines. Recent research raises the possibility that targeting adipose tissue dysfunctions can combat against obesity and its related complications in mouse models. We have already identified numerous novel proteins that involve in pathogenesis of obesity and its related metabolic diseases. In this project, we will employ genetically modified animal models, omics approaches as well as clinical samples to define and characterize the role of the novel gene in glucose and energy metabolism. Findings from this study could equip us with new insights into the pathogenesis of obesity and its related complications, and shed new light on the molecular control of adipose tissue functions.

About supervisor:

1. http://www.polyu.edu.hk/hti/images/Staff/Profile_CHENG_Kenneth.pdf

2. http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7274-0839

3. https://scholar.google.com.hk/citations?user=yaYruBYAAAAJ&hl=en


About The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU):

QS World University Rankings: 91
QS Top 50 under 50: 6

PolyU is a government-funded university in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. We are the largest publicly funded tertiary institution in Hong Kong in terms of student population. We have over 28,000 students with around 1,800 research postgraduate (mostly PhD) students. We have an international community with over 1,000 international students on campus from over 40 countries and over 1,300 academic staff, most of them are recruited globally and experienced in supervising research postgraduate students.

Our University has a long and proud history of providing internationally competitive professionally oriented education. We have a strong team of academic staff with solid experience in supervising research postgraduate students. In 2017/18, there are 757 Assistant Professors and above. Among them, 181 are Chair Professors or Professors. In addition, many of our Chair Professors/Professors are internationally leading experts in their research areas.

We have the largest number of students among the eight government-funded institutions in Hong Kong, and have a long and proud history of providing internationally competitive professionally oriented education.

We conduct world-class research in a large number of areas and our research emphasises high application value.
Ranking


Studentship: ~2400 USD- 3300 per month (Depended on your qualitification and which PhD program you enrolled, detail can be obtained via email/discussion)


About Hong Kong PhD fellowship:

https://www.polyu.edu.hk/ro/hkphd-fellowship/