Gamete/Embryo-Female Reproductive Tract interaction plays very important role on successful embryo development, implantation and pregnancy outcomes.  Various factors produce from the pre-implantation embryo and/or female reproductive tract (oviductal and uterus) may have paracrine or autocrine roles on fertilization, pre-implantation embryo development and attachment process.  We are the first identified embryotrophic factor (C3) and other factors from human oviductal epithelial cells that enhance embryo development in vitro. We are currently investigating how these factors enhance embryo development in vitro.

Hormonal stimulation affects endometrial development in IVF patients, as well as implantation and pregnancy rates.  Excessive ovarian stimulation advances endometrium development as well as altering gene expression pattern.  We are the first compared the endometrial transcriptomes between natural and stimulated cycle of IVF patients and identified dys-regulating of genes in various signaling pathways important for Endometrial Receptivity.  One of these is Wnt-signaling pathway.  Furthermore, we also found important roles of dicer and miRNAs in regulating embryo development, implantation and invasion process.  We are now using in vitro (cell line co-culture) and in vivo (animal) models to dissect the molecular changes during the implantation process.

I got my Ph D in Biochemistry from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and trained as postdoctoral training at Tufts University, Massachusetts, USA. I joint the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at The University of Hong Kong as Research Assistant Professor in 1998.  I was promoted to Assistant Professor and Associate Professor in 2001 and 2008, respectively.  I am currently the President of the Hong Kong Society for Reproductive Medicine, Honorary Secretary of the Hong Kong Society of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Reproduction, as well as members of various international and local societies.  I have published more than 80 original articles in international journals with H index 22 (total citation >1200). I and my research team have obtained many international and local awards including “The Best Poster Award of Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR) – Southeast Asia Region”.