Prof. Chow received her bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University (Durham NC, USA). After two years of research in cancer genomics at Broad Institute and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute of Harvard and MIT (Boston MA, USA), she moved to University of California, Berkeley (Berkeley CA, USA) to pursue graduate studies in Molecular and Cell Biology. Her PhD research focused on gene regulation during B lymphocyte development and malignant transformation. With a Croucher Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship and an NIH F32 National Research Service Award, Prof. Chow conducted postdoctoral research at University of Washington (Seattle WA, USA) studying innate immune signaling and gene networks that regulate the anti-viral immune response. Prof. Chow joined City University of Hong Kong in April 2018.

Research Interests

The Chow lab focuses on investigating what constitute a protective immune response against cancer in order to design effective cancer immunotherapy. The lab combines concepts and techniques from biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, cancer biology, immunology, virology, genomics, cell and animal models, and systems biology to dissect the molecular pathways and gene regulatory networks that modulate the anti-cancer immune response. The ultimate goal of the lab is to develop vaccines and targeted therapies that harness the natural ability of our immune system to fight cancer.

Current research themes include:

• Characterization of immune response in solid tumors
• Molecular mechanisms of effective anti-cancer immune response
• Design of cancer vaccines and adjuvants

More details can be found in Prof. Chow’s lab website.

Training Opportunities

We welcome talented and motivated individuals to join our team. Interested candidates please send a resume/CV and a research statement to Prof. Chow (kwan.chow@cityu.edu.hk).

• PhD students who have a strong interest in biomedical research are encouraged to apply through one of the following schemes:
  1. the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (link)
  2. PhD Programme in Biomedical Sciences (link)
  3. Interdisciplinary PhD Programme in Veterinary Medicine (in collaboration with Cornell University) (link)
  Candidates should have a strong academic record, good understanding of molecular and cell biology, relevant research experience, and high proficiency in English.
• Undergraduate students who are interested in gaining lab experience are welcome to contact Prof. Chow. Students pursuing degrees in Biological Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry, or Biomedical Engineering who have taken introductory biology courses will be considered favorably.
• Research Assistant positions for individuals interested in pursuing a career in research science or lab management are welcome to contact Prof. Chow. Candidates with previous research experience in molecular biology, tissue culture, or animal models are desired.
• Postdoctoral Fellow positions are available upon enquiry.

Publications (since 2018)

*Corresponding/co-corresponding?authors
^#First?authors

1. Xu F^#, Wang M, Dotse E, Chow KT*, Lo PC*. “Inducing Immunogenic Cancer Cell Death through Oxygen-Economized Photodynamic Therapy with Nitric Oxide-Releasing Photosensitizers”. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2024 Jun 18: e202404561. doi: 10.1002/anie.202404561. PMID: 38887983
2. Pham QH^#, Bui VAT^#, Sim W-S, Lim KH, Law COK, Chow KT*, Park H-J*, Ban K*, Lau CKT*. “Engineered probiotics releasing short-chain fatty acids protects the heart from myocardial infarction”. Cardiovasc Res. 2024 Jun 8: cvae128. doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvae128. PMID: 38850165
3. Xue EY^#, Lee ACK, Chow KT, Ng DKP. “Promotion and Detection of Cell-Cell Interactions through a Bioorthogonal Approach”. J Am Chem Soc. 2024 Jun 26; 146(25):17334-17347. doi: 10.1021/jacs.4c04317. Epub 2024 May 20. PMID: 38767615
4. Kwong HK^#, Liu W, Wu S, Wu J, Chung CF, Chu LT, Lim KH, Chow HL, Hartanto H, Wang J, Lam ML, Chow KT, Chen T-H*. “Cell chirality reversal through tilted balance between polymerization of radial fibers and clockwise-swirling of transverse arc”. eLife. 2023. eLife12:RP92632. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-1308149/v1
5. Lim KH^#, Wang L, Dotse E, Wang M, Wang X, Chow, KT*. “TLR4 stimulation sensitizes plasmacytoid dendritic cells for SARS-CoV2 antiviral response”. J Leukoc Biol. 2023 Sep 25: qiad111. doi: 10.1093/jleuko/qiad111.
6. Yuan D^#, Zhang Y, Lim KH, Leung SKP, Yang X, Liang Y, Lau WCY, Chow KT*, Xia J*. “Site-Selective Lysine Acetylation of Human Immunoglobulin G for Immunoliposomes and Bispecific Antibody Complexes”. J Am Chem Soc. 2022 Sep 27. PMID: 36167521
7. Dotse E^#, Lim KH, Wang M, Wijanarko KJ, Chow KT*. “An Immunological Perspective of Circulating Tumor Cells as Diagnostic Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets”. Life. 2022 Feb 21; 12(2):323. PMID: 35207611
8. Wang M^#, Lim, KH, Chow KT*. “Native Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis Immunoblot Analysis of Endogenous IRF5 Dimerization”. J Vis Exp. 2019 (152), e60393.
9. Chow KT^#*, Driscoll C, Loo YM, Knoll M, Gale M Jr*. “IRF5 regulates unique subset of genes in dendritic cells during West Nile virus infection”. J Leukoc Biol. 2019 Feb; 105(2):411-425. PMID: 30457675
10. Chow KT^#, Wilkins C, Narita M, Green R, Knoll M, Loo YM, Gale M Jr*. “Differential and Overlapping Immune Programs Regulated by IRF3 and IRF5 in Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells”. J Immunol. 2018 Oct 8. PMID: 30297339 (IF: 4.4, 40%, B Journal)

20 August 2024