Principal Investigator
Prof. Guojun Bu
The Head, Division of Life Science, HKUST
Lo Ka Chung Charitable Foundation Professor of Science
Chair Professor
PhD, Virginia Tech
Current members
Postdoctoral Fellows
Jeff Y.L. Lam, PhD ✉️
University of Cambridge
Jeff investigates how Alzheimer’s disease develops at the molecular level, using state-of-the-art tools such as multi-omics and super-resolution microscopy. His research focuses on the biophysical and biochemical properties of apoE across in vitro and in vivo animal models, with the goal of elucidating how different apoE variants contribute to AD pathogenesis and progression.
Kai Wang, PhD ✉️
The University of Tokyo
Kai grew up in Northeast China and obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo, where he studied the molecular mechanisms underlying protective gene variants in Alzheimer’s disease. In the Bu Lab, his research focuses on APOE protective variants and aims to elucidate their molecular and cellular mechanisms using iPSC-derived cells and animal models. Outside the lab, he enjoys cooking and exploring nature.
Hao-Jie Chen, PhD ✉️
Beijing Normal University
Haojie investigates how genetic and lifestyle factors shape the early development of Alzheimer’s disease, the leading cause of dementia. By integrating large-scale human data with functional experiments, he aims to advance APOE-targeted predictive models and therapeutic strategies to promote brain health and mental well-being in the ageing population.
Oscar W.H. Chua, PhD ✉️
Hannover Medical School
Oscar received his PhD trainings at the Hannover Medical School studying alpha synuclein-induced toxicity in Parkinson’s disease. Currently, by using iPSC and animal models, his research focuses on the roles of apoE and apoE receptors on the pathology and propagation of tau.
Postgraduate Students
Mia Yujing Liang ✉️
PhD student
This is Mia from Guangdong, Jiangmen. My projects are about evaluating the biochemical and biophysical patterns of artificially-generated apoE and cross-species apoE, paving the way to design for a super apoE as apoE-targeted gene therapy candidate.
Wenjun Zhang ✉️
PhD student
Wenjun received her M.S. from the University of Science and Technology of China. Her research focuses on iPSC-derived blood–brain barrier models and the peripheral effects of APOE on AD pathology.
Zhiyuan Ning ✉️
PhD student
Zhiyuan received his bachelor’s and master’s degree in Medicine from Sun Yat-Sen University. He investigates the roles of peripheral apoE using diverse approaches and animal models. His research also focuses on multi-omics analyses to explore the effects of APOE on Alzheimer’s disease, based on human samples and brain single-cell transcriptomes.
Yalin Zhu ✉️
Joint PhD student
Yalin earned her bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from Pennsylvania State University in 2017. She has contributed to the Greater Bay Area Healthy Aging Brain Study, and is studying APOE4-related biomarkers to enable the early detection of AD.
Cong Li ✉️
Joint PhD student
Cong Li is a PhD student jointly trained by HKUST and Shenzhen Bay Laboratory. She obtained her master's degree from Sun Yat-sen University in 2022. Her research focuses on using Drosophila, iPSCs, and mice to develop potential therapeutic strategies targeting stress granules in ALS and frontotemporal dementia.
Carrie K.L. Tse ✉️
MPhil student
Carrie has obtained her bachelor’s degree in HKUST in 2024. Her research focuses on functional differences of apoE isoforms in choroid plexus and their related AD pathology. She likes privately stalking ppl from the lab👀.
Jane Jingxuan Wang ✉️
MPhil student
Jane hold a Bachelor's degree in biological science from Nanjing University, and she is currently pursuing a Master's degree here, where she have deepened her understanding of AD. Her research interests lie in microglia and astrocyte's function in AD pathology.
Xi Liu ✉️
MPhil student
I am Liu Xi, holding a bachelor's degree from Central South University. My research focuses on the biochemical and biophysical properties of apolipoprotein E (apoE), with a particular interest in elucidating its structure and molecular interactions to better understand its role in Alzheimer's disease.
Xiangning Li ✉️
MPhil student
Xiangning obtained her BSc degree of neurosience at the university of Edinburgh and completed her MRes degree at University College London. She started her MPhil study at Bu lab since 2025, with her research interest in the spatiotemporal dynamics of microglial phenotype transition during AD progression.
Xiaolu Yang ✉️
MPhil student
Xiaolu finished his BSc of Life Science in CUHK. Currently, he is working at HKUST on the development of nanobodies targeting pathological ApoE, aiming to explore the new methods in the immunotherapies of Alzheimer’s disease. He is interested in revealing interactions between different molecules using biochemical methods.
Alex Ming Ho Lau ✉️
MPhil student
Alex received his BSc in Biotechnology and Business in 2025 from HKUST. He previously evaluated reliability of p-tau 217 as a blood-based biomarker for the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease in a mouse model. Now, he focuses on AD treatment. By evaluating the ability of different anti-ApoE antibodies in mouse models, he hopes to identify some suitable candidates for future development into human therapies.
Qinwen Wang ✉️
MPhil student
Brian Tsz San Yim ✉️
MSc student
Hi, I’m Brian, a first-year MSc student in Biotechnology. I’m interested in the genetic and anatomical factors behind psychological disorders, and research on Alzheimer’s disease at the Bu Lab has greatly enriched my skills. Outside the lab, I love staying active with basketball, swimming, and boxing.
Joe Zuming Liang ✉️
MSc student
Joe earned his BSc in 2025 and studied m6A and EMT in NPC integrating scRNA-seq and ML algorithms at Southern Medical University. He now focuses on APOE, LD, and their impact on the blood–brain barrier, aiming to uncover gene differences in AD and explore vascular cells.
Visiting Scholars, RAs and Undergraduate Students
Shuyang Yu ✉️
Visiting scholar
Shuyang is a neurologist from Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University. She came to Bu's lab as a visiting scholar for one year. Her research is about the contribution of different apoE variants and apoE receptors in alpha synyclein pathology.
Tuen Shun Leon Cheung ✉️
Research assistant
Leon earned his BSc in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from HKUST. He pursued an MSc in Clinical Neuroscience at University College London (UCL). Now, he joins the Bu lab to study microglia and ApoE interactions in hopes of discovering potential treatments for sporadic Alzheimer’s Disease.
Candy Lau Chi Wing ✉️
UG student
Candy is a fourth-year student doing her final year project at the Bu lab. Her project focuses on tau pathology of Alzheimer’s disease. She doesn't want to die and wants to graduate.
Kevin Haochen Lai ✉️
UG student
Kevin is a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Biochemistry and Cell Biology. He is currently completing his final year project in the Bu Lab, focusing on investigating the effects of different ApoE variants on intracellular lipid metabolism.
Alumni
• Xi Chen (MSc, Sep 2024 - June 2025), currently a graduate student at CUHK