Research at FAST

55 Prof. LO Chun Lap Samuel Professor Head of Department Research Overview Prof. Samuel Lo graduated with his PhD from the Department of Medicine, Alfred Hospital, Monash University, Australia in 1990. He was trained as a protein chemist looking at the interactions of anti-phospholipid antibodies with the natural anticoagulant system of the body. He joined the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 1990. His research interest had since branched out from the study of anti-phospholipid antibodies to various application of proteomic technologies. Since 1999, he had successfully applied proteomic technologies to study several important biological questions. These include: • Elucidation of differentially expressed proteins induced by low-dose chronic methyl-mercury intoxication in various parts of the brains of various types of animal models and wild predators: Due to the protein expression data obtained in the chronic methylmercury exposure model, his group is the first to provide proof that decreased glycolysis and ATP generation may contribute to degenerative functions of the somatosensory cortex • His group is also the first one to demonstrate that methylmercury intoxication in daily life increased dysregulation of prostaglandins in the body. This is the missing link between methylmercury exposure to the widespread systematic harmful effects • Application of proteomic technologies to study protein expressions in dinoflagellates, the causative agents of harmful algae blooms (red tides) in various nutritional and environmental conditions • Comparative proteomics on toxic and non-toxic dinoflagellates of the similar meta-species • Development of protein/peptide-expression-profiles (PEPs) as a tool for fast identification of dinoflagellates and other harmful algal bloom causative agents Qualification BSc (U of New England) PhD (Monash) ORCID ID 0000-0003-1134-7299 Department of Applied Biology & Chemical Technology Department of Applied Biology & Chemical Technology