Staff Profile

Biography

I received my PhD training in the lab of Dr. Davina Opstelten at the University of Hong Kong, studying the cell type-specificity of a structure in the mammalian nucleus called PML bodies. After receiving my PhD in 1996, I joined the group of Prof. Angus Lamond in Dundee, Scotland, where I was involved in an international effort to characterise the human nucleolus proteome. 

In 2007, I joined the City University of Hong Kong (CityU) as an assistant professor and became an associate professor in 2010. I work with a multi-disciplinary research network that consists of biochemists, chemists, materials scientists and clinicians, to tackle a variety of biological projects, ranging from biomedical engineering, environmental sciences to regenerative medicine, successfully obtaining more than 25 research grants and published more than 100 scientific papers and 4 US patents. As of 2025, my H index is 47 and my i10-index is 84, and more than 11,000 citations. I was awarded the second prize of Roche’s “Imagining the Future” international competition

in 2006, the best paper of the year award from the Society of Endocrinology in 2020 and a Bronze medal in Invention Geneva Evaluation Days 2022. After working at the School of Applied Sciences of University of Huddersfield as a Reader in Cell Biology for 2 years, I joined the Department of Health Sciences, School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Hong Kong Metropolitan University. 

While at CityU, I developed many new courses, ranging from professional courses such as "Biological techniques and instrumentation" and "Food safety", to general education courses like "Death" a discovery approach" and "The Nobel Spirit". In 2020, I was appointed the founding director of the new Global Research Enrichment And Technopreneurship GREAT programme, a revolutionary BSc curriculum that combines entrepreneurship and research training. I was the winner of the CityU innovative teaching award in 2020 and shortlisted in Teaching Excellence Award in 2021. I am organiser of the Hong Kong Chapter of Leonardo Art Science Evening Rendezvous (LASER) and the 2019 resident at SymbioticA, a centre for biological art in University of Western Australia.

My career goal is to deepen the understanding of biochemistry and cell biology through curiosity-driven, innovative research and to promote scientific mindset to the general public. 

Teaching Areas & Research Interests

• Molecular cell biology, Chemical biology, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Biological arts

Academic & Professional Experience

Reader, School of Applied Science, University of Huddersfield (2023 - Jan 2025)

Adjunct professor, College of Science, City University of Hong Kong (Sept 2022 – Sept 2023)

Associate professor, Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong (2010-2022)

Assistant professor , Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong (2007-2010)

Research fellow, Wellcome Trust Biocentre, University of Dundee (1998-2007)

Selected Publications

Journal Articles

• Pathikonda, S., Tian, L., Arava, C. M., Cheng, S. H., & Lam, Y. W. (2025). Radiation-induced rescue effect on human breast carcinoma cells is regulated by macrophages. Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports, 41, 101936.
• Zhang Y, Phoo MT, Foo Y, Li X, Lam YW, Zapien JA. (2024) Vernier Ellipsometry Sensing with Ultralow Limit-of-Detection and Large Dynamic Range by Tuning of Zero-Reflection Points. Laser & Photonics Reviews. Jan 10:2300801.
• Zhou, C., Li, X., Tang, S. W., Liu, C., Lam, M. H., & Lam, Y. W. (2023). A Dual-Enzyme Amplification Loop for the Sensitive Biosensing of Endopeptidases. ACS omega, 8(28), 25592-25600.
• Shum J, Lee LC, Chiang MW, Lam YW, Lo KK. (2023) A Concerted Enzymatic and Bioorthogonal Approach for Extracellular and Intracellular Activation of Environment-Sensitive Ruthenium (II)-Based Imaging Probes and Photosensitizers. Angewandte Chemie. May 16:e202303931.
• Huang L, Leung PKK, Lee LCC, Xu GX, Lam YW, Lo KKW. (2022) Photofunctional cyclometallated iridium (iii) polypyridine methylsulfone complexes as sulfhydryl-specific reagents for bioconjugation, bioimaging and photocytotoxic applications. Chemical Communications 58 (73), 10162-10165
• Dong M, Kwok SH, Humble JL, Liang Y, Tang SW, Tang KH, Tse MK, Lei JH, Ramalingam R, Koohi-Moghadam M, Au DW, Sun HY, Lam YW. (2021) BING, a novel antimicrobial peptide isolated from Japanese medaka plasma, targets bacterial envelope stress response by suppressing cpxR expression. Scientific reports. Jun 9;11(1):1-7.
• Ilyas AO, Alam MK, Musah JD, Yang M, Roy VA, Lam YW, Lau C. (2021) CHO cell dysfunction due to radiation-induced bystander signals observed by real-time electrical impedance measurement. Biosensors and Bioelectronics. Jun 1;181:113142.
• Ilyas AO, Alam MK, Musah JD, Yang M, Lam YW, Roy VA, Lau C. (2021) Investigation on the Direct and Bystander Effects in HeLa Cells Exposed to Very Low α-Radiation Using Electrical Impedance Measurement. ACS Omega. May 26.
• Qiao W, Wong KH, Shen J, Wang W, Wu J, Li J, Lin Z, Chen Z, Matinlinna JP, Zheng Y, Wu S, Liu XY, Lai KP, Chen ZF, Lam YW*, Cheung KMC*, Yeung KWK*. (2021) TRPM7 kinase-mediated immunomodulation in macrophage plays a central role in magnesium ion-induced bone regeneration. Nature communications. May 17;12(1):1-5.
• Xu S, Xie FJ, Fallah S, Babaei F, Zhu L, Wong KF, Liang YM, Ramalingam R, Sun L, Wang X, Lam YW*, Cheng SH*. (2020) Estrogen accelerates heart regeneration by promoting inflammatory responses in zebrafish. Journal of Endocrinology, 245(1), 39-51.
• Lam BP, Lam YW, & Pang SW (2020). Using Biomimetic Scaffold Platform to Detect Growth Factor Induced Changes in Migration Dynamics of Nasopharyngeal Epithelial Cells. IEEE Access, 8, 187553-187563.
• Tang SW., Tong, WY, Pang SW, Voelcker NH, & Lam YW. (2020). Deconstructing, replicating, and engineering tissue microenvironment for stem cell differentiation. Tissue Engineering Part B: Reviews.
• Shen W, Berning K, Tang SW, & Lam YW. (2020). Rapid and detergent-free decellularization of cartilage. Tissue Engineering Part C: Methods, 26(4), 201-206.
• Tang SW, Yuen W, Kaur I, Pang SW, Voelcker NH, & Lam YW. (2020). Capturing instructive cues of tissue microenvironment by silica bioreplication. Acta Biomaterialia, 102, 114-126.
• Lam BP, Cheung SKC, Lam YW, Pang SW. (2020) Microenvironmental topographic cues influence migration dynamics of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells from tumour spheroids. RSC Adv., 2020, 10, 28975-28983.
• Tuwahatu CA, Yeung CC, Lam YW, Roy VAL. (2018) The molecularly imprinted polymer essentials: curation of anticancer, ophthalmic, and projected gene therapy drug delivery systems. J Control Release. Aug 12;287:24-34.
• Tang SW, Uddin MH, Tong WY, Pasic P, Yuen W, Thissen H, Lam YW*, Voelcker NH*. (2019 ) Replication of Tissue Microenvironment by Thermal Scanning Probe Lithography. ACS applied materials & interfaces. 11(21), 18988-18994.
• Hu P, Berning K, Lam YW, Ng IH, Yeung CC, Lam MH. (2018) Development of a Visible Light Triggerable Traceless Staudinger Ligation Reagent. The Journal of organic chemistry. Oct 15;83(21):12998-3010.
• Xu Y, Zhou S, Lam YW, Pang SW. (2017) Dynamics of Natural Killer Cells Cytotoxicity in Microwell Arrays with Connecting Channels. Front Immunol. Aug 17;8:998
• Dong M, Seemann F, Humble JL, Liang Y, Peterson DR, Ye R, Ren H, Kim HS, Lee JS, Au DWT, Lam YW. (2017) Modification of the plasma complement protein profile by exogenous estrogens is indicative of a compromised immune competence in marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma). Fish Shellfish Immunol. Nov;70:260-269.
• Zhang H, Xiao P, Wong YT, Shen W, Chhabra M, Peltier R, Jiang Y, He Y, He J, Tan Y, Xie Y, Ho D, Lam YW, Sun J, Sun H. (2017) Construction of an alkaline phosphatase-specific two-photon probe and its imaging application in living cells and tissues. Biomaterials. Sep 1;140:220-9.
• Zhou SF, Gopalakrishnan S, Xu YH, To S, Wong A, Pang S, Lam YW. Substrates with patterned topography reveal metastasis of human cancer cells. Biomedical Materials. 2017 Aug 21;12(5):055001.
• Dong M, Liang Y, Ramalingam R, Tang SW, Shen W, Ye R, Gopalakrishnan S, Au DW, Lam YW. (2017) Proteomic characterization of the interactions between fish serum proteins and waterborne bacteria reveals the suppression of anti-oxidative defense as a serum-mediated antimicrobial mechanism. Fish & shellfish immunology. Mar 31;62:96-106.
• Babaei F, Hong TL, Yeung K, Cheng SH, Lam YW. (2016) Contrast-Enhanced X-Ray Micro-Computed Tomography as a Versatile Method for Anatomical Studies of Adult Zebrafish. Zebrafish. 2016 Aug;13(4):310-6.
• Liu CC, Li L, Lam YW, Siu CW, Cheng SH. (2016) Improvement of surface ECG recording in adult zebrafish reveals that the value of this model exceeds our expectation. Sci Rep. 2016 Apr 29;6:25073.
• Zhou SF, Gopalakrishnan S, Xu YH, Yang J, Lam YW*, Pang SW*. (2016) A unidirectional cell switching gate by engineering grating length and bending angle. PLoS One. 2016 Jan 28;11(1):e0147801.
• Tan Y, Liu R, Zhang H, Peltier R, Lam YW, Zhu Q, Hu Y, Sun H. (2015). Design and Synthesis of Near- infrared Fluorescent Probes for Imaging of Biological Nitroxyl. Sci Rep. 2015 Nov 20;5:16979. doi: 10.1038/srep16979
• Tang QY, Qian WX, Xu YH, Gopalakrishnan S, Wang JQ, Lam YW*, Pang SW*. Control of cell migration direction by inducing cell shape asymmetry with patterned topography. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A. 2015 Jul;103(7):2383-93.
• Poon E, Keung W, Liang Y, Ramalingam R, Yan B, Zhang S, Chopra A, Moore J, Herren A, Lieu DK, Wong HS, Weng Z, Wong OT, Lam YW, Tomaselli GF, Chen C, Boheler KR, Li RA. (2015) Proteomic Analysis of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived, Fetal, and Adult Ventricular Cardiomyocytes Reveals Pathways Crucial for Cardiac Metabolism and Maturation. Circ Cardiovasc Genet. 2015 Jun;8(3):427-36.
• Zhang H, Xie Y, Wang P, Chen G, Liu R, Lam YW, Hu Y, Zhu Q, Sun H. (2015) An iminocoumarin benzothiazole-based fluorescent probe for imaging hydrogen sulfide in living cells. Talanta. 2015 Apr;135:149-54.
• Tang, QY, QianWX, XuYH, Gopalakrishnan S, Wang JQ, Lam YW*, Pang SW* (2014). Control of cell migration direction by inducing cell shape asymmetry with patterned topography. Journal Of Biomedical Materials Research A. J Biomed Mater Res A. 2015 Jul;103(7):2383-93.
• Yan ZQ, Xue HT, Berning K, Lam YW, Chan YS (2014). Identification of Multifunctional Graphene–Gold Nanocomposite for Environment-Friendly Enriching, Separating, and Detecting Hg2+ Simultaneously. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 6 (24), pp 22761–22768
• Tang SW, Tong WY, Shen W, Yeung KW, Lam YW (2014). Stringent requirement for spatial arrangement of extracellular matrix in supporting cell morphogenesis and differentiation. BMC cell biology, 15(1), 10.
• Tang QY, Tong WY, Shi J, Shi P, Lam YW*, Pang SW* (2014). Influence of engineered surface on cell directionality and motility. Biofabrication, 6(1), 015011.
• Kwan KH, Yeung KW, Liu X, Wong KK, Shum HC, Lam YW, Cheng SH, Cheung KM, To MK. (2013) Silver nanoparticles alter proteoglycan expression in the promotion of tendon repair. Nanomedicine. Dec 10. pii: S1549-9634(13)00680-1.
• Li SPY, Lau C, Louie MW, Lam YW, Cheng SH, Lo K. (2013) Mitochondria-Targeting Cyclometalated Iridium(III) Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) Complexes with Tunable Photodynamic Activity. Biomaterials. Oct;34(30):7519-32.
• Li ZF, Lau PN, Shen W, Wang DK, Cheung WT, Xue JC, Poon LM, Lam YW. Dynamic localisation of mature microRNAs in human nucleoli is influenced by exogenous genetic materials. PLoS One, 2013 8(8): e70869.
• Cai X, Rajkumar R, Wong HS, Cheng JP, Ajuh P, Cheng SH, Lam YW (2013). Characterization of carbon nanotube protein corona by using quantitative proteomics. Nanomedicine. Jul;9(5):583-593
• Dong H, Cheung SH, Liang Y, Wang B, Ramalingam R, Wang P, Sun H, Cheng SH, Lam YW. (2013) "Stain-omics": Identification of mitotracker labeled proteins in mammalian cells. Electrophoresis. Jul;34(13):1957-64.
• Babaei F, Ramalingam R, Tavendale A, Liang Y, Yan LS, Ajuh P, Cheng SH, Lam YW. (2013) Novel Blood Collection Method Allows Plasma Proteome Analysis from Single Zebrafish. J Proteome Res. Feb 26;12 (4): 1580–1590
• Liang YM, Wang X, Rajkumar R, So KY, Lam YW*, Li ZF*. Novel nucleolar isolation method reveals rapid response of human nucleolar proteomes to serum stimulation. J Proteomics. 2012 Dec 21;77:521-30.
• Wang BJ, Liang YM, Dong HJ, Tan TF, Zhan B, Cheng JP, Lo KKW, Lam YW*, Cheng SH*. (2012) A luminescent cyclometalated Iridium(III) complex accumulates in mitochondria and induces mitochondrial shortening by conjugation to specific protein targets. Chembiochem. Dec 21;13(18):2729-37
• Tong WY, Shen W, Yeung CWF, Zhao Y, Cheng SH, Chu PK, Chan D, Chan GCF, Cheung KMC, Yeung KWK, Lam YW. (2012) Functional replication of the tendon tissue microenvironment by a bioimprinted substrate and the support of tenocytic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. Biomaterals Nov;33(31):7686-98.
• Cheung HY, Wong MM, Cheung SH, Liang LY, Lam YW, Chiu SK. (2012) Differential actions of chlorhexidine on the cell wall of Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. PLoS One.;7(5):e36659.
• Lam KH, Ip WS, Lam YW, Chan SO, Ling TK, Au SW. (2012) Multiple conformations of the FliG C-terminal domain provide insight into flagellar motor switching. Structure. 2012 Feb 8;20(2):315-25.
• Cheung MTW, Ramalingam R, Lau KK, Chiang MKL, Chiu SK, Cheung HY, Lam YW. (2012) Cell type-dependent effects of andrographolide on human cancer cell lines. Life Sciences,; 91: 751-760
• Ni WX, Man WL, Yiu SM, Ho M, Cheung MTW, Ko, CC, Che CM, Lam YW, Lau TC. (2012) Osmium(VI) nitrido complexes bearing azole heterocycles: a new class of antitumor agents. Chemical Science, 3(5), 1582-1588
• Ni WX, Man WL, Cheung MT, Sun RW, Shu YL, Lam YW, Che CM, Lau TC. (2011) Osmium(vi) complexes as a new class of potential anti-cancer agents. Chem Commun (Camb). 47(7):2140-2
• Hutten S, Prescott A, James J, Riesenberg S, Boulon S, Lam YW, Lamond AI. An intranucleolar body associated with rDNA. Chromosoma. 2011 Oct;120(5):481-99
• Dong HJ, Shen W, Cheung MTW, Liang YM, Cheung HY, Allmaier G, Au OKC, Lam YW. (2011) Rapid detection of apoptosis in mammalian cells by using intact cell MALDI mass spectrometry. Analyst., 136: 5181-5189
• Westman BJ, Verheggen C, Hutten S, Lam YW, Bertrand E, Lamond AI. (2010) A proteomic screen for nucleolar SUMO targets shows SUMOylation modulates the function of Nop5/Nop58. Mol Cell. Aug 27;39(4):618-31
• Tong WY, Liang YM, Tam V, Yip HK, Kao YT, Cheung KM, Yeung KW, Lam YW. (2010) Biochemical characterization of the cell-biomaterial interface by quantitative proteomics. Mol Cell Proteomics. Oct;9(10):2089-98.
• Boisvert FM, Lam YW, Lamont D, Lamond AI. (2010) A quantitative proteomic analysis of subcellular proteome localization and changes induced by DNA damage. Mol Cell Proteomics. Mar;9(3):457-70
• Kar B, Liu BH, Zhou ZJ, Lam YW. (2010) Quantitative nucleolar proteomics reveals nuclear re-organization during stress-induced senescence in mouse fibroblast. BMC Cell Biology. 12:33.
• Lam YW, Evans VC, Heesom KJ, Lamond AI, Matthews DA. (2010) Proteomic analysis of the nucleolus in adenovirus-infected cells. Mol Cell Proteomics. Jan;9(1):117-30
• Trinkle-Mulcahy L, Boulon S, Lam YW, Urcia R, Boisvert FM, Vandermoere F, Morrice NA, Swift S, Rothbauer U, Leonhardt H, Lamond A. (2008) Identifying specific protein interaction partners using quantitative mass spectrometry and bead proteomes. J Cell Biol. Oct 20;183(2):223-39
• Cheng JP, Fernando KAS, Veca LM, Sun YP, Lamond AI, Lam YW*, and Cheng SH*. (2008) Reversible Accumulation of PEGylated Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in the Mammalian Nucleus. ACS Nano., 2 (10), pp 2085–2094
• Lam YW, Lamond, A.I., Mann, M. and Andersen, J.S. (2007) Analysis of nucleolar protein dynamics reveals the nuclear degradation of ribosomal proteins. Current Biology. 17, 749-769.
• Andersen JS*, Lam YW*, Leung AK, Ong SE, Lyon CE, Lamond AI, Mann M. (2005) Nucleolar proteome dynamics. Nature Jan 6;433(7021):77-83.
• Lam YW, Lyon CE, Lamond AI. (2002) Large-scale isolation of Cajal bodies from HeLa cells. Mol Biol Cell. Jul;13(7):2461-73.

Selected Professional & Community Services

• Founding organiser: Leonardo Art Science Evening Rendezvous (LASER), Hong Kong chapter (2018-2022)
• “Cultural masseur: Talking Heads”. Public engagement project with the Hong Kong Arts Centre, August 2020.
• TED talk (2017): “Can curiosity be taught?”

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Modified Date: 27 Feb, 2025
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