Prof. Terence Chuen Wai POON

1. Applications of proteomics, glycoproteomics, glycomics and metabolomics to biomarker discovery for disease diagnoses and prognoses;
2. Development of high-throughput mass spectrometry technologies for proteomics, glycoproteomics, glycomics and metabolomics studies;
3. Applications of bioinformatics to data mining, discovery of biomarkers, disease outcome prediction and understanding of carcinogenesis;
4. Deciphering human proteome (Human Proteome Projects)
5. Deciphering functional roles of alpha-fetoprotein

• Hon KL.; Tsang YC.; Poon TCW.; Pong NH.; Luk NM.; Leung TN.; Chow CM.; Leung TF. Dairy and nondairy beverage consumption for childhood atopic eczema: what health advice to give? Clinical and experimental dermatology 2016;41(2):129-37.
• He M.; Qin H.; Poon TCW.; Sze SC.; Ding X.; Co NN.; Ngai SM.; Chan TF.; Wong N. Hepatocellular carcinoma-derived exosomes promote motility of immortalized hepatocyte through transfer of oncogenic proteins and RNAs. Carcinogenesis 2015; bgv; 081.
• Chaiyarit S, Singhto N, Chen YJ, Cheng CY, Chiangjong W, Kanlaya R, Lam HH, Peerapen P, Sung TY, Tipthara P, Pandey A, Poon TCW, Chen YJ, Sirdeshmukh R, Chung MC, Thongboonkerd V. Chromosome-centric Human Proteome Project (C-HPP): Chromosome 12. Journal of Proteome Research. 13(7):3160-5, 2014.
• Ng EWY, Wong MYM, Poon TCW*. Advances in MALDI mass spectrometry in clinical diagnostic applications. Topics in Current Chemistry 336:139-75, 2014. [Review]
• Ng EWY, Poon TCW, Lam HS, Cheung HM, Ma TPY, Chan KYY, Wong RPO, Leung KT, Lam MMT, Li K, Ng PC. Gut Associated Biomarkers L-FABP, I-FABP, TFF3 and LIT score for Diagnosis of Surgical Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm Infants. Annals of Surgery 258(6):1111-8, 2013.
• Ng PC, Ang IL, Chiu RW, Li K, Lam HS, Wong RPO, Chui KM, Cheung HM, Ng EWY, Sung JJY, Lo YMD, Poon TCW*. Host-response biomarkers for accurate, early diagnosis of septicemia and necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm Infants. Journal of Clinical Investigation 120:2989-3000, 2010.
• Kam RKT, Poon TCW*, Chan HLY, Wong N, Hui AY, Sung JJY. High-throughput quantitative profiling of serum N-glycome by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and N-glycomic fingerprint of liver fibrosis. Clinical Chemistry 53: 1254-63, 2007.
• Poon TCW*, Wong N, Lai PBS, Rattray M, Johnson PJ, Sung JJY. A Tumor progression model for hepatocellular carcinoma – Bioinformatic analysis of genomic data. Gastroenterology 131: 1262-1270, 2006. [Editorial by Thorgeirsson S.S. in Gastroenterology 131:1344-6, 2006.]
• Poon TCW, Sung JJY, Chow SM, Ng EKW, Yu ACW, Chu ESH, Hui AAY, Leung WK. Diagnosis of gastric cancer by serum proteomic fingerprinting. Gastroenterology 130: 1858-1864, 2006 [Editorial by Kawada N. in Gastroenterology 130:1917-9, 2006]
• Ang IL, Poon TCW*, Lai PBS, Chan ATC, Ngai SM, Hui AY, Johnson PJ, Sung JJY. Study of serum haptoglobin and its glycoforms in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma – a glycoproteomic approach. Journal of Proteome Research 5: 2691-2700, 2006. 
• Poon TCW*, Hui AY, Chan HLY, Ang IL, Chow SM, Wong N, Sung JJY. Prediction of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B infection by serum proteomic fingerprinting: a pilot study. Clinical Chemistry 51: 328-335, 2005.
• Poon TCW*, Chan KCA, Ng PC, Chiu RWK, Ang IL, Tong YK, Ng EKO, Cheng FWT, Li AM, Hon EKL, Fok TF, Lo YMD. Serial Analysis of Plasma Proteomic Signatures in Pediatric Patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and Correlation with Viral Load. Clinical Chemistry 50: 1452-1455. 2004.
• Poon TCW, Yip TT, Chan ATC, Yip C, Yip V, Mok TSK, Leung TWT, Ho S, Johnson PJ. Comprehensive proteomic profiling identifies serum proteomic signatures for detection of hepatocellular carcinoma and its subtypes. Clinical Chemistry 49: 752-760, 2003.
• Poon TCW, Mok TSK, Chan ATC, Chan CML, Leung V, Tsui STH, Leung TWT, Wong HTM, Ho SKW, Johnson PJ. Quantification and utility of monosialylated alpha-fetoprotein in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma with nondiagnostic serum total a-fetoprotein. Clinical Chemistry 48: 1021 –1027. 2002.
• Poon TCW, Chan ATC, Zee B, Ho SKW, Mok TSK, Leung TWT, Johnson PJ. Application of classification tree and neural network algorithm to the identification of serological liver marker profiles in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncology 61: 275-283. 2001
• Poon TCW, Johnson PJ. Proteome analysis and its impact on the discovery of serological tumor markers. Clinica Chimica Acta 313: 231-239. 2001. [Review]
• Johnson PJ, Poon TCW, Hjelm NM, Ho CS, Blake C, Ho SKW. Structures of disease-specific serum alpha-fetoprotein. British Journal of Cancer 83: 1330-1337. 2000.

*: Corresponding Author

1. Development of novel plasma metabolomic fingerprinting method for disease diagnoses using high-resolution mass spectrometry and unidentified tandem mass spectral libraries. Multi-Year Research Grant. MYRG2015-00233-FHS. 2015-2018. Amount: MOP$1,636,260
2. Investigation of Clinical Utilities of Gut Barrier Proteins in Diagnosis of Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm Infants. Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF), Food and Health Bureau, Hong Kong SAR Government. Project code: 01120296. 2013-2015. Amount: HK$984,528
3. Development of a Sensitive Multiple Parallel Fragmentation Monitoring Assay for Quantitative Profiling of Plasma/Serum Amino Acids by MALDI-TOF/TOF Mass Spectrometry. General Research Fund (GRF), Hong Kong Research Grant Council, CUHK 403413, 2013-2015. Amount: HK$310,556
4. Identification of circulating antigens in patients with Helicobacter Pylori infection. Research Fund for the Control of Infectious Diseases (RFCID, investigator-initiated projects), Food and Health Bureau, Hong Kong SAR Government, 2010-2012. Project code: 10090612. Amount: HK$978,648
5. Development of a glycan-based blood test for diagnosis of hepatitis B virus-associated liver cancer. Innovation Technology Support Fund (ITF, Tier 3), Innovation and Technology Commission. Hong Kong. ITS/300/09, 2009 – 2011. Amount:HK$0.993M
6. Serum N-Glycan Profiling for Diagnosis of Liver Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis B. Earmarked Grant, Hong Kong Research Grant Council, CUHK 4732/07M, 2007-2009. Amount: HK$781,319
7. Identification of liver cirrhosis-specific glycoforms of serum proteins from patients with chronic hepatitis B infection by differential lectin affinity chromatography and quantitative proteomic profiling, Research Fund for the Control of Infectious Diseases (RFCID, investigator-initiated projects), Health, Welware and Food Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government, 2006-2008. Project code: 04050392. Amount: $694,680
8. Proteomic profiling in SARS: diagnosis and prognostic applications. Research Fund for Control of Infectious Disease (RFCID, commissioned project), 2004-2006. Project code: CUHK-BS-005. Amount: $900,000
9. Non-invasive diagnosis of liver cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B patients by serum total glycosylation profiling. Research Fund for Control of Infectious Disease (RFCID, commissioned project), 2006-2007. Project code: CUHK-BS-016. $100,000
10. Identification of Tumor-Specific Glycoforms of Serum Proteins from Patients with Early Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Differential Lectin Affinity Chromatography and Quantitative Proteomic Profiling. Earmarked Grant, Hong Kong Research Grant Council, CUHK 4466/03M, 2003-2005. Amount: HK$624,000

In Capacity of Co-Investigator (12 competitive grants, total of MOP$24 million):

1. Revealing roles of the CAMSAP1L1 gene in symptomatic epilepsy. General Research Fund (GRF), Hong Kong Research Grant Council, Project code: CUHK 460313, 2013-2015. Amount: HK$692,826
2. Interaction of influenza A virus nucleoproteins with the C-terminal region of RNA polymerase PB2 subunit. General Research Fund (GRF), Hong Kong Research Grant Council, Project code: 473111. 2012-2015. Amount: HK$ 1,546,000
3. Centre for MicroRNA Study – Basic Research and Clinical Potentials in Cancer, CUHK8/CRF/11R, 2011-2014, HK$4,253,000
4. Centre for MicroRNA Study – Basic Research and Clinical Potentials in Cancer, CUHK4/CRF/08, 2008-2011. Amount: HK$5.7M
5. Role of Small Non-Coding miR-221 and miR-222 in the Oncogenesis of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma, General Research Fund (GRF), Hong Kong Research Grant Council, 2007-2009. Amount: HK$645,500
6. Proteomic Profiling of Liver Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis B. Earmarked Grant, Hong Kong Research Grant Council, 2005-2007. Amount: HK$718,957
7. Function Characterization of PFKT1 in the Cellular Invasion of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Earmarked Grant, Hong Kong Research Grant Council, 2006-2008. Amount: HK$1,289,914
8. Research Into Integrative Medical Sciences. Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences Grant. 2005-2008. Project code 6901955. HK$2,500,000
9. Hepatocellular Carcinoma Research Group: Clinical Applications of Functional Genomics. Central Allocation Grant, Research Grant Council, 2003/2006. Amount: HK$4,000,000
10. Studies on Markers of Tumor Hypoxia in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma. Hong Kong Research Grant Council, CUHK 4093/02M, 2002/2004. Amount: HK$ 1,240,000
11. Tumor Markers for Prediction of Treatment Response to Gemcitabine-Based Regimens: A Search by Quantitative Proteomics. Eli Lilly. Gemzar Grant Award, 2002/2003. Amount: US$50,000
12. Studies on Anti-tumour Effect of M225, a Monoclonal Anti-epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Antibody, on Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma. Hong Kong Research Grant Council, CUHK 4039/01M, 2001/2003. Amount: HK$699,600

• Young Investigator Award, Asian Pacific Association for the Study of Liver (APASL). 2009
• The Most Promising Young Researcher Award, Health Research Symposium 2007, Food and Health Bureau, The Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. 2007
• Research Excellence Award 2006/2007, Chinese University of Hong Kong. 2007
• Outstanding Research Project 2005/2006, “Diagnosis of gastric cancer by serum proteomic fingerprinting”, Chinese University of Hong Kong. 2006
• Outstanding Oral Presentation in Second Hong Kong Conference of Clinical Chemistry, Hong Kong Society of Clinical Chemistry. 1998
• Laird Memorial Scholarship 92/93. Chung Chi College, Chinese University of Hong Kong. 1993
• Him Lee Scholarhip 91/92, Chung Chi College, Chinese University of Hong Kong. 1992
• Outstanding Academic Performance Certificate 90/91, Chung Chi College, Chinese University of Hong Kong. 1991
• Outstanding Academic Performance Certificate 89/90, Chung Chi College, Chinese University of Hong Kong. 1990

• Council member, Human Proteome Organization (since 2007)
• Secretary General, Asia and Oceania Human Proteome Organization (since 2014)
• Council member, Asia and Oceania Human Proteome Organization (since 2007)
• Hong Kong Representative, International Mass Spectrometry Foundation (2010-2014)
• Treasurer, Hong Kong Proteomics Society (since 2011)
• Vice-President, Hong Kong Proteomics Society (2006-2011)
• President, Hong Kong Society of Mass Spectrometry (2010-2014)
• Vice-President, Hong Kong Society of Mass Spectrometry (2008-2010)
• Council member, Hong Kong Society of Mass Spectrometry (since 2004)
• Panel member, Physical Science Panel, Research Grant Committee, The University Grants Committee, Hong Kong (2012 – 2015)
• Grant Review Board member, Health and Medical Research Fund, Food and Health Bureau, Hong Kong (2012 – 2014)
• Grant Review Board member, Research Fund for the Control of Infectious Diseases, Food and Health Bureau, Hong Kong (2011 – 2012)
• Member, Planning Committee, Research Laboratory, Hong Kong Children Hospital, Food and Health Bureau, Hong Kong (2010 – 2014)

• Editorial Board of “Scientific Reports” (Nature Publisher) (since 2014)
• Editorial Board of “Clinical Proteomics” (since 2014)
• Editorial Board of “PROTEOMICS – Clinical Applications” (since 2007)
• Editorial Board of “ Journal of Bioinformatics and Proteomics” (since 2009)
• Guest Editor of “ BioMed Research International” (2013)
• Guest Editor of “Topics in Current Chemistry” (2012)