- HJ516
- +852 2766 6344
- samantha.shan@polyu.edu.hk
ORCID ID
SCOPUS IDBiography
Dr Samantha SW Shan obtained her Bachelor’s and Ph.D. degrees in Biochemistry from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Department of Anatomy (now part of the School of Biomedical Sciences). She then worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, an affiliated hospital of the University of Toronto in Canada, where she studied microRNAs related to hepatocellular carcinoma using transgenic mouse models. Her research was well received at conferences and published in several high-impact journals, including Nature Cell Biology, FASEB Journal, and Journal of Cell Science.
Dr Shan has over fifteen years of experience in molecular research and is proficient in applying genomic and proteomic approaches. Her research interests include the mechanisms of aqueous humor formation and outflow, intraocular pressure regulation, the impact of miRNAs on the aqueous humor drainage system, and potential candidate genes involved in outflow facility and intraocular pressure regulation through DNA methylation. Recently, Dr Shan and her team received the 2024 Shaffer Research Grant from the Glaucoma Research Foundation (USA) to further investigate the role of the miR-17-92 cluster in intraocular pressure regulation. The goal of this research is to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate aqueous humor outflow, thereby identifying new targets for developing effective treatments to lower intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients. Her research associated with ocular health has been published in international journals including Communications Biology, Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Scientific Reports, Journal of Proteomics, J. Proteome Research and Cells.
Education and Academic Qualifications
- Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Laboratory Science, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Bachelor of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Master of Philosophy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Doctor of Philosophy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Professional Qualifications
- Registered Medical Laboratory Technologist (Part II)
Research Interests
Research Output
- Hoi-lam Li, Samantha Sze-wan Shan, W. Daniel Stamer, et al. (2022) Mechanistic effects of baicalein on aqueous humor drainage and intraocular pressure. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. (In press)
- Wing Yan Yu*, Samantha Sze Wan Shan*, Yamunadevi Lakshmanan, et al. (2022) Selective blue-filtering spectacle lens protected primary porcine RPE cells against light emitting diode-induced cell damage. PLoS One 17(5): e0268796. (*Co-first author with equal contribution)
- Sze Wan Shan*, Pan Feng Wang*, Jimmy Ka Wai Cheung, Fengjuan Yu, Hui Zheng, Shumeng Luo, Shea Ping Yip, Chi Ho To, and Thomas Chuen Lam. (2022) Transcriptional profiling of the chick retina identifies down-regulation of VIP and UTS2B genes during early lens-induced myopia. Molecular Omics 18(5): 449-459. (*Co-first author with equal contribution)
- Samuel Abokyi, Sze-wan Shan, et al. (2021) Targeting lysosomes to reverse hydroquinone-induced autophagy defects and oxidative damage in human retinal pigment epithelial cells. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22(16): 9042.
- Sze‐Wan Shan, Chi‐Wai Do, et al. (2021) Thrombospondin‐1 mediates Rho‐kinase inhibitor‐induced increase in outflow‐facility. J Cell Physiol. 236(12): 8226-8238.
- Shan SW, Tse DY, et al. (2018). Integrated SWATH-based and targeted-based proteomics provide insights into the retinal emmetropization process in guinea pig. J Proteomics. 181: 1-15.
- Shan SW, Do CW, et al. (2017) New insight of common regulatory pathways in human trabecular meshwork cells in response to dexamethasone and prednisolone using an integrated quantitative proteomics: SWATH and MRM-HR mass spectrometry. J. Proteome Research 16(10): 3753-3765.
- Shan SW, Fang L, et al. (2013) Mature MiR-17-5p and passenger miR-17-3p induce hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting PTEN, GalNT7, and vimentin in different signal pathways. J Cell Sci. Mar 15 126(Pt 6): 1517-30.
- Shan SW, Lee DY, et al. (2009) MicroRNA MiR-17 overexpression retards tissue growth and represses fibronectin expression. Nat. Cell Biol 11(7): 1031-8.
- Shan SW, Tang MK, et al. (2007) Induction of growth arrest and polycomb gene expression by reversine allows C2C12 cells to be reprogrammed to become stem-like cells. Proteomics 7: 4303-16.
- Research Grants Council General Research Fund (as Co-I) “The role of photoreceptors and color vision in emmetropization in chicks”. (Jan 2023 – Dec 2025)
- Research Grants Council General Research Fund (as Co-I) “Reducing neural cytotoxicity by using synthesized aquaporin-4 mimotope peptides in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder-related optic neuritis: from model construction to experimental investigation”. (Jan 2023 – Dec 2025)
- Health and Medical Research Fund (as PI) “Epigenetic regulation and glaucoma – the effect of DNA methylation inhibition of Thrombospondin 1 on aqueous humor dynamics”. (Sep 2022 – Aug 2025)
- Research Centre for SHARP Vision Smaller-scale Project, POLYU (as PC) “Characterizing the effects of ROCK inhibition on mitochondrial function of trabecular meshwork cells in vitro and in vivo”. (Apr 2022 – Mar 2023)
- Health and Medical Research Fund (as PI) “Gene editing approach for glaucoma treatment – downregulation of TSP1 improves outflow facility and IOP reduction”. (Oct 2021 – Sep 2024)
- The National Natural Science Foundation of China (as Co-I) “Effect of microRNA in the functions and mechanisms of DNMT inhibitor resistance in Leukemia”. (Jan 2013-Dec 2016)
