Academic Staff

Prof. Lee Ming-yuen, Simon

Cally Kwong Mei Wan Professor in Biomedical Sciences and Chinese Medicine Innovation, Chair Professor of Biomedical Sciences, Director of RCOcean, and Associate Director of WXRI

TU319
+852 3400 8834
simon-my.lee@polyu.edu.hk

PolyU Scholars Hub

ORCID ID

SCOPUS ID

Research Overview

Professor Lee’s research focuses on natural product drug discovery, neurodegenerative diseases and neuroprotective mechanisms, and multi-omics and translational medicine. His work integrates natural products, including Chinese medicine and marine bioresources, with modern biomedical approaches to advance the discovery and development of novel therapeutic and nutraceutical strategies.

Education and Academic Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Academic and Professional Experience

Member, Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint Subcommittee (CMDBSC), Chinese Medicine Development Committee (CMDC), HKSAR Government
Technical Expert and Assessor for ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation Assessments, Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC), HKSAR Government
Member, Biology and Medicine Panel (Joint Research Schemes), Research Grants Council (RGC), Hong Kong
Member, Biology Panel, Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), Hong Kong
Local Member, The Sciences, Medicine, Engineering and Technology Selection Panel (S-Panel), Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) and RGC Junior Research Fellow Scheme (JRFS), Hong Kong
Member, Chinese Medicine Regulatory Advisory Board, Pharmaceutical Administration Bureau, Macao SAR Government
Secretary-General and President-Elect, Good Practice in Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Association (GP-TCM RA)
Chairperson, Hong Kong Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
President, Macao Pharmacology Association
Executive President, Consortium of the Belt and Road and Portuguese-Speaking Countries for Natural Medicine Innovation (Macao)
Associate Editor, China Biotechnology
Editorial Board Member, Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Editorial Board Member, Chinese Medicine

Research Interests

Achievements

Gold Medal and Prize of the Korea Invention Promotion Association, 51st International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, Switzerland (2026)
PolyU Faculty Award for Outstanding Achievement 2025 – Knowledge Transfer (Industry), Hong Kong, China (2025)
Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury and 1st Prize of Inventions Geneva Award, 5th Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions Hong Kong (AEII), Hong Kong, China (2025)
First Prize, Lin Haoran Animal Science and Technology Award, China (2024)
Second Prize, Natural Science Award, Macao Science and Technology Awards, Macao, China (2022)
Third Prize, Guizhou Provincial Natural Science Award, China (2022)
Third Prize (×2), Technological Invention Award, Macao Science and Technology Awards, Macao, China (2020)
Second Prize, Shanghai Science and Technology Progress Award, China (2020)
Third Prize, Science and Technology Award of the Chinese Association of Integrative Medicine, China (2020)
First Prize, Science and Technology Award of the Cardiovascular Committee, Chinese Association of Integrative Medicine, China (2019)
Gold Medal with the Congratulations of the Jury, 47th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, Switzerland (2019)
Third Prize, Shanghai Science and Technology Award, China (2017)
Second Prize, Science and Technology Award of Integrative Medicine, China (2017)
Second Prize, Natural Science Award, Macao Science and Technology Awards, Macao, China (2016)
Second Prize, Shanghai Science and Technology Award of Integrative Medicine, China (2016)
Second Prize, Natural Science Award, Macao Science and Technology Awards, Macao, China (2012)

一種海洋微生物來源的促血管生成肽 cAMP-235 及其應用。中國發明專利申請，申請號：2025117698964（2025）。
一種珊瑚微生物來源的促血管生成肽 cAMP-137 及其應用。中國發明專利申請，申請號：2025117699026.0（2025）。
MitoPBN在製備防治視網膜缺血病變藥物中的應用。中國發明專利申請，申請號：202511267413.0（2025）。
一種微流控芯片、生物培養系統及其應用。中國發明專利申請，申請號：202511192823.3（2025）。
一種 TRPV1 激動劑的篩選方法及其應用。中國發明專利申請，申請號：2025100731861（2025；實質審查中）。
Polypeptide for Promoting Angiogenesis and Composition Including Polypeptide. US Patent Application No. 18/983,429 (2024).
生物鹼 DHE 作為 TREM2 激活劑在製備治療神經炎症藥物中的應用。中國發明專利申請，申請號：202411269293.3（2024；實質審查中）。
一種 (R)-4-(2-羥基-5-甲基苯基)-5-甲基己酸鈣鹽及其製備方法與應用。中國發明專利申請，申請號：202410996317.9（2024）；Calcium Bis[(R)-4-(2-Hydroxy-5-Methylphenyl)-5-Methylhexanoate] and Preparation Method and Use Thereof, US Patent Application No. 19/389,171 (2025).
(S)-4-(2-羥基-5-甲基苯基)-5-甲基己酸的晶型及其製備方法和用途。中國發明專利申請，申請號：202410253320.1（2024；實質審查中）。
β-環糊精介導的免疫細胞-載藥脂質體偶連體在抗動脈粥樣硬化中的應用。中國發明專利，專利號：ZL202210347227.8（2022）。
一種超分子細胞載體、載藥體系及其製備方法。中國發明專利，CN111588703B（2020）。
一種太陽光敏感型除草劑納米囊及其製備方法和應用。中國發明專利，專利號：ZL201810700314.0（2018）。
Microfluidic Screening System. US Patent No. US10392592B2; European Patent No. EP3321681B1; 基於微流控技術的大規模活體生物篩選系統，中國專利號：CN106885807B。
Composition for Treating Dry Eye Diseases and Sjögren’s Syndrome. International PCT Publication No. WO2017033060A1; US Patent No. US11007177B2; 用於治療乾眼病和斯耶格倫氐綜合症的組合，中國專利號：CN107921022B。
Microfluidics Separation Method and System Thereof. US Patent No. US9623408B2.
Methods of Treating Parkinson’s Disease. US Patent No. US10011555B2.
Novel Anti-Neurodegenerative Natural Compounds Isolated from Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Fructus and Their Total Synthesis. US Patent No. US9475749B2; European Patent No. EP2970090B1; Japan Patent No. JP6422452B2; Spain Patent No. ES2736599T3; 分離自益智仁的新抗神經變性天然化合物及其全合成，中國專利號：CN105431405B。
三七花總皂苷在製備促進血管新生的藥物中的應用。中國發明專利，專利號：CN103893230B。
4,7-二氫四唑[1,5-α]嘧啶類化合物及其衍生物在製備預防或治療腦出血藥物中的應用。中國發明專利，專利號：CN103193780B。
一種用於腦神經保護的藥物的組合。中國發明專利，專利號：CN102526021B。
用於篩選抗血管損傷藥物的斑馬魚血管損傷模型及其建立方法和應用。中國發明專利，專利號：CN102499135B。
Uses of Indole-Ketones or Indolidones as Neuro-Protective Drugs. International PCT Publication No. WO2013061279A4; US Patent No. US9486440B2; 吲哚酮類化合物在製備神經保護藥物中的應用，中國專利號：CN102499917B

Q Chen, C Deng, X Huang, A Wang, N Xu, K Cao, M Yang, S Li, Q Lu, G Gong*, SMY Lee*. “A coral-derived neuropeptide suppresses pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced epileptic seizures and improves recognition memory deficits by modulating NPY-Y1R.” Archives of Toxicology vol. 100,1 (2026): 321-339.
H Chen, N Xu, H Kam, C Zhao, Q Chen, G Fan, SWI Siu, CTT Wong, J-W Qiu, AKK Cheung, A Teixeira, G Baptista, PK Wong, S Li, G Gong*, SMY Lee*. “A TRPV1 agonist from the transcriptome profiling of Dipsastraea rotumana inhibits neuroinflammation in vivo through the NF-κB and MAPK pathways.” Pharmacological Research vol. 218 (2025): 107837.
H Chen, H Kam, SWI Siu, CTT Wong, JW Qiu, AKK Cheung, G Baptista, SMY Lee*. “Neuroprotective Kunitz-like peptides identified from the octopus coral Galaxea fascicularis through transcriptomic analysis.” Water Biology and Security vol. 4 (2025): 100358.
H Zhang*, S Sun, J Liu, Q Guo, L Meng, J Chen, X Xiang, Y Zhou, N Zhang, H Liu, Y Liu, G Yan, Q Ji, L He, S Cai, C Cai, X Huang, S Xu, Y Xiao, Y Zhang, K Wang, Y Liu, H Chen, Z Yue, S He, J Wang, H Yang, X Liu, I Seim, Y Gu, Q Li, G Zhang, SMY Lee, K Kristiansen, X Xu*, S Liu*, G Fan*. “The amphipod genome reveals population dynamics and adaptations to hadal environment.” Cell vol. 188,5 (2025): 1378-1392.e18.
Y Song, Z Yuan, C Fang, S Zhang, L Yang, M Hu, I Seim, S Liu, X Tian, C Wang, Y Zhang, Z Pan, Q Qu, H Liu, Y Li, L Pan, C Zhu, H Yang, X Chen, M Zhang, G Hou, M Liu, J Wang, Q Liu, X Gan, H Zeng, W Xu, C Feng, M Wang, Z Zhou, S He, C Liu, M Yu, H Li, J Liang, H Zhang, Y Li, SMY Lee, Y Sun, Q Qiu, X Liu, K Kristiansen, W Wang, J Wang, M Zhu, H Yang, S Chen, J Gui, Y Chen, G Zhang, X Xu*, K Wang*, G Fan*, S He*. “A genomic compendium of hundreds of teleost fishes reveals their evolutionary landscape.” The Innovation vol. 7,3 (2025): 101177.
L Li, Y He, N Xu, X Wang, B Song, B Tang*, SMY Lee*. “A natural small molecule aspidosperma-type alkaloid, hecubine, as a new TREM2 activator for alleviating lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation in vitro and in vivo.” Redox Biology vol. 70 (2024): 103057.
Q Chen, N Xu, C Zhao, Y He, H Kam, X Wu, P Huang, M Yang, CTT Wong, G Baptista, B Tang, G Fan, G Gong*, SMY Lee*. “A new invertebrate NPY-like polypeptide, ZoaNPY, from the Zoanthus sociatus, as a novel ligand of human NPY Y2 receptor rescues vascular insufficiency via PLC/PKC and Src-FAK-dependent signaling pathways.” Pharmacological Research vol. 203 (2024): 107173.
J Chen, Y Jia, Y Sun*, K Liu, C Zhou, C Liu, D Li, G Liu, C Zhang, T Yang, L Huang, Y Zhuang, D Wang, D Xu, Q Zhong, Y Guo, A Li, I Seim, L Jiang, L Wang, SMY Lee, Y Liu, D Wang, G Zhang, S Liu, X Wei, Z Yue, S Zheng, X Shen, S Wang, C Qi, J Chen, C Ye, F Zhao, J Wang, J Fan, B Li, J Sun, X Jia, Z Xia, H Zhang, J Liu, Y Zheng, X Liu, J Wang, H Yang, K Kristiansen, X Xu, T Mock*, S Li*, W Zhang*, G Fan*. “Global marine microbial diversity and its potential in bioprospecting.” Nature vol. 633,8029 (2024): 371-379. doi:10.1038/s41586-024-07891-2.
X Gong, S Li, J Huang, S Tan, Q Zhang, Y Tian, Q Li, L Wang, HHY Tong, X Yao, C Chen*, SMY Lee*, H Liu*. “Discovery of potent LRRK2 inhibitors by ensemble virtual screening strategy and bioactivity evaluation.” European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry vol. 279 (2024): 116812.
G Gong*, H Kam, Y Bai, WS Cheang, S Wu, X Cheng, JP Giesy, SMY Lee*. “6-benzylaminopurine causes endothelial dysfunctions to human umbilical vein endothelial cells and exacerbates atorvastatin-induced cerebral hemorrhage in zebrafish.” Environmental Toxicology vol. 39,3 (2024): 1258-1268.
C Gao, CHT Kwong, Q Wang, H Kam, J Wei, Q Chen, J Zhang, SMY Lee*, D Gu, R Wang*. “Surface-engineered chlorella alleviated hypoxic tumor microenvironment for enhanced chemotherapy and immunotherapy of first-line drugs.” Materials Today vol. 58 (2022): 57–70.
C Gao, Q Wang, J Li, CHT Kwong, J Wei, B Xie, S Lu, SMY Lee*, R Wang*. “In vivo hitchhiking of immune cells by intracellular self-assembly of bacteria-mimetic nanomedicine for targeted therapy of melanoma.” Science Advances vol. 8,19 (2022): eabn1805.
H Zhou, S Li, C Li, X Yang, H Li, H Zhong, J Lu*, SMY Lee*. “Oxyphylla A Promotes Degradation of α-Synuclein for Neuroprotection via Activation of Immunoproteasome.” Aging and Disease vol. 11,3 (2022): 559-574.
Y Bian, Y Chen, X Wang, G Cui, COL Ung, J-H Lu, W Cong, B Tang, SMY Lee*. “Oxyphylla A ameliorates cognitive deficits and alleviates neuropathology via the Akt-GSK3β and Nrf2-Keap1-HO-1 pathways in vitro and in vivo murine models of Alzheimer's disease.” Journal of Advanced Research vol. 34 (2021): 1-12.
C Gao, Q Huang, C Liu, CHT Kwong, L Yue, JB Wan, SMY Lee*, R Wang*. “Treatment of atherosclerosis by macrophage-biomimetic nanoparticles via targeted pharmacotherapy and sequestration of proinflammatory cytokines.” Nature communications vol. 11,1 (2020): 2622.