- 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
- Ling CY, Choy KY, Li HL, Tse CY, Yang WY, Wong NW, Stamer WD, Do CW, Tse DY, Shan SS. The role of thrombospondin-1 in trehalose-induced autophagy and ocular hypertension in mice. Sci Rep. 2025 Nov 6;15(1):38930. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-22873-8. (Corresponding author)
- Choy KY, Yang WY, Ling CY, Li KK, Li HL, Lung HL, To CH, Do CW, Stamer WD, Shan SS. (2025) Hypomethylation of thrombospondin-1 promoter region is associated with reduced aqueous humor flow. Commun Biol. 8(1):1430. DOI: 10.1038/s42003-025-08833-y. (Corresponding author)
- Kirk Patrick Carreon Catral, Choi-yee Tse, Wei-ying Yang, Choi-ying Ling, Oi-lam Kwok, Kit-ying Choy, Da-qian Lu, Jing-fang Bian, Thomas Chuen Lam, Dennis Yan-yin Tse and Samantha Sze-wan Shan. (2024) Thrombospondin 1 Mediates Autophagy Upon Inhibition of the Rho-Associated Protein Kinase Inhibitor. Cells. 13:1907. DOI: 10.3390/cells13221907. (Corresponding author)
- Stanley Ka-lok Li*, Sze-wan Shan*, Fang-yu Lin, Hoi-lam Li, Wei Han, Chi-ho To, Chi-wai Do. (2023) Regulation of aqueous humor secretion by melatonin in porcine ciliary epithelium. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 24(6):5789. DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065789. (*Co-first author with equal contribution)
- Wing Yan Yu*, Samantha Sze Wan Shan*, Yamunadevi Lakshmanan, Francisca Siu Yin Wong, Kai Yip Choi, Henry Ho Lung Chan. (2022) Selective blue-filtering spectacle lens protected primary porcine RPE cells against light emitting diode-induced cell damage. PLoS One 17(5): e0268796. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268796. (*Co-first author with equal contribution)
- Sze‐Wan Shan, Chi‐Wai Do, Thomas Chuen Lam, Hoi‐Lam Li, W. Daniel Stamer, and Chi‐Ho To. (2021) Thrombospondin‐1 mediates Rho‐kinase inhibitor‐induced increase in outflow‐facility. J Cell Physiol. 236(12): 8226-8238. DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30492.
- 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. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.7b00449.
- 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. DOI: 10.1038/ncb1917.
- Shaffer Grant to Support Glaucoma Research (as PI) “MiR-17-92 members in IOP regulation” (Jul 2024 – Jun 2026)
- Online Teaching Grant, PolyU (as PL) “Efficacy of an eye dissection session in enhancing optometry undergraduate students’ learning experience on ocular anatomy and aging eye pathology” (Jun 2023 – Jun 2024)
- Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation (RCMI), PolyU (as PI) “San Huang Tang, a Traditional Chinese Medicine-Based Glaucoma Treatment” (Mar 2023 – Sep 2025)
- Research Grants Council General Research Fund (RGC GRF) (as Co-I) “The role of photoreceptors and color vision in emmetropization in chicks” (Nov 2022 – Apr 2026)
- Research Grants Council General Research Fund (RGC GRF) (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 – Jun 2026)
- Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) (as PI) “Epigenetic regulation and glaucoma – the effect of DNA methylation inhibition of Thrombospondin 1 on aqueous humor dynamics” (Sep 2022 – Jun 2026)
- Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV), 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 (HMRF) (as PI) “Gene editing approach for glaucoma treatment – downregulation of TSP1 improves outflow facility and IOP reduction” (Oct 2021 – Jun 2025)
