Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine

Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine is established to further accelerate research in stem cell biology, biomedical engineering, biotechnology, and regenerative medicine at Karolinska Institutet.

The Hong Kong node
The Stockholm node
General information about MWLC
Fluorescent labelling of sensory neuron diversity

Advances in reparative medicine

Welcome to participate in our scientific symposium in Sweden on 15 May 2019. Topics to be covered are: cell types and cell states, tissue repair and disease modelling and bioengineering in reparative medicine.          

Job opportunities

We are currently recruiting highly motivated and dedicated individuals with good team spirit and good communication skills for multiple positions at MWLC, all to be based in our Hong Kong node which is established at the Hong Kong Science Park, New Territories. 

Presentation of Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine

The presentation of MWLC and its first 21 months of operations includes brief presentations on the currently ten scientific teams and their research in reparative medicine, its institutional and administrative development as well as a timeline of activitites and events.  
Från vänster Saida Hadjab, Haohao Wu, François Lallemend och Charles Petitpré, forskargrupp Lallemend, institutionen för neurovetenskap. Foto: Stefan Zimmerman

Francois Lallemend has a new publication in Nature Communications

The Lau Fellow Francois Lallemend together with colleagues have identified four types of neurons in the peripheral auditory system, three of which are new to science. The analysis of these cells can lead to the development of genetic tools that can be used for new therapies for various kinds of hearing disorders, such as tinnitus and age-related hearing loss.        
Från vänster Francois Lallemend, Yiqiao Wang, Saida Hadjab, Luca Bartesaghi och Roman Chrast. Foto: Ulf Sirborn

Francois Lallemend has a new publication in Cell Reports

Francois Lallemend, one out of our six Lau Fellows, has together with his colleagues identified a protein required for the development of pain neurons from stem cells. When blocking this protein during the fetal stage, no neurons develop that convey pain, temperature and itch. This discovery can eventually lead to new drugs for pain conditions.  
Gonçalo Castelo-Branco och Eneritz Agirre. Foto: David van Bruggen

Gonçalo Castelo-Branco has a new publication in Nature

Altered oligodendroglial heterogeneity in multiple sclerosis may be important for understanding disease progression and developing therapeutic approaches.        
Reception in Hong Kong about MWLC

Moving forward together: Shaping the future of MWLC

MWLC together with the Consulate General of Sweden arranged the reception "Moving forward together: Shaping the future of Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine"for representatives from academia, industry and governmental bodies to learn more about MWLC and its ongoing activities.

Scientific Advisory Board of MWLC

From November 2018 MWLC has a Scientific Advisory Board formed by highly qualified and internationally respected scientists with expertise in areas relevant for the Centre.

Local Reference Group of MWLC

From November 2018 MWLC has a Local Reference Group with advisory function consisting of prominent leaders and academics from universities in Hong Kong.
David van Bruggen, Gonçalo Castelo-Branco och Ana Mendanha Falcão. Foto: Eneritz Agirre

Gonçalo Castelo-Branco has a new publication in Nature Medicine

Mapping of a certain group of cells, known as oligodendrocytes, in the central nervous system of a mouse model of multiple sclerosis, shows that they might have a significant role in the development of the disease. The discovery can lead to new therapies targeted at other areas than just the immune system.       

Gonçalo Castelo-Branco has a new publication in Developmental Cell

Lau Fellow Gonçalo Castelo-Branco used single-cell RNA sequencing to show that oligodendrocytes forget forget their origins throughout their life, unlike other nerve cells, in a recent publication in Developmental Cell.
Sijie Chen publication in Angewandte Chemie

Sijie Chen has a new publication

Sijie Chen and colleagues have developed a new staining method offering sensitive detection of total proteins in polyacrylamide gels with a broad linear dynamic range and robust operations that rival the silver nitrate stain and the best fluorescent stains.
Christian Göritz, docent vid institutionen för cell- och molekylärbiologi. Foto: Ulf Sirborn

Christian Göritz has a new publication in Cell

“Our findings give an important explanation as to why functional recovery is so limited following injury to the central nervous system” says Lau Fellow Christian Göritz.
Discussions among MWLC researchers and colleagues during 2018 scientific symposium

2018 scientific symposium

The 2018 scientific symposium gave our researchers at MWLC in Hong Kong and Sweden the possibility of sharing their research with other scientists in Hong Kong. The 20 researchers presenting were from KI, Aarhus, BGI and several of the universities in Hong Kong. Intensive discussions took place during breaks which hopefully will lead to new exciting collaborations.
MWLC management and Faculty with Ole Petter Ottersen and Mikael Odenberg during visit in Hong Kong December 2017

Visit of Ole Petter Ottersen and Mikael Odenberg

Vice-Chancellor Ole Petter Ottersen and Chair of the Board of Karolinska Institutet Mikael Odenberg met with MWLC staff for the very first time during a visit to Hong Kong on 19 December. Our PIs presented ongoing research as well as demonstrated some of the techniques used in the lab.
Visit of Prince Carl Philip at MWLC

Visit of HRH Prince Carl Philip

As part of an official visit to Hong Kong, HRH Prince Carl Philip of Sweden visited MWLC on 7 December. Together with the Consul General Helena Storm, the Prince met our scientists and got a tour in the laboratory.

MWLC seminars

Ming Wai Lau

Publications
Lau Faculty and Fellows meeting at the GOSSIPER retreat 2017

Lau Faculty and Fellows at the GOSSIPER retreat

The 2017 GOSSIPER retreat took place on 23 August, where Lau Faculty and Fellows met with many other researchers at KI to get knowledge about each other's research and find potential new collaborations.
Audience at the symposium "Reparative Medicine and Beyond"

Reparative Medicine and Beyond

The symposium “Reparative Medicine and Beyond” was the first opportunity for our researchers in Hong Kong and Sweden to explore possibilities of collaboration between MWLC and local universities in Hong Kong. As many as 25 junior researchers from KI as well as universities in HK presented their current research. Many fruitful discussions took place during panel discussions and breaks.
Inauguration of Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine in 2016

Inauguration of MWLC

The inauguration of Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine took place on 7 October 2016 at Charles K. Kao Auditorium, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, New Territories and a traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony was officiated by representatives of the Chinese and Hong Kong governments, the Consul General of Sweden in Hong Kong and Macao, senior management of KI and Steering Group and management team of MWLC.
CentreRegenerative MedicineStem Cell Biology
12 Apr 2019 by Agneta Wallin Levinovitz.