top of page

Professor Ruby L.C. HOO 
何麗莊

Associate Professor

BSc, MSc, PhD

rubyhoo@hku.hk

HKU link

Field of Research:

Preclinical and translational research focusing on therapeutic target identification and drug development

Publications:

Total number of publications: 62; h-index: 35

​

Ten most representative publications in recent years (*Corresponding author)

  1. Wu X, Zhang Z, Li J, Zong J, Yuan L, Shu L, Cheong LY, Huang X, Jiang M, Ping Z, Xu A, Hoo RL*. Chchd10: A Novel Metabolic Sensor Modulating Adipose Tissue Homeostasis. Advanced Science 2025  https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202408763 (IF 14.2)

  2. Zong J, Wu X, Huang X, Yuan L, Zhang Z, Yuan K, Jiang M, Ping Z, Cheong LY, Xu A, Hoo RL* Adipocyte-derived shed Syndecan-4 suppresses lipolysis contributing to impaired adipose tissue browning and adaptive thermogenesis. Molecular Metabolism 2025 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmet.2025.102133 (IF 7.0)

  3. Wu X, Cheong LY, Yuan L, Jin L, Zhang Z, Xiao Y, Zhou Z, Xu A, Hoo RL*, Shu L*. Islet Resident Memory T Lymphocytes Orchestrate the immunopathogenesis of Type 1 Diabetes through the FABP4-CXCL10 axis. Advanced Science 2024 http://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202308461 (IF 14.2)

  4. Liao B, Yang S, Geng L, Zong J, Zhang Z, Jiang M, Jiang X, Li S, Xu A, Chang J*, Hoo RL* Development of a therapeutic monoclonal antibody against circulating adipocyte fatty acid binding protein to treat ischemic stroke, British Journal of Pharmacology 2023 doi: 10.1111/bph.16282.  (IF 7.3)

  5. Wu X. Shu L, Zhang Z, Li J, Zong J, Cheong LY, Ye D, Lam K.S., Song E, Wang C, Xu A, Hoo RL*. Adipocyte fatty acid binding protein promotes the onset and progression of liver fibrosis via mediating the crosstalk between liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and hepatic stellate cells, Advanced Science 2021 April; doi.org/10.1002/advs.202003721 (IF 17.5)

  6. Liao B, Geng L, Zhang F, Shu L, Wei L, Yeung PK, Lam KS, Chung SK, Chang J, Vanhoutte P, Xu A, Wang K*, Hoo RL* Adipocyte fatty acid binding protein exacerbates cerebral ischemia injury by disrupting the blood-brain barrier European Heart Journal 2020 doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa207 (IF 39.3)

  7. Yang S, Xu D, Zhang D, Huang X, Li S, Wang Y, Lu J, Wang D, Guo ZN, Yang Y, Ye D, Wang Y, Xu A, Hoo RL*, Chang J*.  Levofloxacin alleviates blood-brain barrier disruption following cerebral ischemia and reperfusion via directly inhibiting A-FABP. Eur J Pharmacol. 2024 Jan 15;963:176275. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.176275. (IF 5.0)

  8. Shu L, Hoo RL*(co-first and co-corresponding), Wu X, Pan Y, Lee IP, Cheong L, Bornstein SR, Rong X, Guo J, Xu A. Adipocyte fatty acid binding protein mediates adaptive thermogenesis by promoting intracellular activation of thyroid hormones in brown adipocytes.  Nat Commun 2017 January doi: 10.1038/ncomms14147 (IF: IF:17.7)

  9. Cheong LY, Wang B, Wang Q, Jin L, Kwok KHM, Wu X, Shu L, Lin H, Chung SK, Cheng KKY, Hoo RL, Xu A. Fibroblastic reticular cells in lymph node potentiate white adipose tissue beiging through neuro-immune crosstalk in male mice. Nat Commun. 2023 14(1):1213. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-36737-0. (IF:17.7)

  10. Hoo RL, Lee IP, Zhou M, Wong JY, Hui X, Xu A, Lam KS. Pharmacological inhibition of adipocyte fatty acid binding protein alleviates both acute liver injury and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in mice. J Hepatol. 2013 Feb;58(2):358-64. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2012.10.022. (IF:25.7)

Patents

1. Faculty outstanding research output award 2020, 2021; Faculty of Medicine, HKU.

2. Excellent presentation award, 2019 International Congress on Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome & Asia-Oceania Conference on Obesity.

3-4. Travel Grant Award, 2019 and 2016 International Congress on Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome in Conjunction with 45th Annual Scientific Meeting of KSSO.

5. Best oral presentation award, International Huaxia Congress of Endocrinology, 2012.

Awards:

1. Faculty outstanding research output award 2020, 2021; Faculty of Medicine, HKU.

2. Excellent presentation award, 2019 International Congress on Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome & Asia-Oceania Conference on Obesity.

3-4. Travel Grant Award, 2019 and 2016 International Congress on Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome in Conjunction with 45th Annual Scientific Meeting of KSSO;

5. Best oral presentation award, International Huaxia Congress of Endocrinology, 2012.

Grants

  1. Interplay between adipocyte fatty acid binding protein and endoplasmic reticulum stress in toxic lipids-induced inflammation in macrophages. (RGC GRF; HKU766812, HKD $750,000; 1/2013-12/2014)

  2. 脂肪細胞型脂肪酸結合蛋白（A-FABP）在毒性脂質誘導的巨噬細胞炎症反應中的作用機制研 (NSFC; 81270862, HKD $879200; 1/2013-12/2016)

  3. Adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP) as a potential mediator of cardiac dysfunction and heart failure related to diabetes and obesity. (RGC GRF; HKU767913, HKD $ 736,128; 1/2014-12/2016)

  4. 脂肪細胞型脂肪酸結合蛋白在產熱效應及白色脂肪棕色化中的作用及機制研究 (Shenzhen Basic and Applied Basic Research Fund; JCYJ20140903112959965; RMB$300,000: 1/1/2015- 31/12/2016)

  5. Adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP) is a potential therapeutic target of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. (HMRF; 02131906; HKD $ 904736; 1/4/2015-30/9-2017)

  6. Adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP) is a pathological mediator of obesity-related renal dysfunction.  (HMRF; 03143846; HKD $1,035,108; 1/6/2016-31/5/2018)

  7. 脂肪細胞脂肪酸結合蛋白（A-FABP）調控局部脂肪組織重塑和擴張的作用及機制研究 (Shenzhen Basic and Applied Basic Research Fund; 201605303000678; RMB $300,000 1/1/2017-31/12/2019)

  8. 脂肪細胞型脂肪酸結合蛋白（A-FABP）在腦缺血性中風中的作用機制研究 (Natural Science Foundation of China; 81770885; RMB$560,000 1/2018-12/2021) 

  9. Mitochondrial protein Coiled-Coil-Helix-Coiled-coil-Helix Domain 10 (Chchd10) as a novel factor for the treatment of obesity and its related diseases. (HMRF; 06172646; HKD$ 982,396 1/6/2019-15/5/2022)

  10. Development and Preclinical Evaluation of a A-FABP Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibody for Ischemic Stroke Treatment. 基於A-FABP中和單克隆抗體的缺血性腦卒中治療藥物的研製與臨床前評估. (ITC-FASII; GHP/079/18SZ; HK $1,327,458; 01/09/2019-30/06/2022)

  11. Neutrophil serine proteases as the endogenous suppressors of white adipose tissue browning and adaptive thermogenesis (RGC GRF; 17105318; HKD$ 775,343; 01/2019-06/2022)

  12. Syndecan-4 (Sdc4) as a key regulator of white adipose tissue browning for energy expenditure (RGC GRF; 17101819; HK$1,113,341 01/01/2020-30/06/2023)

  13. TRIF as a novel mediator of estrogen-regulated hepatic PCSK9 secretion (RGC GRF; 17104721; HKD$ 996285; 01/01/2020-31/12/2023)

  14. 線粒體蛋白chchd10在肥胖相關糖尿病性心肌病中的作用及機制研究. (Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Fund); 2022A1515010533, RMB 100,000; 01/2022-12/2024)

  15. Adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP) as a potential therapeutic for osteoporosis (HMRF; 09201826; HKD$1,497,000, 07/2022-06/2025) (On-going)

  16. 線粒體蛋白Chchd10在非酒精性脂肪性肝病的的作用及機制研究 (Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Fund);2023A1515012388; RMB 100,000; 06/2023-05/2026) (On-going)

  17. Adipocyte fatty acid binding protein as a mediator of obesity-related medical complications (Germany/Hong Kong Joint Research Scheme G_HK708/13; HKD$85800; 01/2014-12/2014) Co-I

  18. The oncogene MDM2 as a new mediator of obesity-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (HMRF; 05161286; HKD$1191000; 04/2018-03/2020) Co-PI

  19. Conversion of white into brown adipocytes as a therapeutic strategy for obesity-related metabolic and vascular complications (CRF; C7037-17W; HKD$ 7430000; 06/2018 – 06/2021) Co-I

  20. Institute of Metabolic medicine (RGC-AoE; AoE_M707/18; HKD $ 77803000; 05/2019-04/2027) Co-I

  21. Fatty acid binding protein as a therapeutic target for atherosclerosis by regulating gut microbiota and immunity (HMRF; 06172596, HKD $1433996; 04/2019- now) Co-I

  22. Identification of novel susceptibility loci for diabetic retinopathy in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes: an Asian Screening Array analysis (RGC GRF:17118119, HKD $1115228; 01/2020-12/2021) Co-PI

  23. Discovery and Development of Innovative Antibody Drugs for Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases (CAS - Croucher Funding Scheme for Joint Laboratories, HKD 3750000; 03/2021- 02/2024) Co-PI

  24. PPM1K restricts macrophage inflammation by integrating BCAA catabolism and mitochondrial metabolism in obesity (RGC; 15101221, HKD$ 1174432; 01/01/2022-31/12/2024) Co-PI

  25. 脫落段聚糖蛋白Syndecan-4在非酒精性脂肪性肝炎發生發展中的作用機製研究 (Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Fund; RMB $150000; 01/01/2024-31/12/2026) Co-PI

  26. White adipose tissue (Fat) Dysfunction in Ageing and its Related Metabolic diseases: New Insights and Therapeutic Potential (CRF; C5044-23G, HK$ 8166029; 01/06/2024-29/06/2027) Co-PI

  27. Live imaging of early embryonic developmental processes at subcellular level with a high-throughput dual view light sheet microscope. 2024 (CRF; C4007-24E, Co-I)

  28. Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory of Metabolic Medicine (Guangdong Science and Technology Programme - Science and Technology Innovation Platform – 2024; 2025B1212150002, Co-I)

  29. Chchd10 (C10) as a novel druggable target for revitalizing pancreatic beta cells: from molecular mechanism to therapeutic potential (GRF; 17123125, HK$:1375017; 09/2025-08/2028, Co-I)

L8, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong

(852) 3917 9766

antibody@hku.hk

Copyright ©2020 State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology.  All Rights Reserved.

bottom of page