Biography:

Dr. Wayne Lee is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology in the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He received PhD in Pharmacology from CUHK in 2009, then pursued post-doctoral training on stem cell biology and tissue engineering in his current department. His research can be divided into two major areas of orthopaedic with important clinical relevance. The first line is on the biological roles of osteocyte in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and musculoskeletal aging. The second line focuses on the research and development of advanced therapeutic product (ATP such as mesenchymal stromal cells and biomaterials) for bone and cartilage regeneration. As of March 2021, he has published 77 peer-reviewed articles in international journals and 3 book chapters with 1842 citation and a Scopus h-index of 27. He has obtained 11 grants as Principal Investigator with a total amount of 10 million HK dollars. He was the recipient of 2020 Rising Star Award from American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Specialised Research Area(s):

• Etiopathogenesis of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
• Research on the role of osteocyte in musculoskeletal aging
• R&D of pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches for bone and cartilage regeneration/repair

1. L.C.M. Lau, W.Y.W. Lee, A.P.H. Butler, A.I. Chernoglazov, K.Y. Chung, K.K.W. Ho, J. Griffith P.H. Butler, P.S.H. Yung. Multi-energy spectral photon-counting computer tomography (MARS) for detection of arthroplasty implant failure. Scientific Reports, 2020;11:1554.

2. Q. Li, J.C.Y. Cheng, Q. Jiang, W.Y.W. Lee. Role of sirtuins in bone biology: potential implications for novel therapeutic strategies for osteoporosis. Aging Cell, 2020;20(2):e13301.

3. J. Zhang, K.Y. Cheuk, L. Xu, Y. Wang, Z. Feng, T. Sit, K.L. Cheng, E. Nepotchatykh, T.P. Lam, Z. Liu, A.L.H. Hung, Z. Zhu, A. Moreau, J.C.Y. Cheng, Y. Qiu, W.Y.W. Lee, A validated composite model to predict risk of curve progression in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. EClinicalMedicine, 2020;18:100236.

4. S. Lin, L. Cui, G. Chen, J. Huang, Y. Yang, K. Zou, Y. Lai, X. Wang, L. Zou, T. Wu, J.C.Y. Cheng, G. Li, B. Wei, W.Y.W. Lee, PLGA/β-TCP composite scaffold incorporating salvianolic acid B promotes bone fusion by angiogenesis and osteogenesis in a rat spinal fusion model. Biomaterials, 2019;196:109-121.

5. H. Chen, J. Zhang, Y. Wang, K.Y. Cheuk, A.L.H. Hung, T.P. Lam, Y. Qiu, J.Q. Feng, W.Y.W. Lee, J.C.Y. Cheng, Abnormal lacuno-canalicular network and negative correlation between serum osteocalcin and Cobb angle indicate abnormal osteocyte function in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. FASEB Journal, 2019;33(12):13882-13892.

6. J. Zhang, H. Chen, R.K.K. Leung, K.W. Choy, T.P. Lam, B.K.W. Ng, Y. Qiu, J.Q. Feng, J.C.Y. Cheng, W.Y.W. Lee, Aberrant miR-145-5p/beta-catenin signal impairs osteocyte function in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. FASEB Journal, 2018;32(12):6537–6549.

7. S. Lin, W.Y.W. Lee, L. Xu, Y. Wang, Y. Chen, K.K.W. Ho, L. Qin, X. Jiang, L. Cui, G. Li, Stepwise preconditioning enhances mesenchymal stem cell-based cartilage regeneration through epigenetic modification, Osteoarthritis Cartilage, 2017;25(9):1541-1550.

8. W.Y.W. Lee, B. Wang, Cartilage repair by mesenchymal stem cells: Clinical trial update and perspectives, Journal of Orthopaedic Translation, 2017;9:76-88.

9. J.M. Li, W.Y.W. Lee, T.Y. Wu, J.B. Xu, K.Y. Zhang, D.S.H. Wong, R. Li, G. Li, L.M. Bian, Near-infrared light-triggered release of small molecules for controlled differentiation and long-term tracking of stem cells in vivo using upconversion nanoparticles, Biomaterials, 2016;110:1-10.

10. W.Y.W. Lee, N. Li, S. Lin, B. Wang, H.Y. Lan, G. Li, miRNA-29b improves bone healing in mouse fracture model, Molecular and cellular endocrinology, 2016;430:97-107.