• Molecular diagnostics
• Cancer biomarkers

The main focus of Jacky Lam’s research is on the biology and clinical utility of cell-free DNA for disease diagnostics across a broad spectrum of conditions. His work aims to discover novel cell-free DNA biomarkers that can enhance diagnostic performance, both in terms of sensitivity and specificity. This is exemplified by the analysis of molecular features of plasma Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) DNA to improve the specificity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) detection in screening settings, an approach that has been recognised and recommended in an international consensus document. His group has previously established that cell-free DNA analysis can be applied to population-level cancer screening with proven clinical impact, using NPC as a model disease. Building on this foundation, he has further demonstrated that molecular analysis of plasma cell-free DNA can be extended beyond contemporaneous cancer detection to inform future cancer risk prediction, thereby expanding the potential role of liquid biopsy in precision prevention as well as early diagnosis.

Jacky Lam is the Assistant Professor of the Department of Chemical Pathology and an honorary associate consultant at the Prince of Wales Hospital. He obtained his medical degree in 2007 and received his Ph.D. in Chemical Pathology from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2020. His research interests are on the biological features of plasma DNA and its potential clinical application in noninvasive cancer detection. He is involved in a large-scale prospective clinical study using plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA for screening of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. This study laid the foundation for the clinical utility of plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA analysis for cancer screening. Based on this study, Jacky has further investigated the distinct molecular features of plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA in nasopharyngeal cancer. Such discoveries have led to the development of novel diagnostic assays which allows better differentiation of patients with nasopharyngeal cancer and non-cancer subjects in the context of screening.

1. Lo Ying Shek Chi Wai Foundation Meritorious Research Award 2022, Lo Ying Shek Chi Wai Foundation (2023)
2. Postgraduate Research Output Award, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (2020)
3. Young Scholars Thesis Award, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (2020)

1. Lam WKJ, Chan KKP, Wang G, Lai CKC, Kang G, Chan C, Leung ACY, Wong NHL, Tso CSN, Chow KM, Ramakrishnan S, Wong KT, Lau CHY, Ng JKC, Lo RLP, Yip WH, Ngai JCL, To KW, Tse IOL, Cheng SH, Shang H, Chan KW, Lai A, Chan CML, Lee VCT, Malki Y, Choy LYL, Ma MJL, Zhou Q, Yu SCY, Jiang P, Ko FWS, Chan KCA, Hui DSC, Lee YCG, Lo YMD. Sequencing of pleural fluid and plasma for tuberculous pleuritis. NEJM Evidence. 2026;5(4). doi:10.1056/evidoa2500237.
2. Lam WKJ, Kang G, Chan CML, Lee VCT, Ma MJL, Zhou Q, Jiang P, Tse IOL, King AD, Wong KCW, Hui EP, Ma BBY, Chan ATC, Chan KCA, Lo YMD. Fragmentomics profiling and quantification of plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA enhance prediction of future nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Cancer Cell. 2025;43(4):728-739.e5. doi:10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.002.
3. Lam WKJ, Lau CS, Luk HM, Au LWC, Chan GCP, Chan WYH, Cheng SSW, Cheng THT, Cheung LL, Cheung YF, Chong JSC, Chu ATW, Chung CCY, Chung KL, Fung CW, Fung ELW, Gao Y, Ho S, Hue SPY, Lee CH, Lee TL, Li PH, Lo HM, Lo IFM, Loong HHF, Ma BM, Ma W, Pang SYY, Seto WK, Siu SWK, So H, Tam YH, Tang W, Wong RMS, Yap DYH, Yau MLY, Chung BHY, Lo SV. The implementation of genome sequencing in rare genetic diseases diagnosis: A pilot study from the Hong Kong genome project. The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific. 2025;55:101473. doi:10.1016/j.lanwpc.2025.101473.
4. Malki Y, Kang G, Lam WKJ, Zhou Q, Cheng SH, Cheung PPH, Bai J, Chan ML, Lee CT, Peng W, Zhang Y, Gai W, Wong WWS, Ma MJL, Li W, Xu X, Gao Z, Tse IOL, Shang H, Choy LYL, Jiang P, Chan KCA, Lo YMD. Analysis of a cell-free DNA-based cancer screening cohort links fragmentomic profiles, nuclease levels, and plasma DNA concentrations. Genome Research. 2025;35(1):31-42. doi:10.1101/gr.279667.124.
5. Lam WKJ, Gai W, Bai J, Tam THC, Cheung WF, Ji L, Tse IOL, Tsang AFC, Li MZJ, Jiang P, Law MF, Wong RSM, Chan KCA, Lo YMD. Differential detection of megakaryocytic and erythroid DNA in plasma in hematological disorders. NPJ Genomic Medicine. 2024;9(1):39-. doi:10.1038/s41525-024-00423-x.
6. Lou PJ, Lam WKJ, Hsu WL, Pfeiffer RM, Yu KJ, Chan CML, Lee VCT, Chen TC, Terng S Der, Tsou YA, Leu YS, Liao LJ, Chang YL, Chien YC, Wang CP, Lin CY, Hua CH, Lee JC, Yang TL, Hsiao CH, Wu MS, Tsai MH, Cheng HC, Hildesheim A, Chen CJ, Chan KCA, Liu Z, Chen CN, Lin CF, Jian JJM, Cheng SH, Tsai YC, Chung YL, Wu JS, Liu MJ, Huang KK, Tsou MH, Chen HH, Lin FY, Huang HI. Performance and operational feasibility of Epstein-Barr virus-based screening for detection of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Direct comparison of two alternative approaches. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2023;41(26):4257-4266. doi:10.1200/jco.22.01979.
7. Lam WKJ, King AD, Miller JA, Liu Z, Yu KJ, Chua MLK, Ma BBY, Chen MY, Pinsky BA, Lou PJ, Woo JKS, Hsu WL, Simon J, Doolan DL, Waterboer T, Hui EP, Li H, Tsang RK, Wong KCW, Goh JP, Vlantis AC, Ai QY, Wong LM, Abdullah V, Lin JC, Chen CJ, Pfeiffer RM, Le QT, Lee AWM, Ji M, Cao S, Ma J, Chan ATC, Chan KCA, Hildesheim A. Recommendations for Epstein-Barr virus-based screening for nasopharyngeal cancer in high- and intermediate-risk regions. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 2023;115(4):355-364. doi:10.1093/jnci/djad012.
8. Wang G, Lam WKJ, Ling L, Ma MJL, Ramakrishnan S, Chan DCT, Lee WS, Cheng SH, Chan RWY, Yu SCY, Tse IOL, Wong WT, Jiang P, Chiu RWK, Chan KCA, Lo YMD. Fragment ends of circulating microbial DNA as signatures for pathogen detection in sepsis. Clinical Chemistry. 2023;69(2):189-201. doi:10.1093/clinchem/hvac197.
9. Chan DCT, Lam WKJ, Hui EP, Ma BBY, Chan CML, Lee VCT, Cheng SH, Gai W, Jiang P, Wong KCW, Mo F, Zee B, King AD, Le QT, Chan ATC, Chan KCA, Lo YMD. Improved risk stratification of nasopharyngeal cancer by targeted sequencing of Epstein-Barr virus DNA in post-treatment plasma. Annals of Oncology. 2022;33(8):794-803. doi:10.1016/j.annonc.2022.04.068.
10. Lam WKJ, Ji L, Tse OYO, Cheng SH, Jiang P, Lee PHP, Lin SV, Hui EP, Ma BBY, Chan ATC, Chan KCA, Chiu RWK, Lo YMD. Sequencing analysis of plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA reveals nasopharyngeal carcinoma-associated single nucleotide variant profiles. Clinical Chemistry. 2020;66(4):598-605. doi:10.1093/clinchem/hvaa027.
11. Lam WKJ, Jiang P, Chan KCA, Peng W, Shang H, Heung MMS, Cheng SH, Zhang H, Tse OYO, Raghupathy R, Ma BBY, Hui EP, Chan ATC, Woo JKS, Chiu RWK, Lo YMD. Methylation analysis of plasma DNA informs etiologies of Epstein-Barr virus-associated diseases. Nature Communications. 2019;10(1):3256-. doi:10.1038/s41467-019-11226-5.
12. Lam WKJ, Jiang P, Chan KCA, Cheng SH, Zhang H, Peng W, Tse OYO, Tong YK, Gai W, Zee BCY, Ma BBY, Hui EP, Chan ATC, Woo JKS, Chiu RWK, Lo YMD. Sequencing-based counting and size profiling of plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA enhance population screening of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2018;115(22):E5115-E5124. doi:10.1073/pnas.1804184115.
13. Lam WKJ, Gai W, Sun K, Wong RSM, Chan RWY, Jiang P, Chan NPH, Hui WWI, Chan AWH, Szeto CC, Ng SC, Law MF, Chan KCA, Chiu RWK, Lo YMD. DNA of erythroid origin is present in human plasma and informs the types of anemia. Clinical Chemistry. 2017;63(10):1614-1623. doi:10.1373/clinchem.2017.272401.
14. Lam JWK, Chan JYW, Ho WK, Tsang RKY. Use of transoral nasopharyngeal brush biopsy for Epstein-Barr virus DNA detection of local recurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy. Head and Neck. 2016;38:E1301-E1304. doi:10.1002/hed.24216.