Prof. Alice S. T. Wong received her BSc (first class honours) and MPhil at the University of Hong Kong. She continued her education at the University of British Columbia, where she obtained her PhD. She then worked at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center as a Postdoctoral Fellow. She joined the University of Hong Kong in 2002, and is currently a Chair Professor in the School of Biological Sciences.

Prof. Wong’s research focuses on signal transduction in cancer. In particular, cell adhesion molecules are very important for many physiological processes, which if deregulated, can contribute to cancer. The old view attributes their ability to affect cell functions to their adhesive properties. Prof. Wong’s research findings have presented new evidence that questions this hypothesis and suggests a different scenario. Using new techniques and innovative methodologies, more recent research in her group endeavors to unravel the precise mechanism of cell adhesion dynamics pertinent to ovarian cancer development and metastasis, aiming to provide insights for the development of new therapies to this highly malignant and rapidly lethal human cancer not only in our local community but also worldwide.

We have recently developed various models which enable us to have a robust framework to shift from a static to dynamic resolution to identify key molecules involved in metastasis. We believe that such understanding is of paramount importance in both cancer biology and cancer therapy.

Fellowships:

• Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

• University of Virginia, Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine

Awards:

• 2022/23 RGC Senior Research Fellowship Learn more

• 2021 Silver Medal, Inventions Geneva Evaluation Day Learn more

• 2019 Fellow, Royal Society of Biology

• 2019 Higher Education Academy Senior Fellowship

• 2019 Outstanding Teaching Award 18-19, The University of Hong Kong Learn more

• 2012 Croucher Senior Research Fellowship Learn more

• 2010 Award for Teaching Excellence 09-10, The University of Hong Kong Learn more

• 2007 Outstanding Young Researcher Award 06-07, The University of Hong Kong Learn more

• 2000 - 2002 National Cancer Institute of Canada Fellowship

• 2000 - 2002 Croucher Foundation Fellowship (declined)

• 2000 AACR Bristol-Myers Squibb Young Investigator Award - The Canadian Cancer Society Travel Award

• 1999 - 2000 B. C. Institute for Children’s and Women’s Health Studentship

• 1999 Society for the Study of Reproduction Trainee Award

• 1999 - 1997 University of British Columbia Graduate Fellowship

• 1997 - 1996 British Columbia Medical Services Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship

• 1997 Women in Cancer Research – Brigid G. Leventhal Scholar Award

• 1996 The Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society Best Basic Science Poster Award

• 1995 Society for the Study of Endocrinology, Reproduction and Metabolism Best Presentation Award

• 1995 - 1993 Croucher Foundation Studentship