Prof. Li Min’s research postgraduate student Ms. Zhu Zhou from Mr. & Mrs. Ko Chi Ming Centre for Parkinson's Disease Research has passed her Ph.D. thesis Oral examination on 20 December 2021. She has done astounding research work on the autophagy-inducing mechanism and anti-Parkinsonian effects of a Chinese medicine compound Corynoxine B (Cory B) analogue CB6. Previously, Prof. Li Min’s research team has identified Cory B as a neuronal autophagy activator, but its brain permeability is relatively low. A Corynoxine B analogue with better bioavailability termed CB6 was newly synthesized. Ms. Zhu Zhou, in her Ph.D. dissertation work, has ascertained the autophagy-inducing and anti-PD activity of CB6 in in vitro and in vivo experimental models. This work has been published in the peer-reviewed journal Acta Pharmacologica Sinica. The research team is looking forward to developing this compound further as a clinically competitive therapeutic agent for treating PD patients.

Ms. ZHU Zhou and oral examination board members

(Top row: Left to right): Dr. SONG You-Qiang, Associate Professor, School of the School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong; Prof. CHEN Hubiao, Professor, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University; Dr. LIU Jin, Assistant Professor, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University. (Middle row: Left to right): Prof. YU Zhiling, Professor, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University; Prof. LI Min, Sravan’s principal supervisor, Associate Dean, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University; Prof. SHEN Hanming, Chair Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau. (Bottom row): Ms. ZHU Zhou.