Welcoming New Members to Sook-San Wong's Team!

We are delighted to welcome three new members to Sook-San Wong's laboratory at the HKU-Pasteur Research Pole. Coming from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds, they bring expertise in immunology, infectious diseases, virology, and biomedical research. We are pleased to introduce them and learn more about their scientific journeys, research interests, and aspirations.

• Zhongyi Dong

Zhongyi obtained a Master of Surgery degree in 2024 before pursuing research training in immunology in the United States. His scientific interests focus on T cell biology, with particular attention to the differentiation, maintenance, and long-term function of memory T cells during viral infections.

Zhongyi is interested in exploring how the infection microenvironment shapes durable T cell immunity and contributes to long-term immune persistence. He chose the HKU-Pasteur Research Pole because of its strong expertise in infectious disease research and its access to valuable clinical cohorts and samples from across Asia, providing a unique environment to investigate immune responses in human populations.

Through his work, Zhongyi hopes to deepen our understanding of adaptive immunity and the mechanisms that sustain protective immune responses over time. Looking ahead, he aims to build an independent research career focused on adaptive immunology and ultimately establish his own laboratory dedicated to uncovering the factors that drive durable immune protection.

• Gary Wang

Originally from Shandong, China, Gary has spent the past decade studying overseas. He completed his bachelor's degree at Syracuse University before earning a master's degree in Infectious Disease from Yale University and now joined HKU to pursue his doctoral training.

Gary was particularly attracted to HKU because of its unique geographical position and highly international environment. The opportunity to live and work closer to his hometown while remaining part of a diverse and inclusive academic community made HKU-Pasteur an especially appealing choice.

His PhD research will focus on influenza immunity, a field he is eager to explore in greater depth. Although this area represents a new scientific direction for him, he is excited by the opportunity to contribute to research that addresses important questions in infectious diseases and human health.

Looking to the future, Gary hopes to remain in academia. He sees his doctoral training at HKU-Pasteur as a valuable opportunity to develop the scientific expertise, critical thinking, and research experience needed for a successful academic career.

• Yi Xue Yeow

Yi Xue comes from Malaysia and holds a master's degree in Biomedical Science from Tunghai University. Prior to joining HKU-Pasteur, she worked at China Medical University Hospital, where she gained valuable experience in cancer research. Her background includes cell culture, molecular biology techniques, and animal model studies.

Motivated by a desire to expand her practical laboratory experience, Yi Xue joined HKU-Pasteur to work in a dynamic virology research environment and learn from experienced scientists in the field. Her current responsibilities include isolating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patient samples, supporting viral infection experiments, and assisting with the day-to-day activities of the laboratory.

Among the aspects of her work she is most excited about are mastering PBMC isolation techniques and developing expertise in the safe handling of viral samples. Through her role, she hopes to strengthen her technical competencies while contributing meaningfully to the team's research activities.

Looking ahead, Yi Xue intends to continue building a career in biomedical research. She views her experience at HKU-Pasteur as an important step toward developing a strong foundation of laboratory skills and becoming a reliable contributor to future scientific projects.