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Dr Hong Huiling, Post-doctoral Fellow in the School of Biomedical Sciences at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), has been awarded a fellowship by the Research Grants Council (RGC) under Junior Research Fellow Scheme (JRFS) 2025/26 which encourages and supports her postdoctoral research in cardiovascular biology at CUHK over the next two years. She is one of six (as of 9 June 2025) awardees as nominated by CUHK for this scheme this year.

The inflammatory response is a protective reaction of body tissues to harmful stimuli such as infection or injury, involving immune cells, blood vessels and other components. Inflammation can be divided into acute and chronic varieties, both of which are part of body tissues’ response to harmful stimuli. Dr Hong’s research focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating inflammatory responses, with the goal of developing effective therapeutics to treat inflammatory diseases. Her doctoral research, under the supervision of Associate Professor Tian Xiaoyu of the School of Biomedical Sciences, has revealed novel insights into how inflammation disrupts the delicate barrier of blood vessels, particularly in life-threatening conditions like sepsis and acute lung injury. Her findings were recently published in the renowned cardiovascular journal Circulation Research.

Dr Hong’s findings have laid the groundwork for the identification of therapeutic targets to restore vascular homeostasis during inflammation. With the support of the JRFS, she will keep expanding her work to explore new therapeutic strategies targeting vascular dysfunction in inflammatory diseases. By unveiling how vascular cells respond to danger signals, she aims to develop innovative approaches that can stabilise blood vessel function, reduce tissue damage and improve patient outcomes.

Dr Hong expressed her gratitude for the significant support of the JRFS and CUHK in advancing this important work, adding that she hopes to contribute to better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of vascular inflammation and the development of therapies for it, benefiting society in Hong Kong and beyond.

About the RGC JRFS

The RGC Junior Research Fellow Scheme (JRFS, formerly known as the RGC Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme) aims to provide promising local and non-local postdoctoral researchers at UGC-funded universities with support at a pivotal time in their very early careers. It also aims to support their transition, when applicable, in taking up Assistant Professor or Research Assistant Professor positions at UGC-funded universities during the fellowship period. The scheme is designed to nurture and expand the pool of research talents, with a view to propelling research and development in Hong Kong and fostering a research culture.