Bo Gao

Dr. Gao obtained his bachelor and doctoral degrees from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) in Shanghai, where he received the academic training in the fields of human genetics and developmental genetics. After completing his postdoctoral training at U.S. National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), he worked in the same institute as research fellow and staff scientist. In 2015, Dr. Gao joined The University of Hong Kong as Assistant Professor.

Research Description

Cell signaling is a major strategy that all living beings take to control basic cellular activities and coordinate their actions across tissues and organs. It plays fundamental roles in development, physiology and homeostasis by spatial and temporal regulation and coordination of cell proliferation, differentiation, survival and polarity. Our laboratory is interested in understanding the molecular mechanism of how Wnt signaling regulates Planar Cell Polarity (PCP), which is an evolutionarily conserved essential mechanism that provides directional information to regulate polarized cellular and tissue behaviors. Disruption of Wnt/PCP signaling underlies a variety of developmental defects (e.g., neural tube defects, skeletal dysplasias), while its activation has been implicated in cancer malignancy. We use molecular, biochemical, cellular and genetic approaches to investigate signaling mechanisms of Wnt/PCP pathway and their functions in normal developmental processes and human diseases.

Our laboratory is also interested in studying the pathogenic mechanisms of human genetic skeletal disorders and the signaling pathways linked to these diseases. Skeletal disorder is a heterogeneous group of conditions associated with various abnormalities of the skeleton (e.g., bone, cartilage, tendon and ligament), many of which are the results of genetic defects that disrupt the normal skeletal growth and development. We aim to identify novel genetic risk factors and use animal models to understand their pathogenic mechanisms.

Education

• B.Sc. Shanghai Jiao Tong University
• Ph.D. Shanghai Jiao Tong University
• Research Associate, Department of Biochemistry, The University of Hong Kong
• Postdoctoral Fellow, National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH
• Research Fellow, National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH
• Staff Scientist, National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH

Research Interests

• Cell Signaling in Development and Disease
• Wnt/PCP signaling
• Genetic Skeletal Disorders