Dr Samantha SW Shan obtained her Bachelor’s and Ph.D. degrees in Biochemistry from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Department of Anatomy (now part of the School of Biomedical Sciences). She then worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, an affiliated hospital of the University of Toronto in Canada, where she studied microRNAs related to hepatocellular carcinoma using transgenic mouse models. Her research was well received at conferences and published in several high-impact journals, including Nature Cell Biology, FASEB Journal, and Journal of Cell Science.

Dr Shan has over fifteen years of experience in molecular research and is proficient in applying genomic and proteomic approaches. Her research interests include the mechanisms of aqueous humor formation and outflow, intraocular pressure regulation, the impact of miRNAs on the aqueous humor drainage system, and potential candidate genes involved in outflow facility and intraocular pressure regulation through DNA methylation. Recently, Dr Shan and her team received the 2024 Shaffer Research Grant from the Glaucoma Research Foundation (USA) to further investigate the role of the miR-17-92 cluster in intraocular pressure regulation. The goal of this research is to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate aqueous humor outflow, thereby identifying new targets for developing effective treatments to lower intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients. Her research associated with ocular health has been published in international journals including Communications Biology, Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Scientific Reports, Journal of Proteomics, J. Proteome Research and Cells.

Mechanism of aqueous humour formation, outflow facility and IOP regulation

MicroRNAs on outflow facility

DNA methylation of potential candidates on outflow facility and IOP regulation