Personal profile
- 2017 – present: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Mason Lab, University of Edinburgh.
- 2016 – 2017: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Pratt Lab, University of Edinburgh.
- 2012 – 2016: PhD in Integrative Physiology (Developmental Neurobiology), University of Edinburgh.
- 2011 – 2012: MSc. By Research Biomedical Science, University of Edinburgh.
- 2007 – 2010: BSc. (Hons) 1st Class, Genetics & Molecular Biology, University of Malaya, Malaysia.
Research
I’m interested in understanding how the mammalian brain develops. I have previously studied how heparan sulphate regulates Fgf signalling during brain development. In collaboration with Dr Richard Mort of Lancaster University, we have developed a live imaging platform to examine the cell cycle during brain development.
Currently, I am using cerebral organoids to model brain development. In particular, I am investigating the role(s) of possible signalling centres in developing cerebral organoids.
Techniques:
Live imaging
Confocal & lightsheet imaging
Image analysis
Human & mouse cerebral organoid culture
Human & mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell culture
Primary cell culture
Cell cycle analysis (BrdU, EdU)
Immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, qPCR, LACE assays
Collaborations
Dr Richard Mort Lancaster University
Publications
Chan, W. K., Price, D. J., Pratt, T. Fgf8 Morphogen Gradients are Differentially Regulated by Heparan Sulphotransferases Hs2st and Hs6st1 in The Developing Brain. Biol Open. 2017 Dec 15;6(12):1933-1942.
Chan, W. K., Howe, K., Clegg, J. M., Guimond, S. E., Price, D. J., Turnbull, J. E., & Pratt, T. 2-O Heparan Sulfate Sulfation by Hs2st Is Required for Erk/Mapk Signalling Activation at the Mid-Gestational Mouse Telencephalic Midline. PLoS One, 10(6), e0130147. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130147.