Study of Immune Born Error in the University of Hong Kong Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
Funded by The Cheung Yu Tong Fellowship training programme, as an attending physician, from Department of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, the Children’s Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, I have completed four months study in Hong Kong Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine. Study details were as follows:
1、Study on pediatric immunodeficiency diseases and allergic diseases
Professor Lau Yu Long, from University of Hong Kong, is one of the first scholars to conduct immune deficiency screening in Asia and has achieved high prestige in the Asia-Pacific region. During the four months’ study，I followed clinics of pediatric rheumatology and immunology and observed research on both wet lab and dry lab. Here I have experienced the seriousness, responsibility and strength of the Hong Kong teaching center especially for immune born error (IEI). Diagnosing and treating Inborn Error of Immunity requires a tripartite collaboration between clinical immunology, laboratory immunology, and diagnostic genetics. The Hong Kong center has outstanding immunologists, comprehensive laboratory testing and sophisticated geneticists. The well organized team guarantees that IEI patients can be effectively identified.
In just a few months of study, I came across several gene mutation related diseases, such as NRAS, ThPOK, STAT6 GOF, RELA and so on. It helps me systematically understand the functional verification of mutant genes, the relationship with diseases, and the individualized and targeted therapy applied for those patients.The teachers here are very patient, responsible and they have strong teaching-consciousness. They are good at communicating and discussing with students. Encouraging self-learning. Cultivation the problem-solving ability of physicians.
2、Attending Annual Conference of Asia Pacific Society for Immunodeficiencies (APSID)
The international conference of APSID was held at April 22th ~ 23rd. APSID was first organized by professor Lau in 2016. Professor Lau himself is also the current chairman of the APSID. The conference gathered experts and scholars of immunity, rheumatism and allergy from China, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore and other countries and regions. On behalf of our department, I reported two Poster of STAT3 acquired mutation and TB related polyarteritis, which aroused wide interest of the participating experts and had a well discussion with them. Director Lu Meiping led the team to attend this meeting, and 5 poster articles were presented and communicated at this meeting.
At present, there are still many unknown areas to explore in single-gene-related autoinflammatory diseases and IEI. Actively participating in international conferences, and discussing with outstanding experts from different countries and regions can help us to improve the level of diagnosis and treatment in our major. At the same time, it has also enhanced the influence of Zhejiang University and the affiliated Children's Hospital in the Asia-Pacific region.
Zheng Qi
Department of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy
August 8, 2023
