Prof. Wong holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) from the University of Hong Kong. He pursued a PhD in Biochemistry at the Department of Biochemistry, University of Hong Kong.

Prof. Wong serves as a principal investigator at the School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, leading a team with expertise in biology, neuroscience, and microbiome research. In collaboration with clinicians and bioinformaticians, the pioneering work from his laboratory has led to multiple groundbreaking findings published in top-tier journals, including seven papers in Nature Communications, one paper in Cell Host & Microbe, one article in Nature Metabolism, and one paper in Developmental Cell, in the capacity of first/corresponding author. In recognition of his research accomplishments, he was awarded the School Performance Award as Young Researcher in 2021, the President’s Award for Outstanding Performance as an Early Career Researcher in 2022, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Excellent Young Scientist Fund (Hong Kong and Macau) in 2023. As the principal investigator, he has also secured approximately HK$20.1 million in research funding from competitive grant schemes in Hong Kong, Europe, and the Mainland to support his multidisciplinary translational research. 

王凱亮教授畢業於香港大學，獲理學士學位；其後於香港大學生物化學學系攻讀生物化學哲學博士。

王教授現為香港浸會大學中醫藥學院首席研究員，帶領一支具備生物學、神經科學及微生物組研究專長的團隊，並與臨床醫生及生物資訊學家緊密合作。他的實驗室開創性研究促成多項突破性發現，成果發表於頂尖學術期刊，包括七篇發表於 Nature Communications、一篇發表於 Cell Host & Microbe、一篇發表於 Nature Metabolism，以及一篇發表於 Developmental Cell，並均以第一作者／通訊作者身份刊載。為表彰其科研成就，他先後獲得2021年學院優秀青年研究學者獎、2022年傑出新晉研究學者獎，以及2023年國家自然科學基金委員會優秀青年科學基金（港澳）。作為首席研究員，他亦從香港、歐洲與內地的資助計劃獲得約港幣2,010萬元研究經費，以支持其多學科轉化研究。

My laboratory focuses on the systematic characterization of proteases to understand the regulation of cell biology, metabolic biology to control cellular disease phenotypes suggested by human genetics, molecular mechanisms to determine the roles of the microbiome in health and disease, and the molecular mechanisms uncovering patterns of human and microbial pathway regulation during disease and treatment. We develop a unique research program studying the interactions between the mammalian host and its microbiome, uncovering their effects on health and disease with particular interests in metabolic disorders and related gastrointestinal diseases. We utilize a variety of methodologies, including in vitro experiments, animal models, preclinical animal testing, advanced metabolic profiling, and genomic data analyses to uncover their functional crosstalk in human health and disease. Ultimately, we aim to translate our findings from the bench to bedside, supporting translational research in drug discovery and traditional Chinese Medicine.

本實驗室聚焦於：對蛋白酶進行系統性表徵與功能解析，以理解細胞生物學層面的調控機制；運用代謝生物學，探討並調控人類遺傳學所揭示的細胞疾病表型；闡明微生物組在健康與疾病中的作用之分子機制；以及揭示疾病與治療過程中，人類與微生物生物途徑調控模式的分子基礎。

本實驗室研究哺乳動物宿主與其微生物組之間的互作，揭示其對健康與疾病的影響，特別關注代謝性疾病及相關胃腸道疾病。本實驗室採用多元方法，包括體外實驗、動物模型、臨床前動物試驗、先進的代謝體學分析，以及基因組數據分析，以闡釋其在人類健康與疾病中的功能性串擾。最終，我們致力於將研究成果由實驗室轉化至臨床，推動藥物發現與中醫藥的轉化研究。

Selected publications (# correspondence)

1. Asthana P, Li L, Lu L, Wu J, Zhang S, Li N, Wong SKK, Gurung S, Zhang Y, Lin Y, Peng Y, Xu Z, Chan KM, Zhai L, Lyu A, Bian ZX, Ge X, Iyaswamy A, Li M, Su Y, Zhou Z, Xu P, Wong HLX^#. (2025) MT1-MMP inhibition rejuvenates ageing brain and rescues cognitive deficits in obesity. Cell Discovery 
2. Liu C, Zheng X, Ji J, Zhu X, Liu X, Liu H, Guo L, Ye K, Zhang S, Xu Y, Sun X, Zhou W, Wong HLX^#(co-correspondence), Tian Y^#, Qian H^# (2025) The carotenoid torularhodin alleviates NAFLD by promoting Akkermanisa muniniphila-mediated adenosylcobalamin metabolism, Nature Communications
3. Guo X, Asthana P , Zhai L, Cheng KW, Gurung S, Huang J, Wu J, Zhang Y, Maharo AK, Saarma M, Ustav,M, Kwan HY, Lyu A, Chan KM, Xu P, Bian ZX, Wong HLX^#. (2024) Artesunate treats obesity in male mice and non-human primates through GDF15/GFRAL signaling axis, Nature Communications
4. Zhai L*, Xiao H*, Lin CY*, Wong HLX* (*co-first), Lam YY, Gong M, Wu G, Deng Y, Ning Z, Huang C, Zhang Y, Zhuang M, Yang C, Luo J, Zhang EL, Zhao L, Zhang C, Fang Z, Lau JYN, Jia W, Zhao L, Bian Z. (2023) Gut microbiota-derived tryptamine and phenethylamine impair insulin sensitivity in metabolic syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome. Nature Communications 
5. Guo X, Cao J, Wu J, Huang J, Asthana P, Wong SKK, Gurung S, Zhang Y, Wang S, Kwan HY, Lyu A, Chan KM, Huang JD, Zhou Z, Bian ZX, Yuan S, Wong HLX^# (2022) Control of SARS-CoV-2 infection by MT1-MMP-mediated shedding of ACE2.  Nature Communications 
6. Zhai L, Huang C, Ning Z, Zhang Y, Zhuang M, Yang W, Wang X, Zhang EL, Xiao H, Zhao L, Lam YY, Chow CFW, Huang J, Yuan S, Chan KM, Yuan CS, Lau JYN, Wong HLX^# (co-correspondence), Bian Z^# (2022) Ruminococcus gnavus plays a pathogenic role in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome by increasing serotonin biosynthesis. Cell Host & Microbe
7. Guo X, Asthana P, Zhang S, Gurung S, Wong SKK, Fallah S, Chow CFW, Che S, Zhai L, Wang Z, Xin G, Jiang Z, Wu J, Zhang Y, Wu X, Xu K, Lin CY, Kwan HY, Lyu A, Zhou Z, Bian Z, Wong HLX^# (2022) Regulation of age-associated insulin resistance by MT1-MMP-mediated cleavage of Insulin Receptor. Nature Communications 13, 3749 
8. Chow CFW, Guo X, Asthana P, Zhang S, Fallah S, Che S, Wang Z, Ge X, Jiang Z, Zhai L, Lin CY, Kwan HY, Huang T, Lyu A, Zhou Z, Bian Z, Wong HLX^# (2022) Body weight regulation via MT1-MMP-mediated cleavage of GFRAL. Nature Metabolism 4, 203-212 
   • Highlights of the Issue in Nature Metabolism - [Central regulation of the anorexigenic receptor GFRAL]
   • Research Highlights of Nature Reviews Endocrinology- [Negative regulator of GDF15 signaling identified]
   • Editor’s choice of Science Signaling - [Cutting down in size by not making a cut]
9. Wong HLX, Qin H, Tsang SW, Zuo X, Che S, Chow CFW, Li X. Xiao HT, Zhao L, Huang T, Lin CY, Kwan HY, Yang T, Longo FM, Lyu A, Bian Z (2019) Early life stress disrupts intestinal homeostasis via NGF-TrkA signaling. Nature Communications 10(1):1745
10. Wong HLX, Jin G, Zhang S, Cao R, Cao Y, Zhou Z (2016) MT1-MMP sheds LYVE-1 on lymphatic endothelial cells and suppresses VEGF-C production to inhibit lymphangiogenesis. Nature Communications 7:10824
11. Chan KM*, Wong HLX* (*co-first), Jin G, Liu B, Cao R, Cao Y, Lehtl K, Tryggvason K and Zhou Z (2012). MT1-MMP inactivates ADAM9 to regulate FGFR2 signaling in calvarial osteogenesis. Developmental Cell, 22(6); 1176-1190 
    • [recommended in F1000 Prime, F1000 factor 8.0]