Professor

BMed, MMed, PhD(CUHK), FCOphthHK, FHKAM(Ophthalmology)

Contact :

(852) 3505 2879

Academic Appointments

  • Professor, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, CUHK
  • Head, Graduate Division of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, CUHK
  • Associate Director (Medical), CUHK Jockey Club Myopia Prevention Programme
  • Honorary Consultant, Department of Ophthalmology, Prince of Wales Hospital and Alice Ho Nethersole Hospital
  • Honorary Consultant, Hong Kong Eye Hospital
  • Honorary Associate Professor, Shantou University Medical College

Biography

Prof Chen is Professor of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, and Head of Graduate Division of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.  He is Honorary Consultant of the New Territories East Cluster (Prince of Wales Hospital and Alice Ho Nethersole Hospital) and Hong Kong Eye Hospital.  Prof Chen is Specialist in Ophthalmology, with special interest in vitreoretinal and macular diseases.

Prof Chen is actively working on ophthalmic research.  His major research interest is molecular and clinical genetics of major eye diseases, including macular and retinal diseases (e.g., age-related macular degeneration, polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, central serous chorioretinopathy, diabetic retinopathy, retinitis pigmentosa, and other inherited retinal dystrophies), glaucoma, and myopia.  He is also working on the genetic profiling of myopia progression and ocular traits development in children.  Prof Chen and co-workers have identified a large number of new disease genes/loci, mutations, association profiles, and biomarkers for major eye diseases.

Prof Chen has published over 168 papers in SCI international indexed peer-reviewed journals, with an H-index of 47 (Feb 2023). He is the first or corresponding author of 56 publications.  He has co-authored 1 article in JAMA (Impact factor (IF) 157.335), 7 articles in Nature Genetics (Impact factor (IF) 41.307), 1 in Lancet Oncology (IF 54.433), 1 in Lancet Global Health (IF 38.927), 4 in Nature Communication (IF 17.694), 1 in JAMA Network Open (IF 13.353), 1 in Diabetes Care (IF 17.152), 1 in PNAS (IF 12.779), 2 in American Journal of Human Genetics (IF 11.043), 12 in Ophthalmology (IF 14.277), 3 in JAMA Ophthalmology (IF 8.253), 19 in Brit J Ophthalmol (IF 5.908), 5 in American Journal of Ophthalmology (IF 5.488), and 17 in IOVS (IF 4.925).

Prof Chen is active in research grant application.  He is the principal investigators of 7 major local (Hong Kong), National (China), and International competitive research grants, with a total amount of more than HK$6.3 million.

Prof Chen is also active in international service.  He has delivered more than 45 lectures as invited speaker and chaired more than 10 sections in international conferences, mainly including the World Ophthalmology Congress, Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) Congress, and International Symposium of Ophthalmology.

Major Research Awards

2020/12        Gold Medal, AAPPO Academic Development Mentorship Scheme (ADMS) 2019 – 2020.

  • The AAPPO (Academy of Asia-Pacific Professors of Ophthalmology) is affiliated to APAO, and these Awards recognize significant professional advancements and accomplishments by young clinician-scientists and ophthalmologists in the Asia-Pacific region, in the year 2019 – 2020.

2019/11         Asia-Pacific Vitreo-retina Society (APVRS) Constable Lecture Award, 13th APVRS Congress, Shanghai, 2019.

  • The APVRS Constable Lecture is presented annually at the APVRS Congress in honor of Prof Ian Constable. The Lecture is to award up and coming vitreoretinal experts for their exemplary leadership and contribution to the field.

2019/09         Distinguished Young Fellow (2019), Hong Kong Academy of Medicine.

2017/03         APAO Achievement Award 2017, the 32nd APAO Congress, Singapore.

2015/12         Gold Medal, Best Original Research of Trainee 2015, Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, Hong Kong.

2015/07         Winner of Global Research Award, 2015 Global Ophthalmology Awards Program (GOAP), From Bayer, Germany.

Research Areas

  1. Genomic studies and gene mapping of retina diseases, myopia, and glaucoma
  2. Genetics of myopia progression in children
  3. Clinical genetics of inherited retinal dystrophies and optic neuropathies
  4. Pharmacogenetics of age-related macular degeneration
  5. Molecular genetics and epi-genetics of diabetic retinopathy, retinitis pigmentosa, uveitis, cornea dystrophies, keratoconus, and hereditary optical neuropathies
  6. Genetic prediction models for various eye diseases
  7. Genetic profiling of quantitative traits in children
  8. Investigations and territory-wide screening for eye diseases in children
Coordinator of the Retina (Medical) Programme 38th APAO Congress (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 23 - 26 February 2023)
Abstract Reviewing Committee Member 38th APAO Congress (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 23 - 26 February 2023)
Abstract Reviewing Committee Member 15th APVRS Congress (Taipei, 18 - 20 November 2022)
Secretary, Scientific Program Organizing Committee Subspecialty of Retina – Medical (diabetes), Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) 2021 Congress (Virtual)
International/Asia-Pacific Coordinator Subspecialty of Visual Sciences, APAO 2019 Congress
Subspecialty Liaison, World Forum for Sight World Ophthalmology Congress (WOC) 2018
Editorial Board Member Scientific Reports & Asia Pac J Ophthalmol
Member Asia-ARVO 2015 International Advisory Committee

Research Programmes

  1. Molecular genomics, comparative genetics, and mechanisms of major eye diseases: age-related macular degeneration (AMD), polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), central serous chorioretinopathy, diabetic retinopathy, uveitis, primary open-angle glaucoma, primary angle-closure glaucoma, refractive error and myopia.
  2. Children eye care: environmental & genetic risk factors of myopia development, progression and intervention.
  3. New treatment modalities for retinal and macular diseases.
  4. Clinical trials on major eye diseases: AMD and PCV.
  5. Pharmacogenetics of AMD, PCV, and myopia.
  6. Clinical genetics for inherited retinal dystrophy and optic neuropathy.

Accomplishments 

  1. Prof Chen is actively working on ophthalmic research. His major research interest is ophthalmic genetics, including new gene identification, population genetics, comparative genetics, mutational profiles, genotype-phenotype correlation, genetic prediction model, gene function and disease pathways of major eye diseases in both adults and children. He and team have identified a number of new genes, variants, genetic patterns for AMD, PCV, glaucoma and myopia in Chinese.
  2. Prof Chen is the Principal Investigator (PI) of 10 external competitive research grants, with the majority from the General Research Fund (GRF), Research Grants Council, Hong Kong, and the Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF), Health Bureau, Hong Kong, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), with a total amount over HK$10 million.
  3. Prof Chen has published 190 papers in SCI international indexed peer-reviewed journals by December 2023. He is the first or corresponding author of over 60 publications. The H-Index of Prof. Chen is 49 as of December 2023.
  4. Prof Chen has obtained a number of international, national and local awards, mainly including the Global Research Award, 2015 Global Ophthalmology Awards Program (GOAP), Bayer, Germany; Asia-Pacific Vitreo-retina Society (APVRS) Constable Lecture Award 2019; Distinguished Young Fellow 2019, Hong Kong Academy of Medicine; Liaoning Province Science and Technology Award 2020, Second Prize, China; Gold Medal Award of AAPPO Academic Development Mentorship Scheme (ADMS) 2019 – 2020; and recently in October 2023 the HKAM-HKGI Research Excellence Grants in Genomic Medicine, awarded by the Hong Kong Genome Institute (HKGI) and Hong Kong Academy of Medicine (HKAM).
  5. Prof Chen has been actively providing international and local professional service. He is the president-elect of the Asia-Pacific Society of Eye Genetics. He is the co-Congress President of the Asia-Pacific Vitreo-retina Society (APVRS) annual congress 2023, Hong Kong. He serves as the Secretary General of the Hong Kong Vitreo-Retina Society (HKVRS). He has been invited to chair and/or present in over 50 sessions in different international conferences. Prof. Chen also frequently provides public health education to the communities.

Representative Publications:

( *corresponding author; **co-first author)

  1. Zhang XJ, Chen XN, Tang FY, Szeto S, Ling XT, Lin ZX, Tham CC, Pang CP, Chen LJ*, Yam JC. Pathogenesis of myopic choroidal neovascularization: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Surv Ophthalmol. 2023 Nov-Dec;68(6):1011-1026.
  2. Lu SY, Zhang XJ, Wang YM, Yuan N, Kam KW, Chan PP, Tam PO, Yip WW, Young AL, Tham CC, Pang CP, Yam JC, Chen LJ*. Association of SIX1-SIX6 polymorphisms with peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer thickness in children. Br J Ophthalmol. 2023 Aug;107(8):1216-1222.
  3. Wang YY, Zhang XJ, Kam KW, Chen ZJ, Zhang Y, Tang FY, Li FF, Tam POS, Yip WWK, Young AL, Tham CC, Pang CP, Yam JC, Chen LJ*. Association of Polymorphisms in ZFHX1B and PAX6 With Anisometropia in Chinese Children: The Hong Kong Children Eye Genetics Study. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2023 Jun 1;64(7):6.
  4. Chen ZJ, Ng DSC, Cen LP, Ng TK, Ho M, Brelen ME, Li TP, Lu SY, Tam POS, Young AL, Chen W, Yam JC, Chen H, Tham CC, Pang CP, Chen LJ*. Multi-Polymorphism Analysis Reveals Joint Effects in Males With Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2023 Apr 3;64(4):19.
  5. Chen LJ, Chen ZJ, Pang CP. Latest Development on Genetics of Common Retinal Diseases. Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila). 2023 Mar-Apr 01;12(2):228-251.
  6. Yam JC, Zhang XJ, Zhang Y, Yip BHK, Tang F, Wong ES, Bui CHT, Kam KW, Ng MPH, Ko ST, Yip WWK, Young AL, Tham CC, Chen LJ, Pang CP. Effect of Low-Concentration Atropine Eyedrops vs Placebo on Myopia Incidence in Children: The LAMP2 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2023 Feb 14;329(6):472-481.
  7. Kam KW, Chee ASH, Zhang Y, Tang RCY, Chan JTC, Zhang XJ, Wang YM, Chan RCF, Chu WK, Ip P, Young AL, Tham CC, Pang CP, Chen LJ*, Yam JC. Association of Maternal and Paternal Astigmatism With Child Astigmatism in the Hong Kong Children Eye Study. JAMA Netw Open. 2022 Dec 1;5(12):e2247795.
  8. Chen LJ*, Li FF, Lu SY, Zhang XJ, Kam KW, Tang SM, Tam PO, Yip WW, Young AL, Tham CC, Pang CP, Yam JC. Association of polymorphisms in ZFHX1B, KCNQ5 and GJD2 with myopia progression and polygenic risk prediction in children. Br J Ophthalmol. 2021 Dec;105(12):1751-1757.
  9. Li FF, Lu SY, Tang SM, Kam KW, Pancy O S T, Yip WWK, Young AL, Tham CC, Pang CP, Yam JC, Chen LJ*. Genetic association of myopia severities and endophenotypes in children. Br J Ophthalmol. 2021 Aug;105(8):1178-1183.
  10. Lu SY, Tang SM, Li FF, Kam KW, Tam POS, Yip WWK, Young AL, Tham CC, Pang CP, Yam JC, Chen LJ*. Association of WNT7B and RSPO1 with Axial Length in School Children. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2020 Aug 3;61(10):11.
  11. Wang YM, Ma L, Lu SY, Chan TCY, Yam JCS, Tang SM, Kam KW, Tam POS, Tham CC, Young AL, Jhanji V, Pang CP, Chen LJ*. Analysis of multiple genetic loci reveals MPDZ-NF1B rs1324183 as a putative genetic marker for keratoconus. Br J Ophthalmol. 2018 Dec;102(12):1736-1741.
  12. Ma L, Brelen ME, Tsujikawa M, Chen H, Chu WK, Lai TY, Ng DS, Sayanagi K, Hara C, Hashida N, Chan VC, Tam PO, Young AL, Chen W, Nishida K, Pang CP, Chen LJ*. Identification of ANGPT2 as a New Gene for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy in the Chinese and Japanese Populations. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2017 Feb 1;58(2):1076-1083.
  13. Rong SS, Tang FY, Chu WK, Ma L, Yam JC, Tang SM, Li J, Gu H, Young AL, Tham CC, Pang CP, Chen LJ*. Genetic Associations of Primary Angle-Closure Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Ophthalmology. 2016 Jun;123(6):1211-21.
  14. Khor CC, Do T, Jia H, Nakano M, George R, Abu-Amero K, Duvesh R, Chen LJ**, … Pang CP, Tham CC, Foster PJ, Vijaya L, Tashiro K, Vithana EN, Wang N, Aung T. Genome-wide association study identifies five new susceptibility loci for primary angle closure glaucoma. Nat Genet. 2016 May;48(5):556-62.
  15. Chen LJ, Ma L, Chu WK, Lai TY, Chen H, Brelén ME, Rong SS, Young AL, Tam PO, Zhang M, Pang CP. Identification of PGF as a New Gene for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration in a Chinese Population. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2016 Apr;57(4):1714-20.
  16. Ma L, Li Z, Liu K, Rong SS, Brelen ME, Young AL. Kumaramanickavel G, Pang CP, Chen H, Chen LJ*. Association of genetic variants with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: a systemic review and updated meta-analysis. Ophthalmology. 2015 Sep;122(9):1854-65.
  17. Cheng CY, Yamashiro K, Chen LJ**, … Pang CP, Yoshimura N, Wong TY, Khor CC. New loci and coding variants confer risk for age-related macular degeneration in East Asians. Nat Commun. 2015 Jan 28;6:6063.
  18. Liu K, Chen LJ**, Lai TY, Tam PO, Ho M, Chiang SW, Liu DT, Young AL, Yang Z, Pang CP. Genes in the High-Density Lipoprotein Metabolic Pathway in Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy. Ophthalmology. 2014 Apr;121(4):911-6.

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