Chi-Chung Hui

Dr. Chi-Chung Hui is Professor of Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto, and Senior Scientist Emeritus at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). As an expert of mouse genetics, his research focuses on several signalling pathways (e.g., Hedgehog signaling, Iroquois homeobox genes) in development and disease. His laboratory has generated a variety of genetic mouse models of human congenital malformations, cancer, and obesity.  
 
He has received a number of prestigious awards, including a Tier I Canada Research Chair in Mouse Development and Disease Modeling. Dr. Hui is also the Director of International Partnership at SickKids Research Institute and has been actively involved in promoting research and education collaborations between SickKids/University of Toronto and several leading universities in China such as University of Hong Kong and Zhejiang University.

Research

The overall goal of the research in Dr. Hui’s laboratory is to decipher the mechanistic actions of Hedgehog signaling and Iroquois homeobox (IRX) genes in development and disease.  
 
In recent years, his group is investigating the molecular actions of Suppressor of fused in the regulation of GLI2 transcription factor in Hedgehog signaling and medulloblastoma (the most malignant childhood brain tumor). Studies from the Hui laboratory have illustrated that IRX3 and IRX5 play key roles in energy homeostasis and obesity. They are currently using various genetic models to determine the functions of these transcription factors in the control of food intake and energy expenditure. 

Education and experience

• 1983: B.Sc. (Hons), Faculty of Science, University of Hong Kong
• 1986: M.Phil., Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong
• 1990: D.Sc., School of Science, Nagoya University, Japan
• 1990–1991: JSPS Post-doctoral Fellow, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan
• 1991–1994: HFSP and MRC Post-doctoral Fellow, Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
• 2005–2006: Head, Program in Developmental Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario
• 2006–2016: Head, Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario
• 2013–2016: Associate Chair (International Partnerships), Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
• 1995–Present: Full Member, School of Graduate Studies, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario 
• 2000–Present: Senior Scientist, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario
• 2004–Present: Professor, Department of Molecular Genetics (formerly Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
• 2010–Present: Director of International Partnership, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario
• 2016–Present: Senior Advisor of International Partnerships to the Chair, Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario 

Achievements

• 1999–2005: Research Scientist Award, National Cancer Institute of Canada, Canada
• 2000: Terry Fox Young Investigator Award, National Cancer Institute of Canada, Canada
• 2000: Premier’s Research Excellence Award, Government of Ontario, Canada
• 2003: Visiting Professorship, Genome Research Center, University of Hong Kong
• 2004: JSPS Visiting Professorship, National Institute for Basic Biology, Japan
• 2012: Visiting Professorship, Tokyo University of Science, Japan
• 2016–2023: Canada Research Chair (Tier I), Government of Canada
• 2010–Present: Visiting Research Professorship, Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong
• 2015–Present: Visiting Professorship, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China

1. Yin WC, Satkunendran T, Mo R, Morrissy S, Zhang X, Huang ES, Uusküla-Reimand L, Hou H, Son JE, Liu W, Liu YC, Zhang J, Parker J, Wang X, Farooq H, Selvadurai H, Chen X, Sau-Wai Ngan E, Cheng SY, Dirks PB, Angers S, Wilson MD, Taylor MD, Hui C-c. Dual regulatory functions of SUFU and targetome of GLI2 in SHH subgroup medulloblastoma. Dev Cell 48, 167-183, 2019.
2. Kim KH, Kim YH, Son JE, Lee JH, Kim S, Choe MS, Moon JH, Zhong J, Fu K, Lenglin F, Yoo JA, Bilan PJ, Klip A, Nagy A, Kim JR, Park JG, Hussein SM, Doh KO, Hui C-c, Sung HK. Intermittent fasting promotes adipose thermogenesis and metabolic homeostasis via VEGF-mediated alternative activation of macrophage. Cell Research 27, 1309-1326, 2017. 
3. Li D, Sakuma R, Alizadeh-Vakili N, Mo R, Puviindran V, Deimling S, Zhang X, Hopyan S, Hui C-c.  Formation of proximal and anterior limb skeleton requires early function of Irx3 and Irx5 and is negatively regulated by Shh signaling.  Dev Cell 29, 233-240, 2014.
4. Zhulyn O, Li D, Deimling S, Alizadeh-Vakili N, Mo R, Puviindran V, Chen M-H, Chuang P-T, Hopyan S, Hui C-c. A switch from low to high Shh activity regulates establishment of limb progenitors and signaling centers.  Dev Cell 29, 241-249, 2014.
5. Smemo S, Tena JJ, Kim K-H, Gamazon ER, Sakabe NJ, Gómez-Marín C, Aneas I, Credidio FL, Sobreira DR, Wasserman NF, Lee JH, Puviindran V, Tam D, Shen M, Son JE, Alizadeh-Vakili N, Sung H-K, Naranjo S, Acemel RD, Manzanares M, Nagy A, Cox NJ, Hui C-c, Gomez-Skarmeta JL, and Nóbrega MA. Obesity-associated variants within FTO form long-range functional connections with IRX3.  Nature 507, 371-375, 2014.

See a full list of Chi Chung Hui's publications