Profile
Cheukyau (Jane) Luk
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About Me:
I came from Hong Kong and am currently a PhD student researching on obesity and diabetes in University of Leeds. I have a lot of interests including singing, learning different languages and working out in the gym.
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My Work:
I look into the communication between the blood vessels and the fat cells, particularly how the blood vessels release small molecules to prevent fat cells from being unhealthy in obesity.
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Read more
In obesity, the fat cells expand in numbers and sizes and become unhealthy. These unhealthy fat cells release molecules which attack organs including the liver, the skeletal muscle and the pancreas. These organs, important in regulating body energy balance, turn unhealthy and result in diseases such as diabetes. The greatest signature of diabetes is high blood sugar level, a result of the body unable to store excess energy properly.
In human system, the blood vessels supply nutrients and oxygen to different organs including the fat store. They also release signalling molecules to regulate the functioning of the fat cells. As scientists previously reported that the fat cells in obesity receive less blood supply as there are less blood vessels in fat stores, I look into how the communication between the blood vessels and the fat cells is different in energy excess conditions. I take out the blood vessels from mice samples and collect the molecules released. I then put these molecules into fat cells and explore if any of them prevent fat cells from becoming unhealthy.
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My Typical Day:
I usually wake up at 8am and go into the lab at 9am. I work there all day until 6pm. My work includes changing the nutrient solution to grow my fat cells, treating them with different chemicals and measuring their biological activity afterwards. Between my experiments, I also make coffees and chat with my colleagues about science and life.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
Deliver an interactive exhibition to educate the public about the health impact of obesity, particularly the link between obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases such as stroke.
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Education:
– Belilios Public School (a public school in Hong Kong)
– University College London (where I did my integrated master’s degree in Pharmacology, a stream of biomedical sciences) -
Qualifications:
I did Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (an A level equivalence in the Hong Kong education system). I took Chinese, English, Mathematics, Liberal Studies, Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Cheerful, goal-directed and adaptable
What did you want to be after you left school?
Going into university and doing medical research afterwards
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Not really but I once almost broke a glass burette in a chemistry class!
What's your favourite food?
Icecream!
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
think smart like Sherlock Holmes; sing well like Adele; study harder at school!
Tell us a joke.
What is the most exciting insect? Bee (because it is always buzzing!)
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