Professor Rudolf Wu is the Chair Professor and the Director of the School of Biological Sciences. He is also the Director of the Centre for Marine Environmental Research and Innovative Technology (MERIT), one of the "Areas of Excellence" (AoE) selected by the University Grants Committee (UGC), the government of Hong Kong SAR.

Professor Wu's research primarily focuses on the molecular, biochemical, physiological and ecological responses of marine animals to environmental stresses, with a particular emphasis on hypoxia and xenobiotics. The overall objectives are to unravel the toxic mechanisms involved and to develop novel biomarkers for detecting impending damages and predicting environmental changes. He has published one book, five book chapters, and over 200 papers in leading journals in marine environmental sciences and environmental toxicology, and has been invited to give plenary/keynote lectures at 30 major international conferences. Professor Wu is the associated editor of four international journals and was the Chief Guest Editor of six special issues of the journal "Marine Pollution Bulletin".

Professor Wu has served on numerous working / expert groups of international organizations, including the United Nations (UN), the International Maritime organization (IMO) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC). He was one of the 24 members of the Coastal Ocean Observation Panel of the IOC, and is currently one of the 13 members of the "Group of Experts on Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection" (GESAMP) of the UN, the Director of the "Regional Centre of Excellence in Marine Pollution" of the UN's Regional Programme of the East Asian Seas (PEMSEA) and also a member of the Scientific Advisory Panel of UK's Environment Agency. He has also conducted more than 20 international/regional training programs for the various organizations of UN and International Atomic Energy Agency.

In the past five years, Professor Wu completed many milestone consultancy studies for the government of Hong Kong SAR. The total contract value of consultancy studies under his leadership exceeded HK$38 million, and results and recommendations of many of his studies have formed the scientific basis and legal framework of environmental management in Hong Kong.

 

Research Interests

Marine environmental research, Marine Ecology, Marine Pollution, Ecotoxicology, Mariculture

Professor Wu has received more than $120 million competitive research grants in total (as the Principal Investigator). Some recently funded research projects are shown below:

  1. "Centre for Marine Environmental Research and Innovation Technology" An Area of Excellence in Hong Kong (University Grants Committee: $68 million)
  2. Establishment of an environmental proteomic and metabolomic laboratory (University Grants Committee: Special Equipment Grant, $10.8 million)
  3. Studies on important toxicants in coastal waters of Hong Kong: A risk assessment approach (University Grants Committee: Collaborative Research Fund, $4.8 million)
  4. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers: a ubiquitous contaminant disrupting the reproductive hormones and impairing reproduction of fish (University Grants Committee: General Research Fund, $1.1 million)
  5. Reactive oxygen species produced by a red tide causative species (Chattonella marina): An investigation on oxidative stress and damages in fish and mussels (University Grants Committee : General Research Fund, $1.6 million)
  6. Studies on endocrine disruptors and red tide toxins in coastal waters of Hong Kong: A risk assessment (University Grants Committee: Collaborative Research Fund, $1.3 million)

 

Ten Representative Publications

  1. van de Merwe, J.P., A.K.Y. Chan, E .N.Y. Lei , M.S Yau, M.H.W. Lam & R.S.S. Wu, 2011. Bioaccumulation and maternal transfer of PBDE 47 in the marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) following dietary exposure. Aquatic Toxicology 103: 199-204.

  2. Lo K.H., M.N.Y. Hui, R.M.K .Yu, R.S.S. Wu & S.H. Cheng, 2011. Hypoxia impairs primordial germ Cell migration in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. PLoS ONE 6: e24540. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0024540

  3. Lam C, R. Neumann, P.K.S. Shin, D.W.T. Au,  P.Y. Qian & R.S.S. Wu. 2010 Polybrominated dphenylethers (PBDEs) alter larval settlement of marine benthic polychaetes. Environmental Science & Technology 44: 7130-713.

  4. Wu, R.S.S., 2009.  Effects of hypoxia on fish reproduction and development. In: Fish Physiology (eds. J.G. Richards, A.P. Farrell and C.J. Brauner) Academic Press. Volume 27, pp. 79-141.

  5. Shang, E.H.H., R.M.K. Yu and R.S.S. Wu, 2006. Hypoxia affects sex differentiation and development, leading to a male-dominated population in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Environmental Science & Technology 40: 3118-3122.

  6. Wu, R.S.S., T. C. Lau, W. K.M. Fung, P. H. Ko, K. M. Y. Leung, 2006. An 'Artificial Mussel' for monitoring heavy metals in marine environment. Environmental Pollution 145:104-110.

  7. Zhang, XW, J.P. Giesy, P. Jones, R. M.K. Yu & R.S.S. Wu. 2005. Quantitative RT-PCR methods for evaluating toxicant-induced effects on steroidogenesis using the H295R cell line. Environmental Science & Technology 39: 2777-2785.

  8. Shang, E and R.S.S. Wu, 2004. Aquatic hypoxia is a teratogen and affects fish embryonic development. Environmental Science and Technology 38: 4763-4767.

  9. Wu, R.S.S., B.S. Zhou, D.J. Randall, N.Y.S. Woo & P.K.S. Lam, 2003. Aquatic hypoxia is an endocrine disruptor and impairs fish reproduction. Environmental Science and Technology 37: 1137-1141.

  10. Gray, J.S., R.S.S. Wu & Y.Y. Or, 2002. Effects of hypoxia and organic enrichment on the marine coastal environment. Marine Ecology Progress Series 238: 249-279.

Research Photos

 

Lab Photos