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Hung-Chih Kuo, Ph.D. 郭紘志 博士
Research Fellow
Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica
中央研究院細胞與個體生物學研究所 研究員
Email：kuohuch@gate.sinica.edu.tw
Functional Role of non-Coding RNAs in Pluripotency and Diseases
We have focused our efforts on characterizing the functional role of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) and the mechanism by which they regulate pluripotency as well as human neurodegenerative diseases. Taking advantage of our extensive experience in pluripotent stem cell biology and molecular biology, we closely collaborate with bioinformatians to develop computational and experimental pipelines to identify and characterize ncRNA-related events in human pluripotent stem cells. In this regard, we have identified and elucidated the pathway by which circular RNAs regulate human pluripotency and reprogramming through hESC context-dependent circular RNA biogenesis. Our study suggests the existence of a regulatory network in hESCs, wherein coordinated interactions between pluripotency-associated transcription factors and splicing factors modulate the expression of a distinct group of circRNAs, which can directly interact with miRNAs and influence the state of pluripotency. Also, we have explored the functional role of circular RNA and long ncRNA in human neurodegenerative diseases through iPSC-based disease modeling.
Position
2018-present Research Fellow, Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taiwan
2013-2018 Associate Research Fellow, Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taiwan
Education
2001-2003 Postdoctoral Researcher, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, U.S.A.
1997-2001 Ph.D. Division of Women’s Health, St. Thomas’s Hospital, King’s College London, U.K.
Expertise
Stem cell biology, non-coding RNAs, regenerative medicine.
Selected Publications
Chiu FL, Liang JJ, Lin YL, Kuo HC*. (2025) Zika virus impairs non-homologous end joining and exacerbates DNA damage in neural progenitors derived from Huntington’s disease iPSCs via mutant huntingtin-elicited Ku70/Ku80 complex disruption Stem Cell Research & Therapy. In press.
Wu YY and Kuo HC* (2020) Functional roles and networks of non-coding RNAs in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, Journal of Biomedical Science, 27(1): 49
Huang HP, Chiang W, Chuang CY, Stone L, Kang CK, Hwu WL, Kuo HC*. (2019) Using human Pompe Disease induced pluripotent stem cells-derived neural cells for identifying chemicals with therapeutic potential. Molecular Human Genetics, 28(23): 3880-3894
Yu CY, Li TC, Wu YY, Yeh CH, Chiang W, Chuang CY, Kuo HC*. (2017) The Circular RNA circBIRC6 participates in the molecular circuitry controlling human pluripotency. Nature Communications. 8(1):1149.
Biosketch
Dr. Kuo received his Ph.D. in reproductive medicine from King’s college London, UK in 2001 and did additional postdoctoral training in stem cell biology from the prestigious primate cloning laboratory at National Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC) under Dr. Don Wolf ‘s mentorship. In 2003, Dr. Kuo was recruited by Dr. Lee Yuan Tseh, Nobel Laureate and former President of Academia Sinica to join the newly establish Stem Cell Program. At this stage, his primary effort is to help the program to establish the pluripotent stem cell research platform. Since taking his position as an Associated Research Fellow at ICOB in 2013, his primary research focus on exploring the functional role of non-colinear (PtNcl) RNAs in human pluripotency maintenance, reprogramming and early lineage differentiation. He was promoted to Full research Fellow in 2018 and took the deputy directorship of ICOB in 2019. His research focus on 1. Functional roles of the non-colinear RNAs in pluripotency, reprogramming, and differentiation. 2. The molecular basis of human pluripotent stem cell cortical differentiation and patterning. 3. Human iPSC as therapeutic platforms for neurodegenerative diseases.
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