Email

duncanleung@um.edu.mo

Tel

(853) 8822-4688

Office

N22-5007

Consultation Hours

Tue: 11:00-12:00
Thu: 11:00-12:00

Group Website

http://duncanleung.weebly.com/

Duncan, Chung Hang LEUNG 梁重恒

Professor 
Assistant Director (PhD Education Development)

Academic Qualifications

  • PhD, City University of Hong Kong
  • BSc (Hons), City University of Hong Kong

Teaching

HSCI2006Physiology and Pathophysiology
HSCI2007Physiology Lab
HSCI3008Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics
Drug DiscoveryPostgraduate course
Targets and Models for Drug ScreenPostgraduate course
Pharmacology and Safety EvaluationPostgraduate course

Research Interests

Drug discovery

  • Development of natural products and metal-based drug candidates and theranostic agents for important molecular targets with special emphasis on modulators of protein-protein interactions and gene regulations.

Luminescent sensing methods

  • Development of robust photoluminescence drug screening assays for the identification of enzyme inhibitors
  • Detection of hazardous substances such as heavy metal ions and pesticides for quality control and food safety

These research areas are multidisciplinary in nature and involve scientists from a broad range of fields, including molecular biology, pharmacology, computational chemistry, analytical chemistry and chemical synthesis. Active collaborations have been formed with researchers both locally and internationally. Several works originating from Dr. Leung’s research group have been published in high-impact journals such as Nature Communications, Angewandte Chemie, Nucleic Acids Research, Chemical Science, Chemical Communications, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry.

Group Pages

We are now looking for postgraduate students and research assistants who wish to participate in our research projects on drug discovery and sensing of biomolecules. For further information, please contact Dr. Leung at duncanleung@um.edu.mo

Biography

Chung-Hang (Duncan) Leung received his Doctor of Philosophy degree from the City University of Hong Kong in the field of biochemistry. After completing a post-doctoral fellowship at the Department of Pharmacology, Yale University, Dr. Leung obtained an Associate Research Scientist position at the Yale University School of Medicine (with a total of five years of experience at Yale). He then worked for four years as a Research Assistant Professor at the Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, and the School of Chinese Medicine at Hong Kong Baptist University before joining the Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences at the University of Macau in 2011.

h-index: 63 (Scopus)
Total citation: 12726 (Scopus)

  • Science and Technology Award Second Prize, China Association for Instrumental Analysis (CAIA) 2022/2023
  • Incentive Award Scheme for Outstanding Academic Staff 2018/2019
  • First Class Award, “無公害中藥材精細栽培關鍵技術與應用”

2018 中華中醫藥學會科學技術獎, China Association of Chinese Medicine

  • Third Class Award, “Key detection technologies for the monitoring of Chinese medicine and food safety”

2018 Macau Awards for Science and Technology, FDCT, Macao SAR

  • Incentive Award Scheme for Outstanding Academic Staff 2017/2018
  • Science and Technology Award Third Prize, China Association for Instrumental Analysis (CAIA) 2016/2017
  • Awardee of Faculty-level Academic Award Scheme 2016/2017
  • Second Class Award, “Key issues in Chinese medicine quality evaluation: Fundamental research and applications”
    2016 Macau Awards for Science and Technology, FDCT, Macao SAR
  • Second Class Award, “Modulation of biological targets involved in cancer development by Traditional Chinese Medicine and natural products”
    2014 Macau Awards for Science and Technology, FDCT, Macao SAR

  1. Leung CH, Ma DL, Lin LG, Li GD, Ko CN, Li D, Yang C. Methods of using metal complexes to promote wound healing (US Patent No. 11,958,868 B2). 16 Apr, 2024.
  1. Ma DL, Leung CH, Ren Development of lead ion testing paper with naked-eye observable readout for ten min on-site detection (US Patent No. 10,151,699 B2). 11 Dec, 2018.
  1. Ma DL, Lin S, Leung CH. Luminescent iridium(III) complex and its uses thereof for the G-quadruplex-based switch-on rapid detection of lead ions (US Patent No. 10,145,825 B2). 04 Dec, 2018.
  1. Leung CH, Ma DL, Wang HM, Zhong HJ. An iridium(III)-based irreversible protein-protein interaction inhibitor of BRD4 as a potent anticancer agent (US Patent No. 9,840,526 B1). 12 Dec, 2017.
  1. Leung CH, Ma DL, Wang HM. Methods for antagonizing STAT3 dimerization and compounds for use therein (US Patent No. 9,657,044 B2). 23 May,
  1. Ma DL, Leung CH, Ren Development of lead ion testing paper with naked-eye observable readout for ten min on-site detection (Hong Kong Short Term Patent No. HK1224889). 12 Oct, 2016.

  • Postgraduate Science and Technology Research and Development Award, KANG Tian-Shu (Graduated student), 2020
  • Postgraduate Science and Technology Research and Development Award, LIU Li-Juan (Graduated student), 2018
  • Postgraduate Science and Technology Research and Development Award, YANG Chao (Graduated student), 2018
  • Postgraduate Science and Technology Research and Development Award, ZHONG Hai-Jing (Graduated student), 2016
  • Second Class Award, “Detection of 5’-3’ exonuclease activity using a metal-based luminescent switch-on probe”
    13th Challenge Cup, BOCOM (Bank of Communications) National College Students Extracurricular Scientific Work Competition, 2013

  1. Du JX, Wang L, Wu L, Liu JB*, Leung CH (Corresponding author)* and Wang WH*.(2025) A subcellular specific iridium complex boosting cuproptosis for cancer theranostics. Cell Rep Phys Sci DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrp.2025.102592
    Front cover
  1. Wang L, Kong LT, Zhang DQ, Ye LQ, Nao SC, Chan SH, Li XY, Peng YT, Yang LJ, Wong CY, Wang KW*, Wang WH*, Chao H* and Leung CH (Corresponding author)*.(2025) Inhibiting glycolysis and disrupting the mitochondrial HK2-VDAC1 protein-protein interaction using a bifunctional lonidamine-conjugated metal probe for combating triple-negative breast cancer. J Am Chem Soc DOI: 1021/jacs.5c04233
  1. Cheng SS, Li J, Song YQ, Jing SZ, Lan YX, Wang L, Chan D, Wong CY, Sheng CQ*, Wang WH*, Wang HM* and Leung CH (Corresponding author)*.(2025) Bioactive Benzimidazole-cyclometalated Iridium(III) Complex as an Epigenetic Regulator through Effectively Interrupting the EED-EZH2 Interaction. Small 21(12), e2405771.
  1. Wu J, Li YJ, Wang LJ, Nao SC, Chan D, Wong CY, Yang GJ, Wang WH* and Leung CH (Corresponding author)*.(2024) Microfluidic detection using G-quadruplex DNA-based biosensors. Trac-trend Anal Chem 184, 118121. 
  1. Niu D, Wu XL, Zhang YX, Wang XL, Chan D, Jing SZ, Wong CY, Wang WH* and Leung CH (Corresponding author)*.(2024) Tailoring obeticholic acid activity by iridium(III) complex conjugation to develop a farnesoid X receptor probe. J Adv Res S2090-1232(24)00483-1.
  1. Song YQ, Xu YW, Yang LJ, Wang L, Jing SZ, Yang GJ, Chan D, Wong CY, Wang WH*, Wong VKW* and Leung CH (Corresponding author)*.(2024) Probing the AFF4-CCNT1 protein-protein interaction using a metal-organic conjugate for treating triple-negative breast cancer. Chem Eng J 496, 153685. 
  1. Li CY, Wang WH, Leung CH (Corresponding author)*, Yang GJ* and Chen J*.(2024) KDM5 family as therapeutic targets in breast cancer: Pathogenesis andtherapeutic opportunities and challenges. Mol Cancer 23,109.
  1. Song YQ, Yang GJ*, Ma DL, Wang WH* and Leung CH (Corresponding author)*. (2023) The role and prospect of lysine-specific demethylases in cancer chemoresistance. Med Res Rev 43, 5, 1438-1469.
  1. Song YQ, Wu KJ, Zhang ZM, Liu TM, Ko NC, Zhu WG, Ma DL*, Wang WH* and Leung CH (Corresponding author)*. (2023) Development of a sensitive luminescent probe to uncover new BRD4 inhibitors in living cells. Chem Eng J 463, 142356. 
  1. Li GD, Li D, Wu C, Li SN, Chen F, Li P, Ko CN, Wang WH, Li MY, Lin LG*, Ma DL* and Leung CH (Corresponding author)*. (2022) Homocysteine-targeting compounds as a new treatment strategy for diabetic wounds via histone methyltransferase SET7/9 inhibition.Exp Mol Med 54,988–998.
  1. Chen F, Li GD, Wu C, Wang WH, Ma DL* andLeung CH (Corresponding author)*. (2021) A Rapid and Label-Free DNA-based Interference Reduction Nucleic Acid Amplification Strategy for Viral RNA Detection. Biosens Bioelectron 198, 113829.
  1. Cheng SS, Qu YQ, Wu J, Yang GJ, Liu H, Wang WH, Huang Q, Chen F, Li GD, Wong CY, Vincent Wong KW*, Ma DL*, and Leung CH (Corresponding author)*. (2021) Inhibition of the CDK9‒cyclin T1 protein‒protein interaction as a new approach against triple-negative breast cancer. Acta Pharm Sin B12, 1390-1405.
  1. Li GD, Liu H, Feng RB, Kang TS, Wang WH, Ko CN, Wong CY, Ye M, Ma DL*, Wan JB* and Leung CH (Corresponding author)*. (2021) A bioactive ligand-conjugated iridium(III) metal-based complex as a Keap1–Nrf2 protein-protein interaction inhibitor against acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury. Redox Biol48, 102129.
  1. Li GD, Ko CN, Li D, Yang C, Wang WH, Yang GJ, Di Primo C, Wong KW, Xiang YZ, Lin LG*, Ma DL* and Leung CH (Corresponding author)*. (2021) A small molecule HIF-1α stabilizer that accelerates diabetic wound healing. Nat Commun12, 3363.
  1. Wu C, Wu KJ, Liu JB, Wang WH, Leung CH (Corresponding author)*and Ma DL*. (2020) Structure-guided discovery of a luminescent theranostic toolkit for living cancer cells and the imaging behavior effect. Chem Sci 11, 11404.
    Front cover
  1. Wang WH, Wu KJ, Vellaisamy K, Leung CH (Corresponding author)*and Ma DL*. (2020) Peptide-conjugated long-lived theranostic imaging toolbox for targeting GRPr in cancer and immune cells. Angew Chem Int Ed 59, 17897.
    Inside cover
  1. Li GD, Stuart AH, Liu H, Kang TS, Nao SC, Zhao YC, Wu C, Jin JW, Zhang JT, Leung CH (Corresponding author)*, Chan PHC*, Ma DL*. (2020) A robust photoluminescence screening assay identifies uracil-DNA glycosylase inhibitors against prostate cancer. Chem Sci 11, 1750.
    Front cover
  1. Ko CN, Li GD, Leung CH (Corresponding author)*, Ma DL*. (2019) Dual function luminescent transition metal complexes for cancer theranostics: the combination of diagnosis and therapy. Coord Chem Rev381, 79.
  1. Vellaisamy K, Li GD, Wang WH, Leung CH (Corresponding author) *, Ma DL*. (2018) A long-lived peptide-conjugated iridium(III) complex as a luminescent probe and inhibitor of the cell migration mediator, formyl peptide receptor 2. Chem Sci 9, 8171.
    Front cover
  1. Yang GJ, Wang WH, Mok SWF, Wu C, Law BYK, Miao XM, Wu KJ, Zhong HJ, Wong CY, Wong VKW*, Ma DL*, Leung CH (Corresponding author)*. (2018) Selective inhibition of lysine-specific demethylase 5A (KDM5A) using a rhodium(III) complex for triple-negative breast cancer therapy. Angew Chem Int Ed 57, 13091.
    Inside back cover
  1. Vellaisamy K, Li GD, Ko CN, Zhong HJ, Fatima S, Kwan HY, Wong CY, Kwong WJ*, Tan WH*, Leung CH (Corresponding author)*, Ma DL*. (2018) Cell imaging of dopamine receptor using agonist labeling iridium(III) complex. Chem Sci 9, 1075.
    Inside front cover
  1. Wang WH, Vellaisamy K, Li GD, Wu C, Ko CN, Leung CH (Corresponding author)*, Ma DL*. (2017) Development of a long-lived luminescence probe for visualizing β-galactosidase in ovarian carcinoma cells. Anal Chem 89, 11679.
  1. Sun H, Li WB, Dong ZZ, Hu C, Leung CH (Corresponding author)*, Ma DL*, Ren KN*. (2018) A suspending-droplet mode paper-based microfluidic platform for low-cost, rapid, and convenient detection of lead(II) ions in liquid solution. Biosens Bioelectron 99, 361.
  1. Liu LJ, Wang WH, Huang SY, Hong YJ, Li GD, Lin S, Tian JL, Cai ZW*, Wang HMD*, Ma DL*, Leung CH (Corresponding author)*. (2017) Inhibition of the Ras/Raf interaction and repression of renal cancer xenografts in vivo by an enantiomeric iridium(III) metal-based compound. Chem Sci8, 4756.
    Inside back cover
  1. Ko CN, Yang C, Lin S, Li SN, Dong ZZ, Liu JB*, Lee SMY*, Leung CH (Corresponding author)*, Ma DL*. (2017) A long-lived phosphorescence iridium(III) complex as a switch on-off-on probe for live zebrafish monitoring of endogenous sulfide generation. Biosens Bioelectron 94, 575.
  1. Kang TS, Wang WH, Zhong HJ, Dong ZZ, Huang Q, Mok SWF, Leung CH (Corresponding author)*, Wong VKW*, Ma DL*. (2017) An anti-prostate cancer benzofuran-conjugated iridium(III) complex as a dual inhibitor of STAT3 and NF-κB. Cancer Lett 396, 76.
  1. Yang C, Wang WH, Liang JX, Li GD, Vellaisamy K, Wong CY, Ma DL*, Leung CH (Corresponding author)*. (2017) A rhodium(III)-based inhibitor of lysine-specific histone demethylase 1 as an epigenetic modulator in prostate cancer cells. J Med Chem 60, 2597.
  1. Zhong HJ,* Wang WH, Kang TS, Yan H, Yang YL, Xu LP, Wang YQ, Ma DL*, Leung CH (Corresponding author)*. (2016) A rhodium(III) complex as an inhibitor of neural precursor cell expressed, developmentally down-regulated 8-activating enzyme with in vivo activity against inflammatory bowel disease. J Med Chem 60, 497.
  1. Ma DL*, Lin S, Wang WH, Yang C, Leung CH (Corresponding author)*. (2017) Luminescent chemosensors by using cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes and their applications. Chem Sci8, 878.
  1. Lin S, Lu L, Kang TS, Mergny JL, Leung CH (Corresponding author)*, Ma DL*. (2016) The interaction of an iridium(III) complex with G-quadruplex DNA and its application in luminescent switch-on detection of Siglec-5. Anal Chem 88, 10290.
  1. Lin S, Kang TS, Lu L, Wang WH, Ma DL*, Leung CH (Corresponding author)*. (2016) A G-quadruplex-selective luminescent probe with an anchor tail for the switch-on detection of thymine DNA glycosylase activity. Biosens Bioelectron 86, 849.
  1. Ma DL*, Wang M, Liu CF, Miao XM, Kang TS, Leung CH (Corresponding author)*. (2016) Metal complexes for the detection of disease-related protein biomarkers. Coord Chem Rev 324, 90.
  1. Lu L*, Mao ZF, Kang TS, Leung CH (Corresponding author)*, Ma DL*. (2016) A versatile nanomachine for the sensitive detection of platelet-derived growth factor-BB utilizing a G-quadruplex-selective iridium(III) complex. Biosens Bioelectron 85, 300.
  1. Leung CH (Corresponding author)*, Liu LJ, Leung KH, Ma DL*. (2016) Epigenetic modulation by inorganic metal complexes. Coord Chem Rev 319, 25.
  1. Kang TS, Mao ZF, Ng CT, Wang M, Wang WH, Wang CM, Lee SMY, Wang YT, Leung CH (Corresponding author)*, Ma DL*. (2016) Identification of an Iridium(III)-Based Inhibitor of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α. J Med Chem 59, 4026.
  1. Zhong HJ, Lu L, Wong CL-C , Peng C, Yan SC, Ma DL*, Cai ZW*, Wang HMD* and Leung CH (Corresponding author)*. (2015) An iridium(III)-based irreversible protein-protein interaction inhibitor of BRD4 as a potent anticancer agent. Chem Sci 6, 5400.
  1. Liu LJ, Lu L, Zhong HJ, He BY, Kwong D, Ma DL*, Leung CH (Corresponding author)*. (2015) An Iridium(Ⅲ) complex inhibits JMJD2 activities and acts as a potential epigenetic modulator. J Med Chem 16, 6697
  1. Lin S, Yang C, Mao Z, He BY, Wang YT, Leung CH (Corresponding author)*, Ma DL*. (2016) A G-pentaplex-based assay for Cs(+) ions in aqueous solution using a luminescent Ir(III) complex. Biosens Bioelectron 77, 609.
  1. Leung KH, He BY, Yang C, Leung CH (Corresponding author)*, Wang HM*, Ma DL*. (2015) Development of an aptamer-based sensing platform for metal ions, proteins and small molecules through terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-induced G-quadruplex formation. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 7, 24046.
  1. Leung KH, He HZ, Zhong HJ, Lin S, Wang YT, Ma DL*, Leung CH (Corresponding author)*. (2015) Label-free luminescence switch-on detection of hepatitis C virus NS3 helicase activity using a G-quadruplex-selective probe. Chem Sci 6, 2166.
    Front cover
  1. Ma DL*, Chan DSH, Leung CH (Corresponding author)*. (2014) Group 9 organometallic compounds for therapeutic and bioanalytical applications. Acc Chem Res 47, 3614.
  1. Lu L, Chan DSH, Kwong DWJ, He HZ*, Leung CH (Corresponding author)*, Ma DL*. (2014) Detection of nicking endonuclease activity using a G-quadruplex-selective luminescent switch-on probe. Chem Sci 5, 4561.
    Inside front cover
  1. Ma DL*, Liu LJ, Leung KH, Chen YT, Zhong HJ, Chan DSH, Wang HMD*, Leung CH (Corresponding author)*. (2014) Antagonising STAT3 dimerization with a rhodium(III) complex. Angew Chem Int Ed 53, 9178.
    Back cover
    Selected as very important paper
    Highlighted by SciBX, Nature Publishing Group, 2014, 7(26)
  1. Leung CH (Corresponding author)*, Zhong HJ, Chan DSH, Ma DL*. (2013) Bioactive iridium and rhodium complexes as therapeutic agents. Coord Chem Rev257, 1764.
  1. Ma DL*, Chan DSH, Leung CH (Corresponding author)*. (2013) Drug repositioning by structure-based virtual screening. Chem Soc Rev 42, 2130.
  1. Leung CH (Corresponding author)*, Zhong HJ, Yang H, Cheng Z, Chan DSH, Ma VPY, Abagyan R, Wong CY, Ma DL*. (2012) A metal-based inhibitor of tumor-necrosis factor-alpha. Angew Chem Int Ed 51, 9010.
    Frontispiece
  1. Ma DL*, Xu T, Chan DSH, Man BYW, Fong WF, Leung CH (Corresponding author)*. (2011) A Highly Selective, Label-Free, Homogenous Luminescent Switch-On Probe for the Detection of Nanomolar Transcription Factor NF-κB. Nucleic Acids Res 39, e67.
  1. Leung CH (Corresponding author)*, Chan DSH, Man BYW, Wang CJ, Lam W, Cheng YC, Fong WF, Hsiao WLW, Ma DL*. (2011) Simple and convenient G-quadruplex-based turn-on fluorescence assay for 3’-5’exonuclease activity.Anal Chem 83, 463.
    Front cover
  1. Chan DSH, Lee HM, Yang F, Che CM, Wong CCL, Abagyan R, Leung CH (Corresponding author)*, Ma DL*. (2010) Structure-Based Discovery of Natural Product-Like TNF-alpha Inhibitors. Angew Chem Int Ed 49, 2860.
    Frontispiece
    A hot paper chosen by the Editors for its importance in a rapidly evolving field of high current interest
    Highlighted by SciBX, Nature Publishing Group, 2010, 3(13)