Winnie Shum
Official Title: Associate Professor (Research Track)
Faculty: Faculty of Health Sciences
, Institute of Science and EnvironmentEmail: winnie.shum@usj.edu.mo
Short Bio
PhD,Associate Professor
Academy for Cellular Nutrition and Health
Faculty of Health Sciences
& Institute of Science & Environment
University of Saint Joseph
Research Interests:
Epithelial Cell Biology in Exocrine and Reproductive Systems
Sperm Maturation & Reproductive Biomedicine & Offspring Health
Microenvironmental Signals in Epithelial Tissues and Health
Functional Mechanism of Eatable-Herbal Medicinal Nutrients on Epithelial Cells
Translational Science of Single-Cell Elementomics & Cellular Nutrition
Brief Biography:
Dr. Shum graduated from the Department of Chemistry of Hong Kong Baptist University with first-class honor. Her PhD was from Pharmacology Dept at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. She went to Pharmacology Physiology Dept of Strathclyde Uni (UK) for a visiting-postdoctoral training, followed by a postdoc-training in Professor Patrick Wong’s lab at Physiology Dept of CUHK. Later, she was delighted to join the lab of Professor Sylvie Breton at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) affiliated to Harvard Medical School (HMS). During the postdoc-training at MGH, Shum received the Medical Discovery Award and the Martin Award offered from MGH-ECOR-HMS. Where she was promoted to Instructor. She returned to China and joined the School of Life Sciences and Technology of ShanghaiTech University as an independent principal investigator and a doctoral supervisor. She also received the Shanghai Dawn Scholar Award and was selected as a distinguished researcher during the joint-effort project of the Center for Excellence in Molecular and Cell Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. She later joined USJ. For over 20-years, Shum is devoted herself to the basic scientific research, focusing on exploring the cellular and molecular mechanisms and clinical translational implications of epithelial cellular function, paternal factors and cellular nutrition in regulating epididymal function and sperm maturation for reproductive and offspring health and beyond.
Major Academic Achievements:
· Elucidation of functional mechanisms of epithelial cellular function in health and disease, expecially epididymal homeodynamic microenvironmental signaling regulation of sperm maturation for male fertility and reproductive health, including models of fluid transport, luminal acidification, calcium-redox interactions for luminal scavenging, and epithelial junctional-promoted lipid homeodynamics.
· Discovered the elementomic signatures of sperm cells, leading to translational work of cell-elementomics as a non-invasive in-vitro-diagnostics (IVD) tool to monitor the functional quality of single cells and access health conditions such as male fertility.
· Published 26 SCI-articles and one international patent. Among them, Shum contributed either the first author or the last corresponding author of 16 publications, including Cell, PLoS Genetics and Metallomics, etc. The results have been featured by Science Signaling and Science magazines, and 6 articles have been included in the textbooks of the field.
Awards & Honors:
2022 Third Prize (Life Sciences), SHT 5th Innovation Entrepreneurship Summit
2019 Poster Award, International Society for Immunology for Reprod.
2013 Dawn Scholar Award, Shanghai Municipal Education Commission
2010 Travel Award, 5th Epididymis International Meeting
2009 Martin Award of Excellence in Basic, MGH-ECOR-HMS
2008 Research Medical Discovery Award, MGH-ECOR-HMS
2008 Travel Award, US ASA 32nd Annual Meeting
2007 Travel Award, 4th Epididymis International Meeting
2000 Sir E. Youde Award, PhD Scholarship CUHK
1998 Scholastic Achievement Award, 1st Class Honor HKBU
Publications
Grants:
2021.01 – 2024.12 National Natural Science Foundation of China (NNSFC) | Role: PI
2019.01 – 2022.12 National Natural Science Foundation of China (NNSFC) | Role: PI
2019.07 – 2021.08 Science & Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (STCSM) | PI
2017.09 – 2020.08 Science & Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (STCSM) | Role: Co-PI
2017 Shanghai CAS Open Grant (w/academician Lily YL Zhang) | Role PI
2015.01 – 2018.12 National Natural Science Foundation of China (NNSFC) | Role PI
2014.01 – 2016.12 Shanghai Municipal of Education Committee | Role PI
2009 HMS-MGP ECOR Martin Research Prize | Role: 1st Co-awardee.
2008-2009 HMS-MGP ECOR Postdoc Medical Discovery Award | | Role: PI.
Publications: (*Corresponding author)
· Zhang BL, Zhang ZP, Shi SM, Shi HJ, Patricia Deleon, Shum WW*. (2023) Dynamic elementomics of single-cell ICP-MS-derived signals in normal and calcium pump PMCA4-deficient mouse epididymal sperm during capacitation. Metallomics.
· Bao Ying Liu, Bao Li Zhang, Da Yuan Gao, Qing Li, Xin Yu Xu, Shum WW*. (2022) Dysregulated luminal acidification and impaired lipid metabolism in the epididymis of OCLN-deficient infertile mice. Frontiers in Endocrinology.
· Shum WW*, Cao SA, Zhang BL, Zhou X, Liu BY, Xu XY, Shi SM, Shi S. (2022). Calcium Homeostasis in the Epididymal Microenvironment: Is Extracellular Calcium a Cofactor for Matrix Gla Protein-Dependent Scavenging Regulated by Vitamins. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology. Invited Review.
· Zhang XN, Zhang P, Gao FX, Zhou WW, Shum WW, Zeng XH. (2021).
Cabs1 Maintains Structural Integrity of Mouse Sperm Flagella during Epididymal Transit of Sperm. Int. J. Mol Sci.
· Meng CL, Tian G, Xu CH, Li XF, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Qin JZ, Fok EK, Hinton, BT, Mak KK, Shum WW, Chan WY, Xia Y. (2020). Hippo kinases MST1 and MST2 control the differentiation of the epididymal initial segment via the MEK-ERK pathway. Cell Death & Differ.
· Ma H#, Zhang BL#, Liu BY, Shi S, Gao DY, Zhang TC, Shi HJ, Li Z, Shum, WW. (2019). Vitamin K2-dependent GGCX and MGP are required for homeostatic calcium regulation of sperm maturation. iScience. 14: 210-225. #Co-first. Lead contact.
· Zhang BL, Gao DY, Zhang XX, Shi S, Shum WW*. (2017). Whole-cell patch-clamp recording of single primary epididymal epithelial cells. J Vis Exp. 2017; (126). doi: 10.3791/55700.
· Gao DY, Zhang BL, Leung MCT, Au SCL, Wong PYD, Shum WW*. (2016) Coupling of TRPV6 and TMEM16A in the epididymal principal cells of the rat epididymis. J Gen Physiol.
· Zi Z, Zhang Z, Li Q, An W, Zeng L, Gao D, Yang Y, Zhu X, Zeng R, Shum WW**, Wu J**. (2015) CCNYL1, but Not CCNY, Cooperates with CDK16 to Regulate Spermatogenesis in Mouse. PLoS Genet. 11(8): e1005485. (**Co-correspondence).
· Kim B, Roy J, Shum WW, Da Silva N, Breton S. Role of testicular luminal factors on Basal cell elongation and proliferation in the mouse epididymis. Biol Reprod, 92: 9. 2015.
· Shum WW, Smith TB, Cortez-Retamozo V, Roy JW, Hill E, Pittet MJ, Breton S, Da Silva N. Epithelial Basal Cells Are Distinct from Dendritic Cells and Macrophages in the Mouse Epididymis. Biol. Reprod., 90: 90, 2014.
· Păunescu PG, Shum WW, Huynh C, Lechner L, Goetze B, Brown D, Breton S. Novel structures of epididymal epithelial cells and their interaction with sperm revealed by high resolution helium ion microscopy. Mol Hum Reprod, 2014.
· Shum WW*, Hill E, Brown D, Breton S. Plasticity of basal cells during postnatal development and androgen manipulations in the rat epididymis. Reproduction. 146: 455-469. 2013.
· Shum WW, Da Silva D, Belleannée C, Brown D, Breton S. Regulation of V-ATPase recycling via a RhoA- and ROCKII-dependent pathway in epididymal clear cells. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 301: C31-C43, 2011.This article was the topic of the Editorial Focus by Wagner CA. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 301: C18–C20, 2011.
· Shum WW, Ruan YC, Da Silva N, Breton, S. Establishment of cell-cell cross talk in the epididymis: control of luminal acidification. J Androl. 32: 576-586, 2011.
· Ruan YC, Shum WW, Belleannée C, Da Silva N, Breton S. ATP secretion in the male reproductive tract: essential role of CFTR. J Physiol. 2011.
· Belleannée C, Da Silva N, Shum WW, Brown D, Breton S. Role of purinergic signaling pathways in V-ATPase recruitment to the apical membrane of acidifying epididymal clear cells. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 298: C817-C830, 2010.
· Belleannee C, Da Silva N, Shum WW, Marsolais M, Laprade R, Brown D, Breton S. Segmental expression of the bradykinin type 2 receptor in rat efferent ducts and epididymis and its role in the regulation of aquaporin 9. Biol Reprod, 2009; 80:134-143.
· Shum WW, Da Silva N, Breton S. Regulations of luminal acidification in the male reproductive tract via cell-cell cross-talk. J Exp Biol, 2009; 212:1753-61.
· Bouley R, Palomino Z, Tang SS, Nunes P, Kobori H, Lu HA, Shum WW, Sabolic I, Brown D, Ingelfinger JR, Jung FF. Angiotensin II and Hypertonicity Modulate Proximal Tubular Aquaporin 1 (AQP1) Expression. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, 297: F1575-F1586. 2009.
· Shum WW, Da Silva N, McKee M, Smith PJS, Brown D, Breton S. Transepithelial projections from basal cells are luminal sensors in pseudostratified epithelia. Cell, 2008; 135:1108-1117.
· Da Silva N, Shum WW, Breton S. Regulation of vacuolar proton pumping ATPase-dependent luminal acidification in the epididymis. Asian J Androl., 2007; 9: 476-82.
· Da Silva N, Shum WW, El-Annan J, Paunescu TG, McKee M, Smith PJ, Brown D, Breton S. Relocalization of the V-ATPase B2 subunit to the apical membrane of epididymal clear cells of mice deficient in the B1 subunit. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, 2007; 293: C199-210.
· Cheung KH, Leung GP, Leung MC, Shum WW, Zhou WL, Wong PY. Cell-cell interaction underlies formation of fluid in the male reproductive tract of the rat. J Gen Physiol, 2005; 125: 443-454.
· Shum WW, Le GY, Jones RL, Gurney AM, Sasaki Y. Involvement of Rho-kinase in contractile mechanisms of prostanoid EP3 receptor agonists on guinea-pig aorta. Br J Pharmacol, 2003; 139: 1449-1461.
· Jones RL, Shum WW, Gurney AM. Synergism between prostanoids and other vasoactive agents. J Cardiov Surgery, 2002; 17: 436-438.
Conference Posters and Proceedings:
· Health conferred by epithelial cells and their roles in epididymal sperm maturation. Section co-host and speaker. ICPS2024 International Conference of Physiological Sciences. August 22-25 2024. Qingdao, China.
· Epididymal cell function enables sperm maturation behind the epithelial barrier. Speaker. The 4th Joint Academic Annual Meeting of the Reproductive Science Professional Committee of the Chinese Physiological Society and the Reproductive Biology Branch of the Chinese Zoological Society. June 26-27, 2024. Nan-Tong, China.
· Calcium Promotes Clearance of Secreted Lipophilic Proteins and Its Role in the Male Reproductive Tract. Speaker. Chinese Association for Physiological Sciences Annual Conference, Oct 20-22, 2023, Xi’an.
· Matrix Gla-protein (MGP)-mediated biphasic calcium-promoted clearance luminally secreted proteins. Speaker. CSAS 37th Annual Conference, Jul 21 – 24, 2023 Chen Du, Sichuan, China.
· Elementomics in health and disease and its application in sperm quality assessment and fertility diagnosis. Speaker. BIOHK2022 conference, Dec 14-17, 2022, Hong Kong.
· Occludin promotes epithelial paraphagy for sensing luminal lipophilic signals and transepithelial cholesterol clearance. Speaker. International Society For Stem Cell Research. ISSCR Annual Meeting (online) 2021.
· Cellular Communication for a Congenial Microenvironment in the Excurrent Duct. Speaker. 11th CBIS Chinese Biological Investigator Society in Cheng-Du, 2016.
· Cellular Communication for a Congenial Microenvironment in the Excurrent Duct. Speaker. Gordon Research Conference in Hong Kong “Tissue Niches & Resident Stem Cells in Adult Epithelia”. 2016.
· Coupling of TRPV6 and TMEM16A in single epithelial cells participates in the calcium homeostasis of epididymis. Speaker. Fifth International Conference on the Epididymis (Epididymis VI). Oct 29 – Nov 3, 2014. Shanghai, China.
· Actin cytoskeleton remodelling by RhoA and ROCKII regulates vacuolar H+-ATPase (V-ATPase) recycling in epididymal clear cells. Speaker. (Meeting Travel Awardee). FASEB Annual Experimental Biology Meeting. 24-28 April 2010. Abstract: 1002.10. Anaheim, California, USA.
· Transepithelial projections from basal cells are luminal sensors in pseudostratified epithelia. Speaker. Epithelial Cell Biology Research Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
· Transepithelial projections from basal cells are luminal sensors in pseudostratified epithelia: A lesson from the role of Angiotensin II in epididymal luminal acidification” (Invited speaker). Center for Human Genetic Research – Seminar Series, Massachusetts General Hospital.
· Regulation of vacuolar H+-ATPase (V-ATPase) recycling via a RhoA- and ROCKII-dependent pathway in epididymal clear cells”. Speaker (Meeting Travel Awardee). Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR) 43rd Annual Meeting. 30 July–3 August 2010. Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
· Identification, localization and functional study of epithelial Ca2+ channel TRPV6 in the rat epididymis. Shum WW, CT Leung, GFY Cheng, CL Au, PYD Wong. FASEB Journal 20 (4), A801. (Abstract).
· Activation of a membrane current and contraction by the prostanoid EP3-receptor agonist sulprostone in guinea-pig aorta. Speaker. British Pharmacology Society – Autumn Meeting 3-9 September 2002, Strathclyde University, Glasgow, UK. Shum WW, Jones RL, Gurney AM. Br J Pharmacol, 2002; 137. (Abstract)
Teaching & Community Services:
· Supervisor of the theses of undergraduates, MPhils and PhD students, and serving as the course director of teaching programs, including “Cell Biology” for undergraduate, “Scientific Ethics” for both undergrads and postgrads, as well as co-instructor of the courses “Experimental Biology”, “BIO2000” and “Developmental Biology” for postgrads, and the course “Introduction to Medicine” for undergraduates;
· Hosted or participated 7 competitive national grants, including served as sole PI of 3 National Natural Science Foundation of China (NNSFC) grants, and participated as Co-PI of two grants from Shanghai municipal;
· Reviewer of National Natural Science Foundation of China Grant Application (2018 – present);
· Reviewer of a Strategic International S&T Innovative Cooperation Program of The Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) ;
· International conference activities: 2022 Point-of-Contact (POC) person for Chinese representatives at the 8th International Congress of Epididymis (Organizer: Giessen University at Germany) ;
· Hosted the first "International Forum on Cellular Nutrition and Health" in 2024 held at USJ;
· Ad-hoc reviewer for international journals in the fields of cell physiology and reproductive health,including Andrology (2017- present), BOR (2018-present), Current Genomics (2023); J Ethnopharmacology (2017-2018), FASEB J (2024-present), Reproduction, Front Endocrinol (2019-present), Front Physiol (2019-present), Front Cell Dev Biol (2021-present), Frontiers in Immunology (2023); Nutrition & Food Sci J (2022–present); Trends Endocrinol Metabolism (2023 - present); Review editor: Frontiers in Reproductive Health (2022 - present).
Scholar Profiles:
Google scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=QBWwN30AAAAJ&hl
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Winnie-Shum-2
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