Prof. NG Wai-lung, Billy

About me

NG Wai-lung, BillyNG Wai-Lung, Billy 吳濰龍

B.Sc. (1st Hons), Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
School of Pharmacy
Faculty of Medicine
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Fax:(852) 2603 5295
Email: billyng@cuhk.edu.hk
Lab Webpage: https://www.ngwailung.com

Personal Details

Professor Ng’s research interests are chemical biology, drug discovery, and medicinal chemistry. The Ng lab (School of Pharmacy, the Chinese University of Hong Kong) uses chemical and biological tools to develop novel small molecules for the treatment of various diseases, including cancers, infectious and neurodegenerative diseases. He has co-authored more than 30 papers in prestigious journals such as Science, Nature Chemical Biology, Molecular Cell, J. Am. Chem. Soc., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., and ACS Central Science and also serves as a reviewer for more than 30 journals including Science Translational Medicine, Nature Chemical Biology, and Nature Communications. 

Professor Ng obtained his B.Sc. degree in Chemistry (1st Class Hons.) and Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. During his graduate study, he was a Fulbright Scholar at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), under the generous funding supports from the Lee Hysan Foundation and the Fulbright Program. From 2014 – 2016, he joined the University of Oxford as a Croucher Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow. He was then recruited to Harvard Medical School / Dana-Farber Cancer Institute as a research fellow from 2016 – 2019. He was honored as a Young Global Leader (2022) by the World Economic Forum. His research has been funded by diverse sources, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, US National Academy of Medicine (NAM), the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF), and Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong.

***The Ng lab is currently recruiting talented postdoctoral fellows / PhD students / research assistants / visiting scholars. Background in organic synthesis / chemical biology/ cancer biology / pharmacology / molecular biology would be an advantage. Outstanding PhD and postdoc applicants will be nominated for the prestigious HKPF Scheme and RGC Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme respectively. Please send your CV and cover letter to billyng@cuhk.edu.hk

Research

Research Interests

For more details, please refer to our lab webpage: https://www.ngwailung.com

Research Interests: Chemical biology, drug discovery, and medicinal chemistry

  • Theme 1: Chemical Inducers of Proximity
  • Theme 2: Carbohydrate-based Drug Discovery
  • Theme 3: Late-stage Modification of Drug-like Molecules.

***The Ng lab is currently recruiting talented postdoctoral fellows / PhD students / research assistants / visiting scholars. Background in organic synthesis / chemical biology/ cancer biology / pharmacology / molecular biology would be an advantage. Outstanding PhD and postdoc applicants will be nominated for the prestigious HKPF Scheme and RGC Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme respectively. Please send your CV and cover letter to billyng@cuhk.edu.hk

Teaching

Teaching

  • PHAR1110 Fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
  • PHAR2131 Pharmaceutical Analysis
  • PHAR4911 Research Project I
  • PHAR4912 Research Project II
  • MEDF 1021 Public Health and Healthcare Ethics
  • GECW1010 University and Society

Publications

Representative Publications

For the most updated publication list: https://www.ngwailung.com/publications

For Google Scholar Profile: Link

  1. “Lactone-to-lactam editing alters the pharmacology of bilobalide” Jiang, X., He, X., Wong, J., Scheeff, S., Hau, S.C.K., Wong, T. H., Qin, Y., Fan, C. H., Ma, B., Chung, N. L., Huang, J., Zhao, J., Yan, Y., Xiao, M., Song, X., Hui, T., Zuo, Z., Wu, W.K.K., Ko, H., Chow, K. H.-M. & Ng, B.W.-L.#
    JACS Au,
    ASAP (2024). https://doi.org/10.1021/jacsau.4c00416
    • This article was featured as a cover art (supplementary).
    • Press release: CU Medicine modifies Gingko tree extract with innovative molecular editing; https://tinyurl.com/25zv2hjx 
  1. “Targeted protein O-GlcNAcylation using bifunctional small molecules” Ma, B., Khan, K.S., Xu, T., Amada, J.X., Guo, Z., Huang, Y., Yan, Y., Lam, H., Cheng, A.S.-L. & Ng, B.W.-L.#
    J Am Chem Soc 146, 9779–9789 (2024).
    • Press release: CUHK discovers groundbreaking method for precise regulation of human proteins Paving the way for the development of new drugs for numerous diseases; https://tinyurl.com/4sb7fkxx
  1. “Design and synthesis of bicyclo[4.3.0]nonene nucleoside analogues” Scheeff, S., Wang, Y., Lyu, M.-Y., Ahmadabadi, B.N., Hau, S.C.K., Hui, T.K.C., Zhang, Y., Zuo, Z., Chan, R.W.Y.# & Ng, B.W.-L.#
    Org Lett
    25, 9002–9007 (2023).
     
  2. “Discovery of chemical probes that perturb protein complexes using size exclusion chromatography and chemical proteomics” Ng, B.W.-L.#, Xu, T. & Guo, Z.
    Molecular Cell 83, 1544–1546 (2023).
     
  3. “Viral Condensates: Making it hard to replicate” Ng, B.W.-L.#, Scheeff, S. & Amada, J.X.
    eLife 12, e88044 (2023).
     
  4. “Phase separation in viral infections” Li, H., Ernst, C., Kolonko-Adamska, M., Greb-Markiewicz, B., Man, J., Parissi, V. & Ng, B.W.-L.#
    Trends Microbiol 30, 1217–1231 (2022).
    • This article was featured as a cover art.
  1. “Simeprevir potently suppresses SARS-CoV-2 replication and synergizes with remdesivir” Lo, H. S., Hui, K. P. Y., Lai, H.-M., He, X., Khan, K. S., Kaur, S., Huang, J., Li, Z., Chan, A. K. N., Cheung, H. H.-Y., Ng, K.-C., Ho, J. C. W., Chen, Y. W., Ma, B., Cheung, P. M.-H., Shin, D., Wang, K., Lee, M.-H., Selisko, B., Eydoux, C., Guillemot, J.-C., Canard, B., Wu, K.-P., Liang, P.-H., Dikic, I., Zuo, Z., Chan, F. K. L., Hui, D. S. C., Mok, V. C. T., Wong, K.-B., Mok, C. K. P., Ko, H., Aik, W. S., Chan, M. C. W.# & Ng, W.-L.#
    ACS Cent Sci 7, 792–802 (2021).
    • This article was selected as part of “Examples of the Exceptional, COVID19 Special Collection” of ACS Cent Sci.
    • Press release: A Global Study Led by CU Medicine and HKUMed Discovers a Hepatitis C Virus Drug as Potent Treatment for COVID-19; https://tinyurl.com/mubdzxxj
  1. “Nucleic acid-based technologies targeting coronaviruses” Le, T.K., Paris, C., Khan, K.S., Robson, F., Ng, W.-L.# & Rocchi, P.#
    Trends Biochem Sci 46, 351–365 (2021).
    • This article was featured as a cover art and also highlighted by The Scientist, 2021, July issue.
  1. “Coronavirus RNA proofreading: molecular basis and therapeutic targeting” Robson, F., Khan, K.S., Le, T.K., Paris, C., Demirbag, S., Barfuss, P., Rocchi, P., Ng, W.-L.#
    Molecular Cell 79, 710–727 (2020).

*This article was recognized as a “Highly Cited Paper” by Clarivate Web of Science (Top 1% in Molecular Biology & Genetics). It was also highlighted by The Scientist, 2021, July issue.

  1. “Epigenetic CRISPR screens identify Npm1 as a therapeutic vulnerability in non-small cell lung cancer” Li, F.*, Ng, W.-L.*, Luster, T. A., Hu, H., Sviderskiy, V.O., Dowling, C.M., Hollinshead, K.E.R., Zouitine, P., Zhang, H., Huang, Q., Ranieri, M., Wang, W., Fang, Z., Chen, T., Deng, J., Zhao, K., So, H.C., Khodadadi-Jamayran, A., Xu, M., Karatza, A., Pyon, V., Li, S., Pan, Y., Labbe, K., Almonte, C., Poirier, J.T., Miller, G., Possemato, R., Qi, J. & Wong, K.K. (*Co-first authorship)
    Cancer Res 80, 3556–3567 (2020).
    • This article was featured as a cover art.
  1. “Palladium-catalyzed arylation of carbasugars enables the discovery of potent and selective SGLT2 inhibitors” Ng, W.-L., Lau, K. M., Lau, C. B. & Shing, T. K. M.
    Angew Chem Int Ed 55, 13818–13821 (2016).
    • This article was highlighted in Synfacts, 2017, 13, 17.
    • Press release: CUHK Scientists Successfully Synthesize New Carbasugars as Antidiabetic Agents; https://tinyurl.com/4tsza3bk
  1. “Posttranslational mutagenesis: A chemical strategy for exploring protein side-chain diversity” Wright, T. H., Bower, B. J., Chalker, J. M., Bernardes, G. J., Wiewiora, R., Ng, W.-L., Raj, R., Faulkner, S., Vallee, M. R., Phanumartwiwath, A., Coleman, O. D., Thezenas, M. L., Khan, M., Galan, S. R., Lercher, L., Schombs, M. W., Gerstberger, S., Palm-Espling, M. E., Baldwin, A. J., Kessler, B. M., Claridge, T. D., Mohammed, S. & Davis, B. G.
    Science 354, 597 (2016).
    • This article was highlighted in C&EN News, 2016, vol. 94, issue 38, and was also featured in Science, 2016, 354, 553 & Nature Method, 2016, 13, 907.
  1. “Design, syntheses, and SAR studies of carbocyclic analogues of sergliflozin as potent sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors” Shing, T. K. M.*, Ng, W.-L., Chan, J. Y. & Lau, C. B.
    (*Denotes corresponding author & thesis advisor)
    Angew Chem Int Ed 52, 8401–8405 (2013).
    • This article was highlighted in Synfacts, 2013, 9, 1147.

Supplementary Information

Fellowships

      • Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship (2016)
      • Croucher Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship (2014 – 2016)
      • Fulbright-Lee Hysan Research Fellowship (2013 – 2014)
      • Hong Kong PhD Fellowship (2010 – 2014)

Awards & Honors

      • Biomedicines Young Investigator Award 2022
      • Young Global Leader, World Economic Forum (2022)
      • Selected Participant of 9th Global Young Scientists Summit (GYSS) (2021)
      • Faculty Innovation Award, CU Medicine (2020)
      • Best Poster Presentation Award, Oxford Synthesis Conference (2016)
      • Travel Award of International Symposium on Chemical Biology (2016)
      • Selected Participant of 65th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting (2015)
      • Global Scholarship Programme for Research Excellence Award (2013)
      • Professor Charles K. Kao Student Creativity Awards – First Runner-up (2012)
      • T C Cheng Postgraduate Scholarship (2010)
      • College Head List (2009, 2007)
      • Dean’s Honours List (2009, 2008, 2007)
      • Dr. James C.N. Ma Memorial Scholarship (2009, 2008, 2007)
      • Ma Chao Or Memorial Scholarship (2009)
      • Professor Lau Oi-wah Memorial Scholarship (2009)
      • Wong Man Hop Scholarship (2007)

Professional Associations

      • Associate member of American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
      • Member of International Chemical Biology Society (ICBS)
      • Member of American Chemical Society (ACS)
      • Associate member of Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)

Media Coverage

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