Postdoc (University of Cambridge)
Associate Dean (Outreach and Internationalisation) of CSCI
Professor
| Office: | YEUNG-P5118 |
|---|---|
| Lab: | YEUNG-P2405 |
| Phone: | +852 3442-6858 |
| Fax: | +852 3442-0522 |
| Email: | ckkwok42@cityu.edu.hk |
| Twitter: | @kitkwok6 |
| Web: | Personal Homepage |
| ORCID ID: | 0000-0001-9175-8543 |
| Scopus Author ID: | 55167223200 |
- RNA Biology
- Chemical Biology
- Nucleic Acids
- G-Quadruplex
- Gene Regulation
- Aptamer
- RNA binding peptide/protein
Dr. Kit Kwok obtained his B.Sc. in Chemistry (2009) from the Chinese University of Hong Kong after completing an exchange program at the University of California, Los Angeles, in 2007-2008, working in Professor Juli Feigon’s lab. He completed his PhD at the Pennsylvania State University (2014), mentored by Professor Philip C. Bevilacqua and Professor Sarah M. Assmann. In April 2014, Dr. Kwok worked as a Croucher Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Cambridge under Professor Sir Shankar Balasubramanian. In Oct 2016, Dr. Kwok's joined the City University of Hong Kong (CityU) as an Assistant Professor and was promoted to Associate Professor and Full Professor in July 2021 and July 2025, respectively. He serves as Associate Dean of College of Science in Jul 2026. Over the years, Dr. Kwok has received numerous awards, including CityU President Award (2019), Croucher Innovation Award (2019), Hong Kong Institute for Advanced Study Rising Star in Chemistry (2021), CityU Outstanding Research Award (2022), NSFC Excellent Young Scientist Fund (優青) (2022), RNA Society Early-Career Award (2024), and RGC Research Fellowship (2025). In 2022, he has been recognized as an elected member of Hong Kong Young Academy of Science (YASHK), and in 2026, he was elected as a Fellow Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC).
Dr. Kwok’s current research focus is to explore the roles of RNA structures and interactions in biology, especially the functions of G-quadruplex structures and interacting partners in diverse classes of RNAs, as well as characterizing their formation, dynamics, interactions, and functions in different species and their relevance to gene regulation, RNA metabolism, and diseases. Two other ongoing research directions in the Kwok lab are to develop aptamer-based and peptide-based targeting tools for detection, imaging, and intervention of these important RNA structures and interactions, as well as to invent innovative nucleic acid-based technologies for sensing chemical contaminants and pathogens.
To cultivate a stimulating learning environment for students and to establish the RNA community in Hong Kong, Dr. Kwok, together with Dr. Minh Le, founded the Hong Kong RNA Club in August 2017 and organized RNA seminar and symposium events regularly (http://www.kitkwok.com/hk-rna-club.html). The Hong Kong RNA Club has been recognized and supported by the International RNA Society and various industrial companies. Dr. Kwok is currently one of the RNA Society’s Asia RNA research ambassadors.
*co-first authors +corresponding author(s)
Original Research
- Mou, X., Wang, J., Shao, Y., Li, Y., & Kwok, C. K. RNA G-Quadruplex Structure Recognition by Chimeric Peptides. Nucleic Acids Res. 54 (14), gkag745 (2026).
- Wang, D., Feng, Y., & Kwok, C. K. AND-Logic-Gated Aptamer Switch for Precise Targeting and Regulation of RNA G-Quadruplexes. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 65(27),e4594145. (2026).
- Zhao, J., Yang, F., Zhang, Y., Wang, H., Kwok, C. K. TDP-43 binds to RNA G-quadruplex structure and regulates mRNA stability and translation. Nucleic Acids Res. 53 (16), gkaf820 (2025).
- Liew, S. W., Cao, D., Petersen, R. J., Butcher, S. E., Kennedy, S. G., Kwok, C. K. A novel L-RNA aptamer to regulate the pUG fold RNA-induced gene expression in vivo. Nucleic Acids Res. 53(5), gkaf137 (2025)
- Zhang, K., Nie, Q., Li, M., Chen, X., Zhong, L., Dai, T., Guo, X., Zhao, H., Lau, T. C., Wang, H., Chen, S. B., Kwok, C. K. RNA G-quadruplex structure-based PROTACs for targeted DHX36 protein degradation and gene activity modulation in mammalian cells. Nucleic Acids Res. 53(3), gkaf03 (2025).
- Ji, D., Wang, B., Lo, K. W., Tsang, C. M., Kwok, C. K. Pre-Defined Stem-Loop Structure Library for the Discovery of L-RNA Aptamers that Target RNA G-quadruplexes. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 64(5), e202417247 (2024).
- Zhang,Y., Zhao, J., Chen, X., Qiao, Y., Kang, J., Guo, X., Yang, F., Lyu, K., Ding, Y., Zhao, Y., Sun, H., Kwok, C. K., Wang, H. DHX36 binding induces RNA structurome remodeling and regulates RNA abundance via m6A reader YTHDF1. Nat. Commun. 15, 9890 (2024).
- Zhao, H., Lau, H. L., Zhang, K., Kwok, C. K. Selective recognition of RNA G-quadruplex in vitro and in cells by L-aptamer-D-oligonucleotide conjugate. Nucleic Acids Res. 52(22), 13544-13560 (2024).
- Zhang, K., Nie, Q., Lau, C. K., Kwok, C. K. Rational Design of L-RNA Aptamer-Peptide Conjugate for Efficient Cell Uptake and G-quadruplex-Mediated Gene Control. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 136 (9), e202310798 (2024).
- Ji, D., Yuan, J., Chen, S., Tan, J., Kwok, C. K. Selective targeting of parallel G-quadruplex structure using L-RNA aptamer. Nucleic Acids Res. 51, 11439-11452 (2023).
- Mou, X., Kwok, C. K. Peptides Selected by G4-mRNA Display-Seq Enable RNA G-Quadruplex Recognition and Gene Regulation. JACS. 145, 18693-18697 (2023).
- Guo, W., Ji, D., Kinghorn, A. B., Chen, F., Pan, Y., Li, X., Li, Q., Huck, W. T. S., Kwok, C.K, Shum, H. C. Tuning Material States and Functionalities of G-Quadruplex-Modulated RNA-Peptide Condensates. JACS. 145, 2375-2385 (2023).
- Lyu, K, Chen, S.B., Chow, E.Y., Zhao, H., Yuan, J.H., Cai, M., Shi, J., Chan, T.F., Tan, J.H., Kwok, C.K. An RNA G-Quadruplex Structure within the ADAR 5'UTR Interacts with DHX36 Helicase to Regulate Translation. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 61, e20203553 (2022).
- Georgakopoulos-Soares, I., Parada, G.E., Wong, H.Y., Medhi, R., Furlan, G., Munita, R., Miska, E.A., Kwok, C.K. & Hemberg, M. Alternative splicing modulation by G-quadruplexes. Nat Commun 13, 2404 (2022).
- Umar, M.I., Chan, CY. & Kwok, C.K. Development of RNA G-quadruplex (rG4)-targeting L-RNA aptamers by rG4-SELEX. Nat Protoc. 17, 1385-1414 (2022).
- Mou, X., Liew, S. W. & Kwok, C.K. Identification and targeting of G-quadruplex structures in MALAT1 long non-coding RNA. Nucleic Acids Res. 50, 397- 410 (2022).
- Dumetz, F., Chow, E.Y.C., Harris, L.M., Liew, S.W., Jensen, A., Umar, M.I., Chung, B., Chan, T.F., Merrick, C.J. & Kwok, C.K. G-quadruplex RNA motifs influence gene expression in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Nucleic Acids Res. 49, 12486-12501 (2021).
- Chen, X., Yuan, J., Xue, G., Campanario, S., Wang, D., Wang, W., Mou, X., Liew, S.W., Umar, M.I., Isern, J., Zhao, Y., He, L., Li, Y., Mann, C.J., Yu, X., Wang, L., Perdiguero, E., Chen, W., Xue, Y., Nagamine, Y., Kwok, C.K., Sun, H., Muñoz-Cánoves, P. & Wang, H. Translational control by DHX36 binding to 5’UTR G-quadruplex is essential for muscle stem-cell regenerative functions. Nat Commun 12, 5043 (2021).
- Ji, D., Lyu, K., Zhao, H. & Kwok, C.K. Circular L-RNA aptamer promotes target recognition and controls gene activity. Nucleic Acids Res. 49, 7280-7291 (2021).
Invited Reviews or Featured Articles
- Zhang, F., Liew, S. W., Lam, S. Y., & Kwok, C. K. Nucleic acid-guided protein-empowered aquatic contaminants sensing. Trends Chem. 7 (12), 853-868 (2025).
- Ji, D., Zhang, K., Yarshova, M. & Kwok, C. K. L-RNA Aptamer-Based Tools for G-Quadruplex Structure: Identification, Characterization, and Application. Acc. Chem. Res. 58 (21), 3247-3258 (2025).
- Ji, D., Feng, H., Liew, S. W., Kwok, C. K. Modified nucleic acid aptamers: development, characterization, and biological applications. Trends Biotech. 41, 1360-1384 (2023).
- Lyu, K., Chow, E.Y.C., Mou, X., Chan, T. & Kwok, C.K. RNA G-quadruplexes (rG4s): genomics and biological functions. Nucleic Acids Res. 49, 5426-5450 (2021).
We are looking for outstanding PhD Students and Postdoctoral Fellows to join the Kwok Lab. Researchers within the group will be exposed to diverse chemical and biochemical techniques at our laboratory in the Department of Chemistry.
If you are interested to join the group, please kindly send your i) cover letter, ii) academic transcripts and GPA, and iii) CV which includes a summary of past research experience and publication records, and your research interests to Dr. Kwok: (email:ckkwok42@cityu.edu.hk).
We strongly encourage and support eligible PhD and Postdoc applicants to apply for their own support, either from the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (https://cerg1.ugc.edu.hk/hkpfs/index.html), RGC Junior Research Fellow Scheme (https://www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/funding_opport/jrfs/) or other funding agencies.
Research Vision
The discovery of new classes of RNA with regulatory functions have re-defined the central dogma of molecular biology and caused a paradigm shift in biological, medical, and agricultural research. RNA plays a crucial role in regulation of gene expression in normal and stress physiology; however, the RNA structure-function relationship and the underlying biochemical mechanism remain elusive.
Our research focuses are to develop (bio)chemical technologies to decipher the hidden layers of information in RNA such as RNA structure; identify the RNA binding partners and molecular basis of interactions; and elucidate the mechanistic roles of RNA in regulatory pathways, stress physiologies, cell differentiation, organism development, as well as disease pathology. Our group’s long-term ambition is to uncover the central RNA players in stress physiologies and diseases that could reveal novel RNA-mediated gene regulations, as well as to develop innovative and high-throughput aptamer-based targeting strategies for manipulation of gene expression and potential biotechnological applications, bringing my research closer relevance to improving the quality of human life.
Our three main research themes are :
1) G-quadruplex Structure and Function, where we explore the intricate structures of G-quadruplexes and their roles in cellular processes.
2) RNA Biology and Gene Regulation, focusing on the mechanisms which use RNA to influence gene expression and cellular function
3) Aptamer Development and Application, aimed at creating and utilizing L-RNA aptamers for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes.
For more details about Prof. Kwok’s current research and team, please click here.