Dr. Geng Leiluo
耿磊落

Research Assistant Professor

PhD

llgeng@hku.hk

HKU link

HKU Scholars Hub

Field of Research

Metabolic regulation of diabetic and cardiovascular diseases

Biography

Dr. Geng is a researcher currently serving as a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Hong Kong, Department of Medicine, within the School of Clinical Medicine. He is affiliated with the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology. He holds a PhD in Metabolic Medicine from the University of Hong Kong and a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the same university. Prior to his doctoral studies, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from China Agricultural University. Additionally, he has served as an Honorary Research Associate at the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital since April 2020 and was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong from November 2018 to May 2021.

Publications

Liao B, Zhang F, Han C, Yi X, Zhang Z, Jin L, Meng F, Wong SS, Hoo RLC*, LL Geng*, Jia W*. BCKDK, A Novel Hypoxia-Responsive Kinase That Exacerbates Cerebral Ischemia Injury. Stroke, 2026 Jul 23. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.125.053856. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42488958. *Co-corresponding author.
LL Geng*, Diao X, Yu HJ, Xu A. Association of hemoglobin glycation index with the severity and mortality of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome: a population-based cohort study. Cardiovasc Diabetol Endocrinol Rep, 2025 Dec 20;11(1):46. *Corresponding author.
Wan J*, LL Geng*#, Fu Y, Zhang Q, Guan G, Jiang X, Xu A, Jin P#. Clinical, genetic, and proteomic characteristics of type 2 diabetes complicated with exogenous insulin antibody syndrome: a case-control study. Diabetes Res Clin Pract, 2025 Jul;225:112262. *Co-first author, #Co-corresponding author.
LL Geng*, XY Yi, Y Lin, XYD Abulimiti, LG Jin, JS Yu, AM Xu*. Site-specific analysis and functional characterization of N-linked glycosylation for β-Klotho protein. *Co-corresponding author. Int J Biol Macromol, 2024 Dec 19:289:138846.
Liao B, Yang S, LL Geng, Zong J, Zhang Z, Jiang M, Jiang X, Li S, Xu A, Chang J, Hoo RLC. Development of a therapeutic monoclonal antibody against circulating adipocyte fatty acid binding protein to treat ischaemic stroke. Br J Pharmacol, 2024 Apr, 181 (8):1238-1255.
Yang K, Velagapudi S, Akhmedov A, Kraler S, Lapikova-Bryhinska T, Schmiady MO, Wu X, LL Geng, Camici GG, Xu A, Lüscher TF. Chronic SIRT1 supplementation in diabetic mice improves endothelial function by suppressing oxidative stress. Cardiovascular Research, 2023 Oct, 119 (12):2190-2201.
HJ Yu, M Ho, PH Chau, LL Geng, DYT Fong. Salivary telomere length and the risks of prediabetes and diabetes among middle-aged and older adults: findings from the Health and Retirement Study. Acta Diabetol, 2023 Feb, 60 (2):273-283.
LG Jin*, LL Geng*, L Ying, LL Shu, K Ye, RY Yang, Y Liu, Y Wang, Y Cai, X Jiang, Q Wang, XQ Yan, BY Liao, J Liu, FY Duan, G Sweeney, CWH Woo, Y Wang, ZY Xia, QZ Lian, and AM Xu. The FGF21-Sirtuin 3 axis confers the protective effects of exercise against diabetic cardiomyopathy by governing mitochondrial integrity. *Co-first author. Circulation, 2022 Nov, 146 (20):1537-1557.
LL Geng*, X Diao*, H Han*, Y Lin, W Liang, AM Xu. Type 1 diabetes complicated with cyclic vomiting syndrome and exogenous insulin antibody syndrome: A case report. *Co-first author. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne), 2022 Nov, 10 (13):1043301.
LL Geng*, CL Wong*, BY Liao, Y Lin, H Han, KSL Lam, AM Xu, CH Lee, VHK Tam. Development of a novel diagnostic assay for insulin receptor autoantibodies based on a patient with autoimmune hypoglycaemia. *Co-first author. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne), 2022 Oct, 25 (13):1029297.
LG Jin, RY Yang, LL Geng, AM Xu. Fibroblast growth factor-based pharmacotherapies for the treatment of obesity-related metabolic complications. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 2023 Jan, 20(63):359-382.
LL Geng, BY Liao, LG Jin, JS Yu, XY Zhao, YT Zhao, L Zhong, BL Wang, JF Li, J Liu, JK Yang, W Jia, QZ Lian, and AM Xu. β-Klotho promotes glycolysis and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion via GP130. Nature Metabolism, 2022 May, 4 (5): 608-626.
BY Liao*, LL Geng*, F Zhang, L Wei, PKK Yeung, LL Shu, KSL Lam, SK Chung, JL Chang, AM Xu, K Wang, RLC Hoo. Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein exacerbates cerebral ischemia injury by disrupting the blood-brain barrier. *Co-first author. European Heart Journal, 2020 Sep, 41 (33): 3169-3180.
LL Geng, KSL Lam, and AM Xu. The therapeutic potential of FGF21 in metabolic disease: from bench to clinic. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 2020 Aug, 16 (11): 654-667.
LL Geng, BY Liao, LG Jin, Z Huang, CR Triggle, H Ding, JL Zhang, Y Huang, ZF Lin, and AM Xu. Exercise alleviates obesity-induced metabolic dysfunction via enhancing FGF21 sensitivity in adipose tissues. Cell Reports, 2019 Mar, 26 (10): 2738-2752.
Z Huang, L Zhong, J Lee, JL Zhang, DH Wu, LL Geng, Y Wang, CM Wong, AM Xu. The FGF21-CCL11 axis mediates beiging of white adipose tissues by coupling sympathetic nervous system to type 2 immunity. Cell Metabolism, 2017 Aug, 26(3):493-508.
TR Li, LL Geng, X Chen, M Miskowiec, X Li, B Dong. Branched-chain amino acids alleviate nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in rats. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab, 2013 Aug, 38(8):836-843.

Research Fundings

RGC-GRF, $1,177,139HKD, PI. 2027-2029.
RGC-GRF, $1,057,481HKD, PI. 2025-2027.
Healthy Longevity Catalyst Awards, $389,000HKD, PI. 2023-2024.
National Natural Science Foundation of China-General Program, $480,000RMB, PI. 2025-2028.
Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, $100,000RMB, PI. 2023-2025.
National Natural Science Foundation of China-Youth Program, $300,000RMB, PI. 2021-2023.
The University of Hong Kong-Seed Fund, $379,000HKD, PI. 2022-2027.

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