Faculty of Medicine - Full time Academic Staff

Daniel Baptista-Hon

Associate Professor

Department: Faculty of Medicine

Tel.: 853 8897 3319

Office: Praia Park PP-R209a

E-mail: dbaptistahon@must.edu.mo

I earned my PhD in Physiology from the University of Edinburgh, focusing on the molecular determinants of iron overload cardiomyopathies. Currently, I am Associate Professor and Assistant Dean at the Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology. I also serve as the Assistant Director at the Macau Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and hold an Honorary Lecturer position at the University of Dundee, UK. My laboratory is interested in the role of membrane receptors (ion channels and G-protein coupled receptors) in health and disease. We combine patch-clamp electrophysiology approaches with molecular, biochemical and genetic techniques to interrogate the following major areas: molecular pharmacology, cancer biology, neuroscience and infectious diseases. I also deliver undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in physiology, neuroscience and microbiology. I have co-authored a number of publications in prominent journals such as Nature Medicine and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Additionally, I contribute to the scientific community as editor and reviewer for several journals.

Academic Qualification

PhD Physiology (2012) University of Edinburgh, UK MSc Pharmacology (2004) University of Manchester, UK BSc Biomedical Science (2003) University of Manchester, UK

Teaching Area

Physiology, Pharmacology, Microbiology, Neuroscience, Communication Skills

Research Area

Cancer, Perioperative medicine, Infectious diseases, Ion channel structure-function and pharmacology, GPCR structure-function and pharmacology

Working Experience

2024-present Associate Professor (Faculty of Medicine, MUST)
2023-present Assistant Dean (Faculty of Medicine, MUST)
2023-present Assistant Director (Macau Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, MUST)
2020-2024 Assistant Professor (Faculty of Medicine, MUST)
2019-2020 Stewart Trust Fellow (School of Medicine, University of Dundee, UK)
2010-2019 Postdoctoral Research Fellow (School of Medicine, University of Dundee, UK)

Academic Publication (selected)

Lok L.S.C., Monteiro O. and Baptista-Hon D.T. Unlocking Longevity: How Blocking IL-11 Signalling Could Extend Healthspan and Lifespan. Medcomm – Future Medicine (2024; Accepted, in press) (Corresponding author).
Wong I.N., Monteiro O., Baptista-Hon D., Wang K., Lu W.Y., Sun Z., Nei S. and Yin Y. Leveraging foundation and large language models in medical artificial intelligence. Chinese Medical Journal (2024; Accepted, in press) (IF: 7.5).
Singleton S., Dieterle C., Walker D.J., Runeberg T., Oswald A.S., Rosenqvist G., Robertson L., McCarthy T., Sarkar S., Baptista-Hon D. and Hales T.G. Activation of µ receptors by SR-17018 through a distinctive mechanism. Neuropharmacology (2024) 258:110093 (IF: 4.7).
Zhang K., Zhou H. Y., Baptista-Hon D.T., Gao Y., Liu X., Oermann E., Xu S., Jin S., Zhang J., Sun Z., Yin Y., Razmi R. M., Loupy A., Beck S., Qu J., Wu J., and International Consortium of Digital Twins in Medicine. Concepts and Applications of Digital Twins in Healthcare and Medicine. Patterns (2024) 5(8):101028 (IF: 6.7; Co-first author).
Ye Y., Tong H.Y.K., Chong W.H., Li Z., Tam P.K.H., Baptista-Hon, D.T. and Monteiro O. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of long-term antibiotic use on cognitive outcomes. Scientific Reports (2024) 14:4026. (IF: 4.6; Co-corresponding author)
Wang, J., Gao, Y., Wang, F., Zeng, S., Li, J., Miao, H., Wang, T., Baptista-Hon, D., Monteiro, O., Cheng, L., Lu, Y., Luo, Z., Zhu, J., Zhou, Y. and Zhang, K. Accurate Estimation of Biological Age Using a Transformer-based Holistic Representation of Multi-modal Image Information. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024) 121(3): e2308812120. (IF: 12.78)
Sarkar S. and Baptista-Hon D.T. Application of machine learning to classify cancers of unknown primary. Medcomm – Oncology (2023) 2:e63 (Corresponding author).
Wei J., Baptista-Hon D.T., Wang Z., Li G., Herrler T., Dai C., Liu K., Yu B., Chen X., Yang M., Han D., Gao Y., Huang R.-L., Guo L., Zhang K. and Li Q. Bioengineered human tissue regeneration and repair using endogenous stem cells. Cell Reports Medicine (2023) 4(8):101156 (IF: 16.99, Co-first author).
Wang G., Liu X., Wang K., Gao Y., Li G., Baptista-Hon D.T., Yang X.H., Xue K., Tai W.H., Jiang Z., Cheng L., Fok M., Lau J. Y.-N., Yang S., Lu L., Zhang P. and Zhang K. Deep-learning-enabled protein–protein interaction analysis for prediction of SARS-CoV-2 infectivity and variant evolution. Nature Medicine (2023) 29:2007-2018 (IF: 87.24, Co-first author).
Gao Y., Baptista-Hon D.T. and Zhang K. The inevitable transformation of medicine and research by large language models: The possibilities and pitfalls. Medcomm – Future Medicine (2023) 2(2):e49.
Kuo C.W.S., Dobi S., Gök C., Costa A., Main A., Robertson-Gray O., Baptista-Hon D.T., Wypijewski K.J., Costello H., Hales T.G., MacQuaide N., Smith G.L. and Fuller W. Palmitoylation of the pore-forming subunit of Ca(v)1.2 controls channel voltage sensitivity and calcium transients in cardiac myocytes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2023) 120(7): e2207887120. (IF: 12.78)
Baptista-Hon D.T., Fesalbon G.J.W. and Monteiro O. Changing clinical features of the 2022 monkeypox global health emergency. Medcomm – Future Medicine (2022) 1(2):e24 (First and corresponding author)
Lao U.S., Law C.F., Baptista-Hon D.T. and Tomlinson B. Systematic review and meta-analysis of statin use and mortality, intensive care unit admission and requirement for mechanical ventilation in COVID-19 patients. J Clin Med (2022) 11(18):5454 (IF: 4.96, Co-corresponding author)
Monteiro O., Li Y.W. and Baptista-Hon D.T. Phylogenomic characterisation of the 2022 outbreak of monkeypox virus – The importance of sustained genetic surveillance. Medcomm – Future Medicine (2022) 1:e16. (Corresponding author)
Li G., Zhou Z., Du P., Zhan M., Li N., Xiong X., Tang S., Man M., Baptista-Hon D.T. and Lu L. Heterologous mRNA vaccine booster increases neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 variant. Signal Transduct Target Ther (2022) 7(1):243. (IF: 38.15, Co-corresponding author)
Zhou Z.C., Du P., Li N., Xiong X.X., Tang S.J., Dai Q.J., Wang T.R., Yu M.X., Man M., Lam K., Baptista-Hon D.T., Monteiro O., Ng W.S., Lee U.M., Liu Z.H., Zhang K. and Li G. Homologous or heterogenous vaccination boosters enhance neutralizing activities against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 variant. MedComm (2022) 3(2):e143.
Ao D., Lan T., He X., Liu J., Chen L., Baptista-Hon D.T., Zhang K. and Wei X. SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant: Immune escape and vaccine development. MedComm (2022) 3(1):e126.
Monteiro O., Bhaskar A., Ng K.M., Murdoch C.E. and Baptista-Hon D.T. Computer based virtual laboratory simulations: LabHEART cardiac physiology practical. Adv Physiol Ed (2021) 45(4):856-868. (IF: 2.89, Corresponding author)
Monteiro O., Bhaskar A., Wong I.N., Ng K.M. and Baptista-Hon D.T. Teaching bioelectricity and neurophysiology to medical students using LabAXON simulations. Adv Physiol Ed (2021) 45(4):702-708. (IF: 2.89, Corresponding author)
Li G., Zhou Z.C., Du P., Yu M.X., Li N., Xiong X.X., Huang H., Liu Z.H., Dai Q.J., Zhu J., Guo C.B., Wu S.Y., Baptista-Hon D.T., Miao M., Ming L.W., Wu Y., Zeng F.X., Zhang C.L., Zhang E.D., Song H.F., Liu J.H., Lau J.Y.N., Xiang A.P. and Zhang K. The SARS-CoV-2 spike L452R-E484Q co-variant in the Indian B.1.617 strain Showed Significant Reduction in the Neutralization Activity of Immune Sera. Precision Clinical Medicine (2021) pbab016. https://doi.org/10.1093/pcmedi/pbab016
Zhou Z.C., Du P., Yu M.X., Baptista-Hon D.T., Miao M., Xiang A.P., Lau J.Y.N., COVID-19 Immunity Investigation Group, Li G. and Zhang K. Assessment of Infectivity and the Impact on Neutralizing Activity of Immune Sera of the COVID-19 Variant, CAL.20C. Signal Transduct Target Ther (2021) 6(1):285. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-021-00695-0 (IF: 21.2).
Singleton S., Baptista-Hon D.T., Edelsten E., McCaughey K.S., Camplisson E. and Hales T.G. TRV130 partial agonism and capacity to induce anti-nociceptive tolerance revealed through reducing available μ-opioid receptor number. Br J Pharmacol (2021) 178(8):1855-1868. https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.15409 (IF: 6.81).
Baptista-Hon D.T., Smith M., Singleton S., Antonides L.H., Nic Daeid N., McKenzie C. and Hales T.G. Activation of μ-opioid receptors by MT-45 (1-cyclohexyl-4-(1,2-diphenylethyl)piperazine) and its fluorinated derivatives. Br J Pharmacol (2020) 177(15):3436-3448. https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.15064 (IF: 6.81).
24. Gottschald Chiodi C., Baptista-Hon D.T., Hunter W.N. and Hales T.G. Amino acid substitutions in the human homomeric β3 GABAA receptor that enable activation by GABA. J Biol Chem (2019) 294(7):2375-2385 (IF: 4.28).
Baptista-Hon D.T.*, Elajnaf T.* (joint first authorship) and Hales T.G. Potent inactivation-dependent inhibition of adult and neonatal NaV1.5 channels by lidocaine and levobupivacaine. Anaesth Analg (2018) 127(3):650-660 (IF: 3.83).
Wright L., Baptista-Hon D.T., Bull F., Dalgaty F., Gallacher M., Woods J.A., Ibbotson S.H. and Hales T.G. Phototoxicity causes pain by activating TRPV1 receptors. Pain (2018) 159(2):284-297 (IF: 6.03).
Bull F., Baptista-Hon D.T., Lambert J.J., Walwyn W. and Hales T.G. Morphine activation of mu opioid receptors causes disinhibition of neurons in the ventral tegmental area mediated by β-arrestin 2 and c-src. Scientific Reports (2017) 7(1):9969 (IF: 4.53).
Bull F., Baptista-Hon D.T., Sneddon C., Wright L., Walwyn W. and Hales T.G. Src kinase inhibition attenuates morphine tolerance without affecting reinforcement or psychomotor stimulation. Anaesthesiology (2017) 127(5):878-889 (IF: 4.14).
Baptista-Hon D.T., Gulbinaite S. and Hales T.G. The identity of a loop G residue in the GABAA receptor α1 subunit influences gating efficacy. J Physiol. (2017) 595(5):1725-1741 (IF: 4.95).
Baptista-Hon D.T., Krah A., Zachariae U. and Hales T.G. A role for loop G in the β1 strand in GABAA receptor activation. J Physiol. (2016) 594(19):5555-71 (IF: 4.95).
31. House C.D., Wang B.D., Ceniccola K., Williams R., Simaan M., Olender J., Patel V., Baptista-Hon D.T., Annunziata C.M., Gutkind J.S., Hales T.G. and Lee N.H. Voltage-gated Na+ Channel Activity Increases Colon Cancer Transcriptional Activity and Invasion Via Persistent MAPK Signaling. Sci Rep. (2015) 5:11541 (IF: 4.53).
Morton R.A., Baptista-Hon D.T., Hales T.G. and Lovinger D.M. Agonist- and antagonist-induced up-regulation of surface 5-HT3 A receptors. Br J Pharmacol. (2015) 172:4066-77 (IF: 6.81).
Baptista‐Hon D.T., Robertson F.M., Robertson G.B., Owen S.J., Rogers G.W., Lydon E.L., Lee N.H. and Hales T.G. Potent inhibition by ropivacaine of metastatic colon cancer SW620 cell invasion and NaV1.5 channel function. Br J Anaesth. (2014) 113 S: i39-i48 (IF: 6.50).
Baptista-Hon D.T., Deeb T.Z., Lambert J.J., Peters J.A. and Hales T.G. The minimum M3-M4 loop length of neurotransmitter-activated pentameric receptors is critical for the structural integrity of cytoplasmic portals. J Biol Chem. (2013) 288: 21558-68 (IF: 4.28).
Othman N.A, Gallacher, M., Deeb T.Z., Baptista-Hon, D.T., Perry, D.C. and Hales T.G. Influences on blockade by TBPS of GABAA receptor spontaneous gating, agonist activation and desensitization. J Physiol. (2012) 590:163-78 (IF: 4.95).
Baptista-Hon D.T., Othman N.A., Sharp D., Deeb T.Z., and Hales T.G. The 5-HT3B subunit affects high potency 5-HT3 receptor inhibition by morphine. Br J Pharmacol. (2012) 165:693-704 (IF: 6.81).

Books

1. Local Anaesthesia and Cancer, Hales T.G. & Baptista-Hon D.T. (2023): In Perioperative Care of the Cancer Patient. Editors: Hagberg, Gottumukkala, Riedel, Nates & Buggy. Elsevier.

2. Monograph (2020): A Dream Come True. Chief editors: Patil N.G., Baptista-Hon D.T., Lam C.W.K. Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau SAR, China.

Patents

Professional Certification and Awards

Professional Society Membership