In September 2026, Dr. Bo Li, Assistant Professor (Research) at the Precision Regenerative Medical Research Center of Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST), and PhD student, Yingying He, travelled to Canada for an academic exchange at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), affiliated with the University of Toronto, and participated in international paediatric surgery academic activities. During the visit, His research was selected as one of the 10 best abstracts for the Surgeons Den session at the 57th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association of Paediatric Surgeons (CAPS), where she delivered an oral presentation, highlighting MUST’s research in paediatric diseases and regenerative medicine.
SickKids is an internationally recognized centre for paediatric healthcare and research, with extensive expertise in childhood diseases, stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. During the visit, the MUST researchers engaged in academic discussions with the research team of Professor Agostino Pierro, Professor of Surgery at the University of Toronto and Senior Associate Scientist at SickKids. Their exchanges focused on neonatal intestinal diseases, biliary atresia, stem cells and organoid technologies, providing opportunities to discuss ongoing research and share scientific expertise.
Dr. Li conducted research on paediatric intestinal diseases and regenerative medicine at SickKids for over 10 years, setting up a longstanding collaborative relationship with Professor Pierro’s team. The visit further strengthened links with international paediatric research teams and created opportunities for future joint research, technical exchange and early-career researcher development.
Figure 1. MUST PhD student Yingying He during her academic exchange at SickKids in Toronto, Canada.
Yingying He also attended the 57th CAPS Annual Meeting, held in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, from 24 to 26 September 2026. Her study, entitled “Intestinal Fibrosis and Epithelial Dysfunction in Cholestatic Injury May Contribute to Postoperative Cholangitis in Biliary Atresia,” was selected as one of the 10 best abstracts for the Surgeons Den session. She presented the research on 24 September and exchanged ideas with international specialists in paediatric surgery.
The study investigates the potential mechanisms of postoperative cholangitis in biliary atresia, focusing on cholestasis-associated intestinal fibrosis, epithelial barrier dysfunction and liver–gut interactions. By combining animal models, histopathological analyses and intestinal organoid technology, the team identified findings that may inform further research into intestinal injury associated with paediatric hepatobiliary diseases. The selection of this work for an international conference session underscores the research potential of MUST’s young scientists in paediatric translational medicine.
Figure 2. The Surgeons Den session at the 57th CAPS Annual Meeting.
Figure 3. Yingying He acknowledges the collaborating research teams during her presentation.
The academic exchange and conference participation strengthened MUST’s links with overseas research institutions while providing its doctoral students with valuable opportunities to engage with international research, present their findings and broaden their academic perspectives. Looking ahead, the Precision Regenerative Medical Research Center will continue to deepen international scientific collaborations and advance basic and translational research in paediatric diseases, stem cells and regenerative medicine, supporting MUST’s international research engagement and the training of emerging researchers.
