Research summary
Initially, I was studying the role of IGF-I in muscle development, growth and regeneration. The biggest accomplishment I have achieved in this field is successfully cloning the Mechano Growth Factor (MGF, an IGF-I isoform) from exercised muscle and demonstrated that MGF \"kick starts\" muscle hypertrophy and is important in local tissue repair. Following cloning MGF, I have directed my research on characterising this novel growth factor and its pharmaceutical applications. Based on my research, several highly active MGF C-peptides have been produced and marketed by biotech companies.

After marketing MGF, I have shifted my research towards the role of IGF-I signalling in solid cancer initiation, development and progress. Since then, I have made considerable progresses and demonstrated that IGF-I is implicated in colorectal cancer cell survival, migration and invasion. Based on the structure of IGF-I and its receptor, I have designed and developed an IGF-I receptor antagonist and established that this antagonist is able to disrupt the interaction between IGF-I and IGF-I receptor, and induce colorectal cancer cell apoptosis.