Biography
Ho Ko, Owen holds degrees in medical sciences and clinical medicine (BMedSc, MBChB) from CUHK, and completed his PhD in neuroscience at University College London with Tom Mrsic-Flogel. Owen’s early career focused on revealing fundamental principles of neural circuit organization. His doctoral work provided key insights into how neural circuits function and emerge, particularly in the context of visual processing. Transitioning from a systems neuroscientist to a clinician-scientist, his current research spans multiple areas of basic and translational neuroscience. His lab’s research program emphasizes the development of translational approaches that bridge basic neuroscience research with clinical applications in aging-related neurological disorders. Notable contributions include the identification of potential therapeutic approaches targeting the aging process for cerebrovascular disorders, and the development of new brain imaging techniques. His recent work on therapeutic strategies for cerebral small vessel disease has progressed from laboratory findings to an ongoing clinical trial.
Owen KO
Director, Gerald Choa Neuroscience Institute
Assistant Dean (Research), Faculty of Medicine
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics
Research Interests
- Gliovascular dysfunction and therapeutic targeting in aging and neurodegeneration
- Neural circuits mediating sensorimotor behaviors and their dysfunction in aging
- Imaging methods development for systems and translational neuroscience
Awards
- 2023 Fellow (Life Science), Asian Young Scientist Fellowship, Future Science Awards Foundation
- 2022 Sir David Todd Lectureship, Hong Kong College of Physicians
- 2021 Awardee, Excellent Young Scientists Fund (Hong Kong and Macau), National Natural Science Foundation of China
- 2020 Croucher Innovation Award, Croucher Foundation
Selected publications
- Body-wide multi-omic counteraction of aging with GLP-1R agonism.
Huang J, Kwok AJ, Li JCY, Chiu CLH, Ip BYM, Tung LY, Chan RCH, Chan DCW, Wang Z, Zheng X, Chow HT, Lo MPS, Li Z, Lin N, Wang M, Yan LYC, Wu WKK, Chow HM, Lin WJ, Tang Y, Zhang Y, Song W, Ng BWL, Wong SH, Leung TW, Mok VCT, Ko H.
Cell Metabolism. 2025 Dec 2;37(12):2362-2380.e8. [Nature Aging highlight: 10.1038/s43587-025-01063-1] - Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist in large vessel occlusion treated by reperfusion therapy – a phase 2 randomized trial.
Wang H*, Ko H*,#, Leung TW*, Huang J, Sai J, Liang Y, Li H, Zhang J, Cao Q, Zang W, Li Y, Ma SH, Lui WT, Choi J, Chan C, Wong J, Kwok AJ, Ma K, Fan F, Chan A, Ip V, Leung H, Soo Y, Wong KT, Lai B, Chu CM, Leung H, Hui AH, Cheung T, Abrigo J, Li SH, Chan L, Yeung J, Pan S, Yip T, Lui LT, Hung T, Tsang SF, Leng XL, Lam B, Mok VCT, Chan RHM, Nguyen T, Hu W, Che F#, Ip BY#.
Nature Communications. 2025 Dec 14; doi:10.1038/s41467-025-66167-z. - Comparing machine learning‐derived MRI‐based and blood‐based neurodegeneration biomarkers in predicting syndromal conversion in early AD.
Cai Y, Fan X, Zhao L, Liu W, Luo Y, Lau AYL, Au LCW, Shi L, Lam BYK, Ko H#, Mok VCT.
Alzheimer’s & Dementia. 2023 Nov;19(11):4987-4998. - An optofluidic platform for interrogating chemosensory behavior and brainwide neural representation.
Sy SKH, Chan DCW, Chan RCH, Lyu J, Li Z, Wong KKY, Choi CHJ, Mok VCT, Lai HM, Randlett O, Hu Y, Ko H.
Nature Communications. 2023 Jan 14;14(1):227. - Antibody stabilization for thermally accelerated deep immunostaining.
Lai HM, Tang Y, Lau ZYH, Campbell RAA, Yau JCN, Chan DCW, Wong HKT, Yan LYC, Wu WKK, Wong SH, Kwok KW, Wing YK, Ng HK, Mrsic-Flogel TD, Mok VCT, Chan JYK, Ko H.
Nature Methods. 2022 Sep 1;19(9):1137-1146. - Pharmacologically reversible zonation-dependent endothelial cell transcriptomic changes with neurodegenerative disease associations in the aged brain.
Zhao L, Li Z, Vong JSL, Chen X, Lai HM, Yan LYC, Huang J, Sy SKH, Tian X, Huang Y, Chan HYE, So HC, Ng WL, Tang Y, Lin WJ, Mok VCT, Ko H.
Nature Communications. 2020 Sep 4;11(1):4413. - Refinement of learned skilled movement representation in motor cortex deep output layer.
Li Q*, Ko H*, Qian ZM, Yan LYC, Chan DCW, Arbuthnott GW, Ke Y, Yung WH.
Nature Communications. 2017 Jun 9;8:15834. - The emergence of functional microcircuits in visual cortex.
Ko H, Cossell L, Baragli C, Antolik J, Clopath C, Hofer SB, Mrsic-Flogel TD.
Nature. 2013 Apr 4;496(7443):96-100. - Differential connectivity and response dynamics of excitatory and inhibitory neurons in visual cortex.
Hofer SB*, Ko H*, Pichler B, Vogelstein J, Ros H, Zeng H, Lein E, Lesica NA, Mrsic-Flogel TD.
Nature Neuroscience. 2011 Jul 17;14(8):1045-52. - Functional specificity of local synaptic connections in neocortical networks.
Ko H, Hofer SB, Pichler B, Buchanan KA, Sjöström PJ, Mrsic-Flogel TD.
Nature. 2011 May 5;473(7345):87-91.
