Research Output Prize 2010

‘Secretin as a Neurohypophysical Factor Regulating Body Water Homeostasis’ published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science USA (PNAS), 106, 37 (2009), 15961-15966, by Dr Jessica CHU Yan Shuen 朱恩璿博士, Dr LEE Tsz On 李子安博士, Dr LAI Chun Hong 黎振航博士, Professor Hubert VAUDRY, Professor CHAN Ying Shing 陳應城教授, Professor YUNG Wing Ho 容永豪教授 and Professor Billy CHOW Kwok Chong 鄒國昌教授.

This paper shows that secretin, the oldest known hormone, has a direct role as a pituitary hormone in regulating renal water reabsorpation.  It provides a new direction for developing therapies to treat symptoms such as X-linked Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus (NDI) – a hereditary disorder of the kidneys – by activating the expression and translocation of aquaporin-2 (AQP2) in kidney tubules.  The findings have changed the generally accepted understanding of pituitary hormones and will have an immediate impact on research into finding a cure for NDI.