Research Interests

• Advanced sperm selection
• Artificial intelligence
• Male infertility
• Sperm functions
• Sperm epigenetics

Biography:

Dr. Erica Leung received her PhD degree from the University of Hong Kong in 2022. She is currently a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at HKU and an Honorary Researcher at the Center for Reproductive Medicine at HKU-Shenzhen Hospital. Her primary research interests include developing advanced sperm selection techniques for clinical use and exploring the functional role of sperm miRNAs in parental inheritance.

She has authored high-impact, peer-reviewed publications in leading international journals, including Nature Reviews Urology and Human Reproduction Open. Her recent project, which utilizes deep learning to identify fertilization-competent human spermatozoa, has garnered significant media attention, including a press conference featured by HKU and coverage across various media outlets. She holds two provisional patents for cross-departmental, interdisciplinary projects developed in collaboration with industry partners, aiming to develop a highly automated deep-learning system capable of evaluating and selecting viable, high-quality spermatozoa for assisted reproduction treatments. She is also the co-founder of a startup specializing in AI-driven, high-speed imaging and microfluidic- integrated live gametes and embryo selection.

Publications