Dr. Danny Wong received his B.Sc. in Biochemistry at The University of Manitoba and M.Sc. in Microbiology at The University of British Columbia. In 2004, he received his Ph.D. in Medicine at The University of Hong Kong and was awarded the Dr. KP Stephen Chang Gold Medal for the best PhD thesis. Since then he has begun his career in hepatitis B virus (HBV) research. He has published more than 150 peer-reviewed articles, and one book chapter in the book titled "Hepatitis B Virus" (2nd edition, International Medical Press).

His research focuses on various aspects of chronic hepatitis B disease, including HBV molecular virology, antiviral treatment response, occult HBV infection, and evaluation of HBV disease markers. He is one of the pioneers in the research of the quantitative measurement of HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA). Other research focuses include the quantitative measurement of HBV virological markers such as the hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B core-related antigen, as well as assessment of various fibrosis markers in chronic hepatitis B patients.

Dr. Wong’s work has led to several academic awards, including The University of Hong Kong Faculty Knowledge Exchange Award in 2019, Best Abstract Award in Basic Science and Translational Research at the HKU 22nd Medical Research Conference in 2017, Young Investigator Award at The 25th Conference of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver in 2016, and the Presidential Poster of Distinction at the 58th Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases in 2007.

1. Yuen MF*, Wong DK*, Schluep T, Lai CL, Ferrari C, Locarnini S, Lo RC, Gish RG, Hamilton J, Wooddell CI, Mak LY, Given BD. Long-term serological, virological and histological responses to RNA inhibition by ARC-520 in Chinese chronic hepatitis B patients on entecavir treatment. Gut. 2021 Mar 12:gutjnl-2020-323445. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2020-323445. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33712437
2. Mak LY, Wong DKH, Pollicino T, Raimondo G, Hollinger FB, Yuen MF. Occult hepatitis B infection and hepatocellular carcinoma: Epidemiology, virology, hepatocarcinogenesis and clinical significance. J Hepatol. 2020;73:952-964.
3. Wong DK, Cheng SCY, Mak LY L, To WP E, Lo CLR, Cheung TT, Seto WK, Fung J, Man K, Lai CL, Yuen MF. Among Patients with Undetectable Hepatitis B Surface Antigen and Hepatocellular Carcinoma, a High Proportion Has Integration of HBV DNA into Hepatocyte DNA and No Cirrhosis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020;18:449-456.
4. Chong CK, Cheng CYS, Tsoi SYJ, Huang FY, Liu F, Fung J, Seto WK, Lai KK, Lai CL, Yuen MF, Wong DK. HBV X protein mutations affect HBV transcription and association of histone-modifying enzymes with covalently closed circular DNA. Sci Rep. 2020;10:802.
5. Chong CK, Cheng CYS, Tsoi SYJ, Huang FY, Liu F, Seto WK, Lai CL, Yuen MF*, Wong DK*. Role of hepatitis B core protein in HBV transcription and recruitment of histone acetyltransferases to cccDNA minichromosome. Antiviral Res. 2017;144:1-7.
6. Wong DK, Seto WK, Cheung KS, Chong CK, Huang FY, Fung J, Lai CL, Yuen MF. Hepatitis B virus core-related antigen as a surrogate marker for covalently closed circular DNA. Liver Int. 2017;37:995-1001.
7. Lai CL*, Wong D*, Ip P, Kopaniszen M, Seto WK, Fung J, Huang FY, Lee B, Cullaro G, Chong CK, Wu R, Cheng C, Yuen J, Ngai V, Yuen MF. Reduction of Covalently Closed Circular DNA with Long-term Nucleos(t)ide Analogue Treatment in Chronic Hepatitis B. J Hepatol. 2017;66:275-81.
8. Wong DK, Fung J, Lee CK, et al. Intrahepatic hepatitis B virus replication and liver histology in subjects with occult hepatitis B infection. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2015;22:290.e1-3.
9. Wong DK, Seto WK, Fung J, et al. Reduction of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen and Covalently Closed Circular DNA by Nucleos(t)ide Analogues of Different Potency. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2013;11:1004-10.
10. Wong DK, Huang FY, Lai CL, et al. Occult hepatitis B infection and HBV replicative activity in patients with cryptogenic cause of hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology. 2011;54:829-36.

*equal contribution

• Principal Investigator, State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong (2011 – present)
• Editorial Board Member, Scientific Reports