Dr Halina Leung

Lecturer
Medicine & Health
School of Clinical Medicine

Dr Halina Leung is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Haematology Research Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW. She graduated with a Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry (Advanced) (Hons 1) and was a recipient of the Dean’s Merit List Award for academic excellence. She completed her PhD at the Children’s Cancer Institute where her research investigated the role epigenetic regulators in leukaemic stem cells and the effectiveness of epigenetic agents on leukaemogenesis (Blood 2013, Leukaemia 2019). Her postdoctoral research focuses on disrupting mechanisms involved in cell activation leading to blood clots (IJLH 2018, Nature Communications 2019, Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis 2020, Blood Advances 2021, Pathology 2021, Haematologica 2022, Nature Communications 2022). She has contributed to the profession and community through committee activities, professional memberships and peer-reviewing journal and conference submissions. Dr Leung was the recipient of the 2020 Award for Research Excellence (Early Career Academic Staff, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW).

Phone
02 9065 7590
  • Journal articles | 2024
    Leung H; Ahmadi Z; Lee B; Casey J; Ratnasingam S; McKenzie SE; Perdomo J; Chong BH, 2024, 'Antithrombotic Efficacy and Bleeding Risks of Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia Treatments.', Blood Adv, http://dx.doi.org/10.1182/bloodadvances.2024013883
    Journal articles | 2024
    Selvakumar D; Clayton Z; Prowse A; Dingwall S; Kim S; Reyes L; George J; Shah H; Chen S; Leung H; Hume R; Tjahjadi L; Igoor S; Skelton R; Hing A; Paterson H; Foster S; Pearson L; Wilkie E; Marcus A; Jeyaprakash P; Wu Z; Chiu H; Ongtengco C; Mulay O; McArthur J; Barry T; Lu J; bennett R; Kotake Y; Campbell T; Turnbull S; Gupta A; Nguyen Q; Ni G; Grieve S; Palpant N; Pathan F; Kizana E; Kumar S; Gray P; Chong J, 2024, 'Cellular heterogeneity of pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte grafts is mechanistically linked to treatable arrhythmias', Nature Cardiovascular Research, 3, pp. 145 - 165, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s44161-023-00419-3
    Journal articles | 2023
    Leung H; Burwell K, 2023, 'Pierre Sancan: “Master of the Masterclass”', Journal of Historical Research in Music Education, 45, pp. 25 - 46, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/15366006221144333
    Journal articles | 2023
    Leung H; Perdomo J, 2023, 'Immune Thrombosis: Exploring the Significance of Immune Complexes and NETosis', Biology, 12, pp. 1332 - 1332, http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/biology12101332
    Journal articles | 2023
    Leung HHL; Perdomo J; Ahmadi Z; Chong BH, 2023, 'Determination of Antibody Activity by Platelet Aggregation', Bio-protocol, 13, pp. e4804, http://dx.doi.org/10.21769/BioProtoc.4804
    Journal articles | 2022
    Chilingaryan Z; Deshmukh T; Leung HHL; Perdomo J; Emerson P; Kurup R; Chong BH; Chong JJH, 2022, 'Erythrocyte interaction with neutrophil extracellular traps in coronary artery thrombosis following myocardial infarction', Pathology, 54, pp. 87 - 94, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pathol.2021.05.099
    Journal articles | 2022
    Leung HHL; Perdomo J; Ahmadi Z; Zheng SS; Rashid FN; Enjeti A; Ting SB; Chong JJH; Chong BH, 2022, 'NETosis and thrombosis in vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia', Nature Communications, 13, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-32946-1
    Journal articles | 2022
    Zheng SS; Ahmadi Z; Leung HHL; Wong R; Yan F; Perdomo JS; Chong BH, 2022, 'Antiplatelet antibody predicts platelet desialylation and apoptosis in immune thrombocytopenia', Haematologica, 107, pp. 2195 - 2205, http://dx.doi.org/10.3324/haematol.2021.279751
    Journal articles | 2021
    Leung HHL; Perdomo J; Ahmadi Z; Yan F; McKenzie SE; Chong BH, 2021, 'Inhibition of NADPH oxidase blocks NETosis and reduces thrombosis in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia', Blood Advances, 5, pp. 5439 - 5451, http://dx.doi.org/10.1182/bloodadvances.2020003093
    Journal articles | 2020
    Zheng SS; Perdomo JS; Leung HHL; Yan F; Chong BH, 2020, 'Acquired Glanzmann thrombasthenia associated with platelet desialylation', Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 18, pp. 714 - 721, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jth.14722
    Journal articles | 2019
    Lynch JR; Salik B; Connerty P; Vick B; Leung H; Pijning A; Jeremias I; Spiekermann K; Trahair T; Liu T; Haber M; Norris MD; Woo AJ; Hogg P; Wang J; Wang JY, 2019, 'JMJD1C-mediated metabolic dysregulation contributes to HOXA9-dependent leukemogenesis', Leukemia, 33, pp. 1400 - 1410, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41375-018-0354-z
    Journal articles | 2019
    Perdomo J; Leung HHL; Ahmadi Z; Yan F; Chong JJH; Passam FH; Chong BH, 2019, 'Neutrophil activation and NETosis are the major drivers of thrombosis in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia', Nature Communications, 10, pp. 1322, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-09160-7
    Journal articles | 2018
    Lee KH; Cavanaugh L; Leung H; Yan F; Ahmadi Z; Chong BH; Passam F, 2018, 'Quantification of NETs-associated markers by flow cytometry and serum assays in patients with thrombosis and sepsis', International Journal of Laboratory Hematology, 40, pp. 392 - 399, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ijlh.12800
    Journal articles | 2017
    Perdomo J; Yan F; Leung HHL; Chong BH, 2017, 'Megakaryocyte Differentiation and Platelet Formation from Human Cord Blood-derived CD34<sup>+</sup> Cells', Journal of Visualized Experiments, http://dx.doi.org/10.3791/56420-v
    Journal articles | 2017
    Perdomo JS; Yan F; Leung HH; Chong BH, 2017, 'Megakaryocyte Differentiation and Platelet Formation from Human Cord Blood-derived CD34+ Cells', Journal of Visualized Experiments, 2017, http://dx.doi.org/10.3791/56420
    Journal articles | 2014
    Dietrich PA; Yang C; Leung HHL; Lynch JR; Gonzales E; Liu B; Haber M; Norris MD; Wang J; Wang JY; Gonzales-Aloy E, 2014, 'GPR84 sustains aberrant β-catenin signaling in leukemic stem cells for maintenance of MLL leukemogenesis', Blood, 124, pp. 3284 - 3294, http://dx.doi.org/10.1182/blood-2013-10-532523
  • Preprints | 2024
    Leung HHL; Ahmadi Z; Casey J; Ratnasingam S; McKenzie SE; Perdomo JS; Chong BH, 2024, Antithrombotic Efficacy and Bleeding Risks of Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia Treatments, , http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2024.04.21.589853
    Preprints | 2021
    Chong B; Leung H; Perdomo J; Ahmadi Z; Rashid F; Enjeti A; Ting S; Chong J, 2021, NETosis and thrombosis in vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia, http://dx.doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-753825/v1
    Conference Abstracts | 2019
    Leung H; Perdomo J; Ahmadi Z; Yan F; Chong B, 2019, 'Dissecting the Mechanisms of Thrombocytopenia and Thrombosis in HIT', in Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Wiley, presented at International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis
    Conference Abstracts | 2019
    Perdomo J; Leung HHL; Ahmadi Z; Yan F; Passam F; Chong B, 2019, 'Thrombosis in Heparin-induced Thrombocytopenia Is Mediated by Neutrophils', in Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Wiley, Melbourne, Australia, presented at XXVII Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Melbourne, Australia, 06 July 2019 - 10 July 2019, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/rth2.12227
    Conference Papers | 2018
    Perdomo J, 2018, 'Neutrophil Activation and Netosis Are the Key Drivers of Thrombosis in Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia', in blood, American Society of Hematology, San Diego, CA, presented at 60th meeting of the American Society of Hematology, San Diego, CA, 01 December 2018 - 04 December 2018, http://dx.doi.org/10.1182/blood-2018-99-116421
    Conference Papers | 2016
    Yi H; Leung H; Holik A; Voli F; Asselin-Labat M-L; Wang J, 2016, 'Identification of a Novel Epigenetic Regulator That Acts As a Tumor Suppressor in the Development of MLL AML Leukemic Stem Cells', in Blood, American Society of Hematology, pp. 3923 - 3923, http://www.bloodjournal.org/content/128/22/3923
    Conference Papers | 2016
    Yi H; Leung H; Holik A; Voli F; Asselin-Labat M-L; Wang JY, 2016, 'Identification of a Novel Epigenetic Regulator That Acts As a Tumor Suppressor in the Development of MLL AML Leukemic Stem Cells', in BLOOD, AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY, CA, San Diego, presented at 58th Annual Meeting and Exposition of the American-Society-of-Hematology (ASH), CA, San Diego, 03 December 2016 - 06 December 2016, http://dx.doi.org/10.1182/blood.V128.22.3923.3923
    Conference Papers | 2014
    Leung H; Wang J; Wang JY, 2014, 'JMJD1c, a Histone Demethylase, Is Required for the Maintenance of MLL-AF9 AML Leukemic Stem Cells', in Blood, American Society of Hematology, pp. 3530 - 3530, http://www.bloodjournal.org/content/124/21/3530

2020 Award for Research Excellence (Early Career Academic Staff), Faculty of Medicine, UNSW

2020 Research Excellence Award, St George and Sutherland Clinical School, UNSW

2020 1st prize in National (Australia) Division, 3rd Prize in Biology, Life Science and Technology Finals International Division, 4th Innovation & Entrepreneurship International Competition, Shenzhen, China

2019 Promoting High Quality Research Papers Scheme Award, UNSW

2019 Presentation selected for Highlights of International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis Congress, Philadelphia, U.S.A.

2019 Early Career Travel Grant Award, International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, U.S.A.

2018 Travel Grant Award, Asia-Pacific Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Japan

2017 Young Investigator Award, St George and Sutherland Medical Research Symposium, New South Wales

2014 ASH Abstract Achievement Award, American Society of Hematology, San Francisco, U.S.A.

Dr Leung’s research identifies and characterises key drivers involved in pathogenic thrombosis with the aim to develop better therapies. Dr Leung has published 9 research articles in the last 5 years in leading Q1 journals. Her research on immune thrombosis and the role of neutrophil activation such as NETosis in thrombosis has had notable reach and influence both nationally and internationally, as exemplified by her highly cited publications including a top 1% highly cited first author publication in Nature Communications. Dr Leung is also an investigator on 5 successful competitive research grants ($2.5M). As an inventor on 2 patents (covering 9 novel molecules for treatment of thrombotic disorders), she is actively engaged in meetings with UNSW Business Development Manager and pharmaceutical companies to advance her patented molecules to clinical trials. 

Since 2017, Dr Leung has been an organising committee member of the Research in Progress Meetings (RIPM) held at the St George & Sutherland Clinical Campus, UNSW. These seminars are a platform for researchers within the clinical school international collaborators and industry leaders, to present their research to an audience consisting of clinicians, medical students, scientists and members of the public.