Advancing wildlife conservation through collaborative research & outreach education

Prof Brian Kot

Assistant Professor & Principal Investigator

Prof Brian Kot is a registered diagnostic radiographer and veterinary imaging researcher in the City University of Hong Kong. He obtained his BSc in Radiography and PhD in Diagnostic Imaging from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University under the supervision of Dr Fiona Brook (PI of first successful dolphin artificial insemination project worldwide) and Dr Michael Ying, in 2005 and 2010, respectively. He completed his certificate course in virtopsy (postmortem radiology) with Prof Michael Thali and his team in 2016 at the University of Zurich. Brian joins the Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health and the Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong as an Assistant Professor in Diagnostic Imaging in July 2021. He is generally interested in questions relevant to Diagnostic Imaging, Postmortem Imaging, Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology, Conservation Medicine, Environmental Science, and have expertise in applying various diagnostic imaging tools to clinical and forensic practice for marine conservation and policy decisions, which allows the use of aquatic animals as sentinels of ecosystem health, working towards a ‘One Ocean-One Health’ ideal. Currently, his team applies diagnostic imaging on captive aquatic animals for health assessment, as well as virtopsy routinely in stranded cetaceans and sea turtles in HK and adjacent waters to investigate their biological health profiles.

Dr Tabris Chung

Lab Manager & Research Coordinator

Tabris obtained his PhD in Biological Sciences from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2011. He joined AAVL in 2019, where he coordinated different research projects on health assessment of cetaceans and sea turtles. In 2023, he further acquired professional training on postmortem radiology and obtained his Certificate of Advanced Studies in Forensic Imaging and Virtopsy from the University of Zurich. Among various scientific approaches, Tabris has been focusing on visual health assessment on free-ranging dolphins, as well as imaging on stranded aquatic wildlife. In particular, Tabris is interested in digital documentation of animal specimens using 3D scanning, and their replication using 3D printing for research and outreach education, advocating public engagement in marine biology and conservation.

Mr Henry Tsui

Lab Manager

Henry obtained his MA in Communication and New Media in the City University of Hong Kong in 2014. Since then, he stepped into the field of aquatic animals and marine conservation, a totally different field than his major. With the capacity of lab manager, Henry has led local and international aquatic animal deployments for the Aquatic Animal Virtopsy Lab. He also assists in logistics arrangement and data management for the virtopsy and necropsy of cetaceans and sea turtles, as part of the Hong Kong Aquatic Animal Stranding Investigation. Henry leads the grants and contracts administration and project financial management in support of AAVL conservation medicine and research activities.

Dr Angel Ngo

Veterinarian

Dr Angel graduated from the University of Sydney, Australia in 2017 and is working towards CertAVP in Royal Veterinary College. She worked at the Sydney RSPCA as a Veterinary Intern for a year before moving back to Hong Kong to her loving family and her three beloved dogs. She joined Tai Wai Small Animal and Exotic Hospital as an Emergency Veterinarian for over two years. Working mainly overnight shifts, she saw a large variety of cases and performed emergency procedures and surgeries in cats, dogs and exotic animals. She is now working in the Once And For All Veterinary & Education Centre in Ap Lei Chau, helping every pet owner become the best guardian while extending compassion to animals in shelters and in the wild. Being a veterinarian is Dr Angel’s childhood dream come true. She has always had a passion for marine life and has joined Prof Brian Kot and his team in their research, talks and exhibition when she returned to Hong Kong in 2019. She is officially part of the team in Aquatic Animal Virtopsy Lab since 2022 to continue the pursuit of her passion in understanding and protection of the marine life.

Dr Gabrielle Ho

Veterinarian

Dr Gabrielle is one of the first batch of locally trained veterinarians from City University of Hong Kong. She has been participating in the stranding investigations of cetaceans and sea turtles during her undergraduate years with her growing fascination in wildlife and marine mammal medicine. Currently, she is practising at Victory animal hospital in Hong Kong, consolidating her veterinary basics in small animal medicine. Meanwhile, she is still assisting AAVL in her free time, pursuing her interest in this field.

Dr Heysen Ho

Veterinarian

Heysen is a veterinary surgeon graduated from Royal Veterinary College with interests in small animal surgery and neurology. He aspire to become a veterinarian who in addition to providing clinical care for animals, also actively contributes to scientific research and wildlife conservation. Prior to veterinary school, Heysen obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Imperial College London, during which he volunteered at several research institutions in Hong Kong and abroad with a focus on marine biology. Seeking to combine both of his interests in veterinary medicine and marine biology, Heysen has been working with the Aquatic Animal Virtopsy Lab since 2020 on a variety of projects, particularly focusing on the application of diagnostic imaging for clinical and postmortem evaluation of diseases in cetaceans and sea turtles.

Dr Jessie Yeong

Veterinarian

Dr Yeong graduated from the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences at City University of Hong Kong. She has always loved animals but her interest in this field developed when she visited a veterinary clinic with her pet dog during her high school years in Malaysia. She gained inspiration from a practicing vet that had treated her dog’s skin disease and decided to take on this path. As Jessie started her degree, she came across an opportunity to participate in various marine mammal conservation events organized by CityU. She learnt about the importance and pertinence of understanding the anthropogenic and naturogenic impacts on marine life in order to make a positive change for these fascinating creatures. She eventually joined the Aquatic Animal Virtopsy Lab for this cause and is engaged in postmortem investigations of stranded cetaceans and sea turtles since 2020.

Dr Virgilius Martin Kelake Kedang

Veterinarian

Martin obtained his veterinary degree from IPB University (Indonesia) in 2022. His Master's degree from Chulalongkorn University (Thailand) in 2024. His interest is in epidemiological study of animal diseases. He joined the Aquatic Animal Virtopsy Lab in early 2025, working on projects under the supervision of Prof. Brian Kot, particularly on spatial and temporal modelling of sea turtles and cetacean strandings.

Dr Chun Keat Ooi

Veterinarian

Chun Keat graduated from Universiti Putra Malaysia with a degree in veterinary medicine in 2025. From a young age, he has been fascinated by wildlife and the natural environment. He is primarily interested in applying veterinary knowledge to the research and conservation of aquatic animals. After graduation, he worked for a few months in a veterinary clinic, and subsequently joined AAVL in December 2025.

Ms Hyegee Lee

Researcher

Hyejee graduated with a Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences from the University of Hong Kong in 2024. Motivated by a deep concern for marine conservation and a firm belief in the One Ocean, One Health concept, she transitioned from human biology research to pursue her passion for aquatic life. In late 2025, Hyejee joined the Aquatic Animal Virtopsy Lab, where she now leverages her laboratory background to contribute to molecular studies and investigate skeletal non-metric and morphometric characteristics of cetaceans, under the supervision of Professor Brian Kot.

Mr Ashton Ling

Researcher

Ashton obtained his BMedSc in Forensic Science and MSc in 2016 and 2019. Just like other kids, Ashton was being attracted by dolphins, sea turtles and other aquatic animals during his childhood, and being more concerned about marine conservation when he grew up. Therefore, he would like to implement his academic knowledge of forensic science to the conservation of aquatic animals by joining the AAVL since 2014. Ashton is interested in skeletal development and postmortem pathology of stranded cetaceans.