Research in motion: Student combines Wushu expertise with cutting-edge sensory research

Ian Ging Long Chan
Ian Ging Long Chan: Advancing research to better understand the sense of touch. (Supplied)


By Yuri Terra-Turgeon

A skilled Kung Fu artist, Schulich Medicine & Dentistry graduate Ian Ging Long Chan is just as skilled off the mat, where his research helped provide a better understanding of the sense of touch. 

Using animal models, Chan studied sensory receptors, which are the parts of the body that help with the sense of touch, just like in humans.  

“I want to better understand the human experience and how we control our bodies,” said Chan, who recently graduated from the Bachelor of Medical Sciences (BMSc) program with a specialization in Pharmacology and Physiology. “I'm a very active person. That’s what drew me into this research.” 

Chan’s research will provide a better understanding of neuropathic conditions like allodynia, which is a condition where people feel pain from something that normally wouldn’t cause pain — such as touching a feather or brushing their teeth. 

Outside of his studies, Chan competes in the Chinese martial art of Wushu – more commonly known as Kung Fu.

Ian Ging Long Chan  Ian Ging Long Chan. (Supplied)

Chan, who was born and raised here in Ontario, but whose parents are originally from Hong Kong, is a top-rated Wushu performer and has won the silver medal in the 2020 Orillia Ontario Winter Games and four gold medals at the national Wushu competition that same year. He also participated in Western’s Wushu club.

In the lab, Chan worked on his undergraduate thesis on Meissner Corpuscles, which is a sensory receptor located on various areas of the skin, specifically sensitive areas, such as fingertips.

The work was conducted at the Pruszynski Lab and supervised by Associate Professor Andrew Pruszynski, PhD. 

“We examined the sensor innervation of the hand, because humans that suffer from conditions that cause peripheral nerve damage do not generally fully recover hand function,” said Pruszynski.

The research team believes that one factor that is limiting recovery is the lack of information on what normal innervation on the hand looks like. Chan analyzed healthy models, which will then serve as a baseline for comparisons with injured models.

While Chan’s time at Western is complete, he looks back fondly on his time at the university and all of the memories and experiences he has had inside and outside of the classroom.

“I greatly enjoyed my research work in Dr. Pruszynski's lab because it parallels my experience in Wushu in many ways,” said Chan, who is currently training for the upcoming national competition selections. “Both require long-term commitment and a constant effort to refine skills and methods over time, teaching us to learn and grow from our outcomes.”

Wushu and sensory research share a reliance on understanding the relationship between movement and response, noted Chan.

“Both disciplines also depend on feedback—whether it’s fine-tuning movements in Wushu or refining hypotheses in research. The balance of discipline and creativity required in Wushu mirrors the innovation needed to push boundaries in sensory research.”