News

MHRC Retreat 2024 successfully held

The Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC) organised a retreat at the Kowloon Regal Hotel on 13 March.  The activity provided MHRC members with a valuable platform for sharing views on mental health research, interdisciplinary collaboration and the way forward.  Over 30 MHRC Members from PolyU faculties, schools and departments participated in the event.  It was also joined by invited scholars from other local and overseas universities, who shared their views and works in individual research fields. During the retreat, Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research, delivered a welcome speech.  Prof. Hector TSANG, the then MHRC Interim Director, provided on update on MHRC’s development status and highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in mental health research. The event was followed by a series of presentations on various topics by invited scholars.  They included: Prof. Eric CHEN, Professor of Psychiatry at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; Prof. Albert LEE, Founding Director of the Centre for Health Education and Health Promotion and Clinical Professor of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Prof. Paul YIP, Associate Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Director of the University’s Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong.  A group discussion session followed, during which MHRC Members had a fruitful exchange with speakers and peers.  

Prof. Hector TSANG featured on TVB programme Pearl Magazine

Prof. Hector TSANG, Interim Director of the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC) and Chair Professor of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, gave an interview to TVB’s programme “Pearl Magazine” to share his insights into the support needs of carers and the roles of the government and industry in supporting caregivers in Hong Kong. He mentioned that the support services for carers in Hong Kong are limited and fragmented; the existing services are mostly centre-based and require appointment booking in advance, and are therefore quite rigid. He suggested that the government can take reference from other countries to establish a clear set of laws or acts on the provision and coordination of support for caregivers. The programme shared findings of a relevant research study led by Prof. Tsang. The research pointed out that respite services are valuable resources for carers.  It also showed that the utilisation rate of designated day respite services for the elderly in 2019–20 was only about 45%, indicating the needs to further improve the existing carer support system. Online coverage: TVB - https://polyu.me/3wsZVxy (4:47 – 5:59)  TVB - https://polyu.me/3TadAma (21:41 – 23:08)  

MHRC Member delivers mindful eating health talks at The University of Western Australia

Dr Dalinda Isabel SANCHEZ VIDANA, Member of the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC), Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, was invited to deliver interactive health talks “Mindful Bites: Exploring Mindful Eating and Taming Food Cravings” at The University of Western Australia, 27–28 February 2024. The interactive sessions included mindfulness exercises for developing healthy and mindful eating habits, providing participants with the opportunity to experience the benefits of mindfulness in eating and weight management.

MHRC Associate Director Prof. Sylvia CHEN elected as Fellow of Hong Kong Academy of the Humanities

We are delighted to announce that Prof. Sylvia Xiaohua CHEN, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Chair Professor of the Department of Applied Social Sciences, Associate Director of the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC), and Director of the Yan Oi Tong Au Suet Ming Child Development Centre, has been elected as a Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of the Humanities (HKAH). This prestigious recognition is a testament to Prof. Chen’s exceptional scholarship and her significant contributions to humanities and social sciences in Hong Kong. Prof. Chen’s research focuses on personality and social psychology, cross-cultural psychology, as well as  the psychosocial and cultural aspects of mental health. She investigates the social impact of bilingualism and biculturalism, as well as the effects of cultural contexts on the psychological functioning of bilingual and bicultural individuals. Her research explores the influence of globalisation on the changes experienced by bicultural individuals in mindsets, values, beliefs and identifications as a result of acculturation. The HKAH was founded in 2011 with the main aims of giving recognition to scholarly excellence and providing a platform for advocacy on behalf of the humanities in Hong Kong. HKAH Fellows are recognised by their peers as scholars of the highest academic distinction, or eminent practitioners of the arts, and are honoured for their lifetime contributions to humanities.  

Dr Chun Liang Hsu Receives Kuok Group Endowed Young Scholar in Ageing and Neuroimaging

A significant acknowledgement of his pioneering research, it is our pleasure to announce that Dr Chun Liang Hsu, member of MHRC, Assistant Professor of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, has been appointed as the Kuok Group Endowed Young Scholar in Ageing and Neuroimaging. This designation under The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)’s Endowed Young Scholars Scheme marks not just a milestone for Dr Hsu but also distinguishes him as the first from our department to receive this prestigious honour. Dr Hsu’s exemplary journey in the field of Rehabilitation Sciences began with his graduation from the University of British Columbia, where he fostered his deep interest and expertise in the intricate aspects of ageing, cognition, and mobility. His commitment and dedication to advancing our understanding of these areas were further recognised with the award of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Fellowship, enabling him to pursue postdoctoral training at the renowned Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Harvard Medical School. Using advanced neuroimaging techniques, Dr Hsu’s research offers critical insights into the neural underpinnings of functional impairments among ageing clinical populations. His groundbreaking work sheds light on the relationship between cognition and mobility and explores how targeted interventions can enhance cognitive and mobility outcomes. Dr Hsu's comprehensive approach, combining methodologies from magnetic resonance imaging with a hands-on understanding of clinical populations, places him at the forefront of his field. The Endowed Young Scholars Scheme, aimed at fostering young academic talents, recognises the potential of researchers like Dr Hsu to drive transformative changes in their disciplines. This award underscores the joint commitment between PolyU, its benefactors, and outstanding scholars to nurture innovations that have a lasting positive impact on society. By receiving this endowment, Dr Hsu will have access to essential annual funding, promoting further advancements in his influential research into ageing and neuroimaging. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr Hsu on this prestigious appointment and look forward to the continued impact of his research on understanding and enhancing the lives of ageing populations around the globe.  

MHRC Member Dr Jacky NG named APS Rising Star

Dr Jacky C. K. Ng has been nominated and selected as one of the Rising Stars of the Association for Psychological Science (APS). The Rising Star designation recognizes outstanding APS members in the earliest stages of their post-PhD research career. Individuals being considered for the designation are evaluated for their research excellence based on six criteria, including publications, recognitions, discoveries, methodological innovations, or theoretical or empirical contributions, work with potentially broad impact, commitment to diversity in science, demonstrated independence from mentors. Dr Ng is dedicated to investigating various methodological artifacts in mediation and moderation models, utilizing these models to gain insights into various social phenomena. His research findings have been published in internationally renowned journals. Currently, Dr Ng’s research focus lies in developing an implementation-friendly statistical tool to differentiate analytically equivalent models in moderation analysis and employing this tool to identify the mitigating factors for social media-induced depression. The full list of 2024 award winners are available here: https://www.psychologicalscience.org/members/awards-and-honors/aps-rising-stars/news-rising-stars  

Generous donation from The Seal of Love Charitable Foundation to promote mental health in universities

The Seal of Love Charitable Foundation, founded by Mr Lawrence CHAN, son of Mr and Mrs Chan Chak Fu, donated a total of $45 million to establish the “Seal of Love Charitable Foundation Health and Service Impact Fund” (the Fund) to advance PolyU’s research and impact in health-related disciplines.  The first project beneficiary is a five-year mental health initiative called the “Resilient Students Training Hub” (ReST Hub) under the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC), which aims to promote student mental health in universities in Hong Kong and Asia.  ReST Hub is led by Dr Grace W.K. HO, MHRC Member and Associate Professor in the School of Nursing. The project’s goal is to turn university campuses across Hong Kong and Asia into mental health promotive ecosystems through services, training, and community engagement events, of which HK$ 12.9 million is to be supported by the Fund.  

Chinese New Year Greetings from MHRC

Best wishes and happiness throughout the Year of the Dragon!

Dr Bolton Chau Awarded Research Grant to Conduct Brain Research

We are thrilled to announce a significant achievement made by Dr Bolton Chau, Associate Director of MHRC, Associate Professor of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences (RS): he has successfully secured funding from the Research Grants Council Collaborative Research Fund for young researchers. His research project, titled “Exploring the Human Frontopolar Cortex in Decision Making: Neural Network Modeling, Aging, and Enhancement,” receives a substantial grant of HK$4,591,504. In this innovative project, Dr Chau will collaborate with scientists from esteemed institutions including the University of Oxford, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Hong Kong Baptist University, to focus on the investigation of the frontopolar cortex (FPC), a greatly developed region of the human brain. Despite the significance of the FPC, its role in decision-making remains largely unexplored. Using a combination of methodologies including brain imaging, brain stimulation, and artificial intelligence, the project team aims to unravel the mysteries of the FPC. Recent findings on which this research builds are outlined in a published article (see https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(23)00566-1 for details). We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr Chau on his outstanding accomplishment. In the competitive realm of Young Collaborative Research Grant, Dr Chau’s success highlights his expertise and dedication. This award is not only an honour of MHRC and RS, but also an encouraging achievement for PolyU academic community at large.  

MHRC study reveals that apelin mediates the antidepressant effects of physical exercise

Dr Sonata YAU, MHRC member and Associate Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, presented at the annual meeting of The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) 2023 in Washington DC, US.The abstract entitled “Potential role of apelin in mediating the antidepressant effects of physical exercise” was selected by the Society of Neuroscience for press conference this year. Out of over 12,500 abstracts submitted to the meeting, less than 50 are being offered this prestigious opportunity of speaking directly to the media. The study revealed that apelin, a muscle-secreted peptide, is important for mediating the antidepressant effects of physical exercise. Sarcopenia, a muscle aging condition, is strongly correlated with geriatric depression, but the exact muscle-brain crosstalk isn’t well understood. Previous research has shown that apelin is linked to sarcopenia, and is also associated with hippocampal neuroplasticity and antidepressant effects. Using a mouse model of chronic unpredictable stress, Dr Yau and her research team showed that stressed mice exhibited decreased apelin expression levels in the hippocampus, which could be restored by 4-week physical running. Knockout of apelin specifically in skeletal muscle reduced the antidepressant effects of exercise, whereas overexpression of muscle apelin elicited antidepressant effects. The research deepens our understanding of the potential role of apelin in mediating the crosstalk of the muscle-brain axis, and holds important implications for understanding stress-related disorders.