Driving healthcare innovation: PolyU secures HK$22.91M in research funding
Driven to advance healthcare innovation for societal needs, PolyU recently secured HK$22.91 million in the latest round of funding from the Health and Medical Research Fund to support 25 pioneering research projects. This significant achievement underscores the University’s dedication to interdisciplinary research and its commitment to creating real-world impact.
These funded projects span a wide spectrum of topics, from cutting-edge medical technologies powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and rehabilitation training and management, to innovative mental health treatments and community-based care models. The projects draw expertise from biomedical engineering, health technology and informatics, nursing, optometry, rehabilitation sciences, language science and technology, and food science and nutrition, demonstrating the University’s dynamic and collaborative approach to tackling today’s most pressing healthcare challenges.
PolyU scholars are at the forefront of harnessing advanced technologies to improve health outcomes, such as using AI for single-cell monitoring in the early detection of infection-associated thrombosis, and utilising immersive virtual reality in cognitive stimulation therapy for older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Several projects focus on translational medicine applications, some target chronic disease management and rehabilitation, while others extend their impact to community well-being.
The following projects each received over HK$1 million in funding, listed in order of funding amount:
Principal Investigator | Project Title | Amount Awarded (HKD) |
|---|---|---|
Dr Dennis Ma Chak-fai | Effectiveness of a tele-group cognitive behavioural family intervention (tgCBFI) for people with schizophrenia and their families: a mixed-method study | $1,500,000 |
Professor Zhu Yuyan | Investigating the translational potential of parthenolide for ameliorating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in obese adults | $1,499,999 |
Professor Yeung Wing-fai | An implementation science approach to evaluate self-administered acupressure for knee osteoarthritis in older-aged adults in the community | $1,499,989 |
Professor Gilman Siu Kit-hang | Application of targeted capture sequencing for diagnosis of respiratory infections – simultaneous pathogen identification, antimicrobial resistance gene detection and strain typing in a single reaction | $1,499,950 |
Professor Xie Yaojie | Migraine features and silent brain infarction in predicting stroke risk progression: a cohort study with neuroimaging analysis in Hong Kong Chinese women | $1,499,907 |
Professor Huang Chien-ling | Integrated AI-driven single-cell monitoring system for early detection and pathway discovery in infection-associated thrombosis: advancing prevention and treatment strategies for long COVID | $1,499,000 |
Professor Winsome Lam Yuk-yin | Nurse parental support using a proactive mobile app in symptom management for children with medical complexity requiring mechanical ventilation: an effectiveness-implementation hybrid 2 study | $1,496,336 |
Professor Li Tian | Investigation of time-resolved magnetic resonance fingerprinting (TR-MRF) for liver cancer stereotactic body radiotherapy response assessment in a pilot clinical trial | $1,459,000 |
Professor Jed Montayre | Dyadic management intervention in older people with co-occurring cognitive impairment and diabetes as a supplementary approach to chronic diseases self-management program: a hybrid effectiveness implementation study | $1,345,318 |
Professor Arnold Wong Yu-lok | Acceptance and commitment therapy plus exercise for older people with chronic low back pain: a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial | $1,314,035 |
Dr Vincent Leung Wan-shun | Personalized prediction of acute genitourinary toxicities of prostate stereotactic body radiotherapy: a combined retrospective-prospective study | $1,180,814 |
Click here to view the complete list of the 25 funded PolyU research projects.
Administered by the Health Bureau, the Health and Medical Research Fund aims to build research capacity and support health and medical research, with objectives that include informing health policies, improving population health, and strengthening the healthcare system.
