The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is committed to advancing healthcare innovation and interdisciplinary research, achieving significant breakthroughs in pioneering fields such as medicine, healthcare and AI-powered medical innovation, and translating research outcomes into practical solutions. In the latest round of funding from the Health and Medical Research Fund, 25 PolyU research projects secured a total of HK$22.91 million. The projects span areas including AI-powered medical technologies, primary healthcare, precision medicine and preventive medicine, underscoring the University’s strong interdisciplinary research capabilities in the healthcare sector.
The funded projects cover a wide range of topics, from advanced diagnostic technologies, rehabilitation training and management, and innovative mental health treatment solutions, to caregiver support and community-based care models. The research encompasses the disciplines of biomedical engineering, health technology and informatics, nursing, optometry, rehabilitation sciences, language science and technology, and food science and nutrition.
PolyU scholars are dedicated to applying advanced technologies to drive healthcare innovations. Examples include the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in single-cell monitoring in the early detection of infection-associated thrombosis, the use of immersive virtual reality in cognitive stimulation therapy for older adults with mild cognitive impairment, and the development of mobile health platforms to support postpartum depression and symptom management in paediatric patients.
Several PolyU research projects also focus on translational medicine applications. These include: the use of time-resolved magnetic resonance fingerprinting for liver cancer radiotherapy assessment; multi-omic investigation of a novel Bartonella bacterium identified in the human microbiome and originating from dermatophagoides farina; and personalised prediction of acute genitourinary toxicities. A number of other funded projects target chronic disease management and rehabilitation, offering innovative interventions for post-stroke fatigue, knee osteoarthritis and upper limb motor recovery.
Beyond clinical research, PolyU scholars are also dedicated to community well-being. Initiatives in this area have seen interventions to alleviate loneliness and support mental health among the elderly, creative arts therapy to enhance the mental health of prostate cancer patients, and the development of AI-powered interactive platforms for diabetes management. For further details on the 25 funded PolyU research projects, please refer to the appendix.
The Health and Medical Research Fund, administered by the Health Bureau, aims to build research capacity and to encourage, facilitate and support health and medical research. Its objectives are to inform health policies, improve population health, strengthen the healthcare system, enhance healthcare practices, advance the standard and quality of care, and promote clinical excellence through generation and application of evidence-based scientific knowledge derived from local health and medical research.
List of PolyU Projects Supported by Health and Medical Research Fund in 2023 Exercise:
| Principal Investigator | Project Title | Amount Awarded (HK$) |
|---|---|---|
| Dr LEE Timothy Tin-yan, Research Assistant Professor of the Department of Biomedical Engineering |
Exploring Spine Flexibility and Spinal Deformities and their Association with Curve Progression in Skeletally Immature Patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Three-Dimensional Ultrasound Study | $724,600.00 |
| Prof. ZHU Yuyan, Associate Professor of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition |
Investigating the translational potential of parthenolide for ameliorating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in obese adults | $1,499,999.00 |
| Prof. SIU Gilman Kit-hang, Associate Head, Professor, and Limin Endowed Young Scholar in Medical Laboratory Science of the Department of Health Technology and Informatics |
Application of Targeted Capture Sequencing for Diagnosis of Respiratory Infections – Simultaneous Pathogen Identification, Antimicrobial Resistance Gene Detection and Strain Typing in a Single Reaction | $1,499,950.00 |
| Prof. LI Tian, Assistant Professor of the Department of Health Technology and Informatics |
Investigation of Time-resolved Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting (TR-MRF) for Liver Cancer Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy Response Assessment in a Pilot Clinical Trial | $1,459,000.00 |
| Prof. HUANG Chien-ling, Associate Professor of the Department of Health Technology and Informatics |
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 | $1,499,000.00 |
| Dr XIONG Qing, Research Assistant Professor of the Department of Health Technology and Informatics |
Multi-omic investigation of a novel Bartonella bacterium identified in human microbiome and originating from Dermatophagoides farinae | $499,994.00 |
| Dr LEE Wing-tung, Postdoctoral Fellow of the Department of Health Technology and Informatics |
Unveiling the risk of developing cervical cancer in HPV-negatives through vaginal microbiome analysis | $496,500.00 |
| Dr LEUNG Wan-shun Vincent, Associate Professor of Practice of the Department of Health Technology and Informatics |
Personalized prediction of acute genitourinary toxicities of prostate stereotactic body radiotherapy: a combined retrospective-prospective study | $1,180,814.00 |
| Dr WONG Winsy Wing-sze, Research Assistant Professor of the Department of Language Science and Technology |
Utilization of Immersive Virtual Reality in Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (IVR-CST) for Elderly with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study | $499,996.00 |
| Prof. NGAI Sing Bik Cindy, Associate Professor of the Department of Language Science and Technology |
Connecting the Dots: Examining the Impact of Risk and Protective Factors on Loneliness Types and Mental Health in Hong Kong's Elderly | $267,200.00 |
| Dr ZHANG Jiaqi, Research Assistant Professor of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences |
Optimizing the intensity of priming theta burst stimulation to improve hemiparetic upper limb motor functions after stroke: a randomized controlled trial | $726,600.00 |
| Prof. LIN Jingxia, Assistant Professor of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences |
Enhancing Clinical Care for Postpartum Depression Using Ecological Momentary Assessment and Intervention: A Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial with "MotherCare" Mobile App | $499,920.00 |
| Prof. TSANG Sau-Lan, Assistant Professor of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences |
Effects of self-initiated perturbation-based balance training on the postural stability of community-dwelling older adults with an increased risk of falling: A randomised controlled trial | $498,008.00 |
| Prof. HUANG Meizhen, Assistant Professor of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences |
Effect of High-Intensity Interval Training Intervention on Post-Stroke Fatigue in Chronic Stroke Survivors: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial | $489,700.00 |
| Prof. WONG Yu-lok Arnold, Professor of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences |
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy plus exercise for older people with chronic low back pain: a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial | $1,314,035.00 |
| Dr LI Ye, Research Assistant Professor of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences |
Double-blind, randomized controlled pilot study to assess the effect of pulsed electromagnetic field on inflammatory knee osteoarthritis | $424,500.00 |
| Dr SHE Rui, Research Assistant Professor of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences |
A multi-faceted self-management intervention for improving patient activation and lifestyle behavior modification among people with cardiometabolic multimorbidity: A pilot randomized controlled trial | $491,730.00 |
| Prof. Jed MONTAYRE, Associate Head (Strategy) and Associate Professor of the School of Nursing |
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 | $1,345,318.00 |
| Prof LAM Winsome Yuk-yin, Assistant Professor of the School of Nursing |
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 | $1,496,336.00 |
| Dr MA Chak-fai Dennis, Assistant Professor of Practice of the School of Nursing |
Effectiveness of a tele-group cognitive behavioural family intervention (tgCBFI) for people with schizophrenia and their families: A mixed-method study |
$1,500,000.00 |
| Prof. YEUNG Wing-fai, Associate Professor of the School of Nursing |
An implementation Science Approach to Evaluate Self-administered Acupressure for Knee Osteoarthritis in Older-Aged Adults in the Community | $1,499,989.00 |
| Prof. YANG Lin, Associate Professor of the School of Nursing |
A Personalized Interactive Patient Empowerment Artificial Intelligence Platform (PIPE-AI) Enhanced by DiabetesGPT in Prediabetes and Diabetes Patients in Primary Healthcare Settings | $500,000.00 |
| Prof. XIE Yaojie, Associate Professor of the School of Nursing |
Migraine features and silent brain infarction in predicting stroke risk progression: A cohort study with neuroimaging analysis in Hong Kong Chinese women | $1,499,907.00 |
| Dr Hammoda ABU-ODAH, Research Assistant Professor of the School of Nursing |
Effects of creative arts therapy on body image, self-esteem, anxiety and depression in men with prostate cancer after active treatment: a feasibility randomised controlled trial | $498,400.00 |
| Prof. LEUNG Tsz Wing, Assistant Professor of the School of Optometry |
Investigating the Role of the Magnocellular-Dorsal System in Reading Chinese: A Pilot Study Exploring the Effect of Middle Temporal Visual Area Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation | $499,550.00 |
