RISA People

Prof. Yau received her bachelor's degree in Biochemistry at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the PhD degree in Neuroscience in Department of Anatomy, The University of Hong Kong (HKU) in 2005 and 2009 respectively. Before joining The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), she received a postdoctoral fellowship at HKU and in the Division of Medical Sciences at The University of Victoria (British Columbia) in Canada respectively.

Prof. Yau has the research interest in using different disease animal models to investigate the effects of non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions on enhancing brain plasticity. Her research projects are focusing on the hippocampus, a brain region related to learning and memory. She investigates the underlying mechanisms of physical exercise-induced hippocampal plasticity in disease animal models (e.g. depression and mental retardation) and identifying its related biomarkers for translational research in humans. Also, she explores the changes in hippocampal plasticity underlying cognitive impairment and therapeutic treatments in mental retardation. She adopts multiple research techniques to assess hippocampal structure and functions such as behavioral analysis, electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry, and western blot analysis.

Prof. Yau is actively recruiting graduate students who wish to pursue MPhil/PhD in the field of neuroplasticity in diseased animal models. She also welcome undergraduate students who are interested in experiencing scientific research to work as volunteers for specific research projects.

• Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
• Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Hong Kong