Media Releases

PolyU survey reveals over 40 per cent of family caregivers in Hong Kong have mental health issues, advocating data-driven tool to improve social welfare policy

Globally, rapidly aging populations give rise to increasing demand for home care services. The World Health Organisation estimates that approximately 1.3 billion people worldwide require care due to ageing or disability. In Hong Kong, owing to deeply rooted cultural norms that emphasise family bonding and rising healthcare costs, caregiving is often performed by family members, imposing heavy physical and mental strain on them. A research team at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has investigated the quality of life (QoL) of the City’s family caregivers and explored the use of data-driven assessment tools to support the development of effectively targeted interventions. Led by Prof. Richard XU, Assistant Professor of the PolyU Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, the researchers surveyed QoL of 323 informal family caregivers in Hong Kong from Jan to Mar 2025. Their questionnaire included items relating to physical health, mental health, social relationships, well-being and fatigue, as well as about their experience with the existing caregiving. The findings reveal a concerning decline in both the physical and mental health of family caregivers. Among those surveyed, 42% had encountered mental health issues, with more than half of them reporting symptoms of depression and one-fourth suffering from anxiety disorders. Additionally, nearly 20% of respondents said that they had mobility issues. The researchers pointed out that current policies prioritise service quantity over caregivers’ QoL, thereby failing to provide systematic and long-term support to their health and well-being. In particular, effectiveness of respite care services, which are designed to offer temporary relief, is severely undermined by uneven service distribution and prolonged waiting times. These limitations are especially detrimental to caregivers who provide intensive care for more than 16 hours per day, leaving their needs largely unmet. Furthermore, while the situation of “the elderly taking care of the elderly” and “the elderly taking care of the disabled” becomes more common, many elderly caregivers cannot access certain support services due to digital barriers. For instance, the self-service “Information Gateway for Carers” launched by the Social Welfare Department in 2023, remains inaccessible to 80% of caregivers over 60. Prof. Xu said, “Serious gaps in Hong Kong’s existing caregiver support and insufficient societal recognition of caregiver well-being both highlight a pressing need for enhanced services and policy reforms. The Government should establish a robust cost-benefit analysis system to guide the strategic allocation of resources, and focus on providing psychological counselling for caregivers and strengthening social support networks. This would improve caregiver QoL and demonstrate a societal commitment to their well-being.” In view of the urgent challenges faced by family caregivers in Hong Kong, Prof. Xu and his team conducted a comprehensive evaluation of caregiver QoL. They propose utilising data-driven assessment tools, such as CarerQol, to assess caregiver needs and inform relevant policy reforms. CarerQol helps measure caregivers’ quality of life Developed in 2006 by Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands, CarerQol is a data-driven assessment tool designed to evaluate caregivers’ physical and mental well-being, economic stress levels and social support networks, thereby measuring the impact of informal caregiving on their health and QoL. The tool has been widely adopted in research and health policy contexts in European countries, including the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Germany, to guide resource allocation. Its application at the community level varies depending on local health systems and research initiatives. To enable application of CarerQol in Chinese societies, the research team engaged native speakers for translation, professional translators for back-translation and a group of the general Chinese public for cognitive debriefing, ultimately introducing a culturally adapted Chinese translation of CarerQol. Through hospitals, patient associations and community health centres, the team recruited a total of 324 caregivers with diverse backgrounds from across China who reported providing care for patients with disabilities or long-term care needs for more than five years, and asked them to complete the web-based CarerQol survey, with the aim of validating the tool in a Chinese context. Published in the international journal Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, the findings indicate that CarerQol performs well in Chinese society. It effectively reveals significant differences across all known groups. For instance, participants in good health, with higher education levels and who lived in urban areas achieved significantly higher scores than their counterparts. CarerQol also exhibited strong test-retest reliability, with highly consistent results when administered under similar conditions on the same group of participants. These findings verify that the tool provides reliable and stable results for caregivers to better understand their own needs and improve self-management. The researchers envision that, with its high cost-effectiveness and potential for local application, CarerQol can offer policymakers essential data evidence to support more accurate resource allocation, advancing the social welfare system. In addition, the team suggested that natural language processing and artificial intelligence-driven text analysis tools be used to streamline the thematic coding of data from interviews and focus groups, enhancing both the efficiency and depth of data analysis. Online forums and social media, meanwhile, could facilitate virtual focus groups and sentiment analysis, offering valuable insights into diverse perspectives on quality of life and guiding the development of more effective support strategies. Prof. Xu added, “Advanced technological innovations have facilitated both qualitative and quantitative studies in the areas of both health-related and overall QoL, broadening research design methodological flexibility. Wearable devices and mobile health applications, for example, allow researchers to obtain real-time physiological and behavioural data, enabling longitudinal tracking of QoL metrics like physical activity levels and sleep patterns, and hence more comprehensive analysis.”   ***END***  

PolyU International Future Challenge (Shanghai region) yields top four teams

The final of the PolyU x Flair Capital International Future Challenge (Shanghai Region) was held in Shanghai’s Xuhui District on 8 August. Fifteen outstanding teams vied for a range of awards and cash prizes totalling RMB 270,000. The top four teams will qualify for the Grand Final, which will be held in Shenzhen in December, together with leading teams from all regions. Sponsored by Flair Capital, founded by PolyU alumnus Mr Benny CHAN, the Competition is supported by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Xuhui District People’s Government, Science and Technology Commission of Xuhui District, and Party Working Committee and Office of Hongmei Sub-district, Xuhui District. This collaboration aims to connect global I&T talents and inject new vitality into the technological development of both Shanghai and Hong Kong. Xuhui District is an important high-ground for innovation and technology (I&T) in Shanghai. Home to a large number of multinational corporations, R&D institutions, and renowned universities, it has made remarkable achievements in domains such as artificial intelligence (AI), biomedicine, and fintech. Industrial clusters valued at hundreds of billions RMB strategically emerged from within its confines, continuously providing driving force for Shanghai’s development into a globally I&T centre. Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation) said, “This competition holds great significance for deepening industry-academia-research collaboration between PolyU and Xuhui District, fully embodying their profound synergy. The focus areas of the competition align precisely with Xuhui’s I&T development blueprint. It underscores the active role of the challenge in gathering I&T talent and advancing the translation of cutting-edge technologies.” Prof. Chao encouraged all teams to cherish this valuable hands-on experience, drive technological breakthroughs through innovation, leverage the competition platform to connect with other participants, share achievements, and work together towards a better tomorrow. The Competition focuses on four core domains: blockchain, low-altitude economy, AI-empowered medical, and digital transformation, as well as AI applications in these domains. In addition to cash prizes, winning teams will be able to access support from PolyU Mainland Translational Research Institutes (MTRIs) and the PolyVentures startup ecosystem, as well as the opportunity to enter the high-quality incubators in Xuhui District to expand their business in Shanghai. The Competition attracted more than 70 projects, with participating teams from Shanghai and overseas. This fully demonstrated Shanghai’s vitality in innovation and entrepreneurship, achieving the competition’s goal of “bringing in and going global”. Following a rigorous selection process, 15 projects advanced to the final to compete for multiple awards. The Shanghai Region award-winning companies/projects are as follows: Award Company/Project Cash Prize Flair Capital Cup (Championship)*  LAN-XEN RMB 100,000 First Prize* Jufu (Shanghai) Medical Technology Co., Ltd RMB 60,000 Second Prize* CeresRobotics.ai RMB 40,000 Second Prize* Moon Lab Limited RMB 40,000 Merit Award Shanghai Tianyin Biology Co., Ltd RMB 5,000 Merit Award Sustainaball Limited RMB 5,000 Merit Award Virtual MRI Contrast Enhancement System for Precise Tumour Detection and Treatment RMB 5,000 Best Presentation Award (voted by the audience) CeresRobotics.ai RMB 5,000 Best Innovation Award (voted by the audience) Last-centimetre Drone Delivery in Urban Environments RMB 5,000 Most Popular Award (voted by the audience) Last-centimetre Drone Delivery in Urban Environments RMB 5,000 *Teams advancing to the Grand Final The PolyU International Future Challenge (IFC), the University’s flagship innovation and entrepreneurship competition, features a unique “1+N” framework, with Hong Kong serving as the main competition region alongside multiple regions across six Mainland cities, including Huizhou, Wenzhou, Qianhai in Shenzhen, Shanghai, Nanjing, and Jinjiang. It is open to technology startup teams and innovators from across the globe. PolyU collaborates with leading domestic enterprises and PolyU MTRIs in each region to provide participating and winning teams with the necessary support and guidance. This includes visits to Mainland cities and PolyU MTRIs, participation in corporate visits, access to business and technical consultation services, and overseas journeys. Over 600 applications have been received from the seven competition regions thus far. Applications have closed in six of those regions, with the deadline for the Wenzhou region being 31 August 2025. The Grand Final will take place in Shenzhen this December. For more details about the IFC, please visit the official website.                                                                                               ***END***  

Minister of Education leads a delegation to PolyU

A delegation led by Mr HUAI Jinpeng, Minister of Education, visited The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today. During the visit, the delegation engaged in in-depth discussions with PolyU’s management team and researchers to learn about the University’s latest developments in research and knowledge transfer, particularly its technology breakthroughs in the field of medicine, healthcare, and AI-powered medical innovations. Mr Huai Jinpeng commended PolyU’s educational philosophy of nurturing young students with a strong sense of national pride, competence, and responsibility. Guided by this approach, generations of PolyU talent have advanced their professions while contributing to the development of Hong Kong and the Nation. He also praised PolyU as a world-class institution that earns societal respect through value creation and scholars’ recognition by developing solutions that address global challenges. More importantly, through technological innovation and talent development deeply aligned with real-world needs of society, PolyU has solidified its standing as a leading university in the modern era. The delegation included representatives from the Ministry of Education, the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) of the State Council, the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR (LOCPG), and the Education Bureau of the HKSAR Government. Key delegation members were: Mr LUO Yonggang, Deputy Director of LOCPG; Dr CHOI Yuk-lin, Secretary for Education of the HKSAR Government; Dr YANG Dan, Director of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges and Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the Ministry of Education; Mr CHEN Wei, Director of Bureau IV of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee; Dr ZHOU Tianhua, Director of the Department of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education; Mr ZHOU Dawang, Director of the Department of Technology of the Ministry of Education; and Prof. WANG Weiming, Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of LOCPG. Accompanied by Dr LAM Tai-fai, PolyU Council Chairman; Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President and other management team members, the delegation visited the AIR Lab at the University’s Industrial Centre. During the visit, PolyU scholars presented and demonstrated 10 groundbreaking projects in medicine, healthcare and AI, showcasing the University’s research advancements in medicine-engineering integration and AI-powered medical technologies. The featured innovations included: 1. The Collaborative Generative AI project 2. A portable retinal fundus camera with a Generative AI technology for cardiovascular risk assessment and eye disease screening 3. A 3D ultrasound scoliosis assessment system 4. A portable liver fibrosis and fatty liver assessment system 5. A virtual MRI contrast enhancement system for precise tumour detection and treatment 6. Robots for post-stroke telerehabilitation 7. AI-powered image restoration and enhancement technology 8. A polypeptide neoantigen vaccine platform for precision cancer immunotherapy 9. A project integrating AI, genomics and biomedical technologies in the diagnosis, treatment, and etiology analysis of mental disorders 10. An AI-based platform enhancing the discovery and development of novel antibiotic drug candidates Dr Lam Tai-fai extended a warm welcome to the delegation led by the Ministry of Education and expressed sincere appreciation for their recognition and support of PolyU’s development. In the meeting, he outlined the University’s strategic development plan, including: - Achieving a top 50 position in the world’s university rankings in the short term; - Establishing Hong Kong’s third medical school to support the city’s development as an international health and medical innovation hub; - Elevating PolyU’s College of Professional and Continuing Education into a private university, with the target to become the Nation’s leading private university; - Expanding the establishment of translational research institutes in mainland cities to align with local industrial needs, translating PolyU’s research outcomes into practical applications to drive technological innovation and accelerate industrial growth. Dr Lam further elaborated on the proposal to establish Hong Kong’s third medical school, stating that, “PolyU is committed not only to driving innovations and AI applications, but also to nurturing healthcare professionals with compassion and patient-centred values. With our extensive experience in healthcare-related education, robust research capabilities, exceptional operational performance, and institutional cohesion, we are well prepared to undertake this mission with the same level of dedication we demonstrated in supporting the Nation’s landmark space missions. PolyU pledges to mobilise the required financial and human resources, unite our collective efforts, and overcome any challenges to establish Hong Kong’s third medical school. The HKSAR Government can be assured of our capability to deliver on this important initiative.” Prof. Jin-Guang Teng emphasised PolyU’s strong commitment to supporting the Government in establishing Hong Kong’s third medical school. This initiative will not only elevate the development of healthcare services for both the Nation and Hong Kong, but also position the city as an international health and medical innovation hub. Over the past half-century, PolyU has nurtured over 50,000 healthcare professionals, including nurses, physiotherapists, optometrists, radiologists and more, playing a pivotal role in the development of Hong Kong’s healthcare system. The University’s healthcare education and research capabilities are currently supported by a robust team of over 1,300 staff members in teaching and research, and more than 90 specialised laboratories and research facilities. Prof. Teng hopes to relocate PolyU’s research staff and facilities to the Northern Metropolis University Town upon its completion, enabling the University’s research to seamlessly connect with the industries and markets of cities in the Greater Bay Area, and to establish an AI-powered teaching hospital. PolyU scholars introduced their research projects. The delegation exchanged views with PolyU representatives at the meeting. ***END***

PolyU Junior Researcher Mentoring Programme 2025 nurtures next generation of innovative research talent

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is committed to fostering the holistic development of young people, providing diverse and enriching learning opportunities to nurture innovative research talent with a global perspective. PolyU held the fifth “Junior Researcher Mentoring Programme” (JRMP), attracting 147 high school students from 97 local and international schools. Under the guidance of around 70 PolyU academics from various faculties, schools and departments, the students participated in a series of impactful research projects. This year’s programme yielded 31 research projects covering diverse fields, including nursing, land surveying and geo-informatics, social sciences, biomedicine, design, fashion and textiles, hotel and tourism, and engineering. Over a four-month period, students conducted individual or group research under the guidance of PolyU academics, engaging in research design, data collection, literature review and results reporting. This deepened their understanding of the research projects and enhanced their research skills. Students also had the opportunity to visit related laboratories and teaching and research facilities, gaining a deeper understanding of PolyU’s diverse undergraduate programmes, and thereby helping them prepare for their future studies and programme selection. Prof. Geoffrey SHEN, PolyU Associate Vice President (Global Partnerships) and Director of Global Engagement, said, “PolyU is committed to leveraging our top-notch academics to support the development of young research talents in Hong Kong. The JRMP enables secondary school students to engage in the research process with support from some of our leading academic colleagues. Some of the participants have the opportunity to present their research findings at international conferences, showcasing the quality and potential of their research. I hope the Programme has ignited a passion for research in these students and I look forward to welcoming them to PolyU, as our students or as future researchers and to them contributing to driving impactful innovations for our future.” Under the guidance of academics from the PolyU School of Nursing, a team of eight students from Shatin Pui Ying College, Immaculate Heart of Mary College, Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong, ESF Sha Tin College, The Independent Schools Foundation Academy, Hong Kong University Graduate Association College, Valtorta College and Kit Sam Lam Bing Yim Secondary School conducted research on “Youth mental health and resilience.” They completed the “Mission ReST” resilience-building programme offered by the PolyU ReST Hub, gaining an understanding of how to build resilience. The team designed an innovative solution beyond the existing framework by combining environmental adaptation and gamification elements, creating a relaxed environment and interactive experiences to help young people enhance their resilience. They said, “Through the Programme, we learnt about conducting both quantitative and qualitative research, taking part in questionnaire design, and data collection and analysis. Participating in the research process not only enhanced our practical research skills, but also deepened our understanding of mental health and the importance of building resilience.” Two students from Hong Kong International School and Shung Tak Catholic English College conducted the research project “Deriving long-time series vegetation phenology using artificial intelligence in the Boston area” under the guidance of academics from the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics. The students developed a deep learning model, enabling the effective reconstruction of seasonal trajectories of vegetation dynamics and the detection of phenological trends on a regional scale. They stated, “Participating in JRMP was a rewarding and eye-opening experience. With careful mentorship, we learnt about vegetation phenology and honed our skills in satellite data processing and coding, which has motivated us to continue pursuing research in the future.” PolyU launched the JRMP in 2021 to encourage secondary school students to explore a broad range of research fields and interdisciplinary knowledge, fostering their interest in research and nurturing the next generation of local innovation and technology talent in support of Hong Kong’s development as an international innovation and technology centre and international hub for post-secondary education. To-date, nearly 700 secondary school students from 125 local and international schools have participated in the Programme, completing 175 research projects. Moving forward, JRMP will invite more schools and students to participate in this enriching learning experience. Applications will open early next year for the 2026 Programme, which is scheduled to run from April to August. ***END***

PolyU hosts technology and industry innovation conference and launches PolyU InnoHub@Wuxi

Chinese version only

PolyU hosts Global Smart Cities Summit cum the 4th International Conference on Urban Informatics and unveils Smart City Index 2025

The Global Smart Cities Summit cum the 4th International Conference on Urban Informatics, co-organised by the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the International Society for Urban Informatics (ISUI), commenced today. The three-day conference brings together over 240 speakers from around the world to share cutting-edge insights and innovations in urban informatics and smart city development, attracting over 600 scholars and industry professionals. During the event, a PolyU research team announced the Smart City Index, which aims to help cities worldwide formulate sustainable development strategies. Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President said, “Pressing urban challenges — from energy insecurity and global warming to ageing populations and land shortages — demand innovative thinking and multifaceted solutions. As one of PolyU’s strategic innovation domains, smart cities have long been a focus of research, encompassing big data analytics, remote sensing, geomatics computing, and other cutting-edge disciplines. Through SCRI under the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR), we will further integrate interdisciplinary research capabilities to drive sustainable development in Hong Kong and cities worldwide.” Dr Stephen WONG Yuen-shan, Head of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit of the HKSAR Government said, “Hong Kong has always valued and continuously leveraged its role as a ‘super connector’ and ‘super value-adder’ status as an international city. The Conference is a perfect demonstration of our ongoing efforts to promote knowledge exchange and collaboration with international peers. The Smart City Index developed by PolyU research team also gives us good insight into best practices of how cities around the world serve the lived experiences, needs and wellbeing of its citizens.” The Conference aims to advance global smart city development and urban informatics to provide a scientific foundation for smart cities. By integrating urban science, geographic information science and computer science, urban informatics leverages its interdisciplinary advantage to develop innovative solutions for addressing complex urban challenges. The Conference features keynote speeches by internationally renowned scientists, forums with government and industry leaders, and innovation and technology exhibitions. The event serves as an excellent platform to foster collaborations among government, industry, academia, and research sectors in the field of smart cities. SCRI and ISUI also jointly announced the ISUI Smart City Index 2025, developed by a team led by Prof. John Wenzhong SHI, Director of SCRI, Chair Professor of Geographical Information Science and Remote Sensing, and President of ISUI. The Index utilises a human-centric evaluation framework, comprising six dimensions — citizen, environment, social landscape, economy, infrastructure and governance, across 97 indicators. With a focus on how smart city initiatives enhance the daily lives of citizens, the Index empowers cities around the globe to assess their progress and enables authorities to better formulate strategies for a smarter and more sustainable future. Conventional smart city assessments typically emphasise the priorities of advanced economies and tend to rely on restricted data. In contrast, the Smart City Index adopts an inclusive approach applicable to cities across all development stages – from advanced, to developing and emerging economies, and utilises only publicly available data. This broader perspective enables more relevant and effective policy formulation worldwide.  The Index assessed 73 cities worldwide, with the top 10 ranked cities being Stockholm, Washington, D.C., Barcelona, London, Tokyo, Zurich, New York, Hong Kong, Copenhagen, and Oslo. Hong Kong ranked eighth globally and second in Asia, outperforming major regional competitors such as Singapore, as well as key cities in Europe and North America. Notably, Hong Kong excelled in the dimensions of environment, economy, and governance. In addition, the Conference will host presentation of the Outstanding Achievement Award in Urban Informatics, the Smart City Technology Innovation Awards, the Paper of the Year Award for ISUI’s journal Urban Informatics, and the Best Conference Paper Award. Details of the Conference: https://www.isocui.org/icui2025 Full report of the Smart City Index 2025: https://www.isocui.org/smart_city_index ***END***

PolyU and China Foreign Affairs University sign MoU for joint talent development programme to cultivate diplomatic talent for the AI era

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 31 July to launch a joint talent development programme. Leveraging PolyU’s leading expertise in artificial intelligence (AI) and CFAU’s strength in diplomat training, the two parties will collaborate in nurturing top-tier, interdisciplinary talent with both theoretical depth and practical skills, as well as a strong understanding of international norms, contributing to the Nation’s educational advancement and global competitiveness. The signing ceremony was held at CFAU in Beijing. Witnessed by Dr LAM Tai-fai, PolyU Council Chairman and Mr WANG Shiting, CFAU Party Committee Secretary, the MoU was signed by Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President and Prof. WANG Fan, CFAU President. Other distinguished attendees included Prof. Wing-tak WONG, PolyU Deputy President and Provost; Prof. CAO Jiannong, Acting Vice President (Education); Prof. LI Ping, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities; Prof. XIONG Wei, CFAU Head of the Department of Diplomacy; Prof. RAN Jijun, Head of the Department of English; and Ms MA Xinyu, Director of the Foreign Affairs Office. PolyU is committed to nurturing socially responsible professionals with a strong sense of national pride and a global perspective. The new collaboration will adopt a “1+1” joint training model, launching postgraduate programmes in “Generative Artificial Intelligence and the Humanities” and “Artificial Intelligence and Global Governance.” The two parties will also actively explore a “2+2” model for joint undergraduate education, providing students with more diverse and integrated pathways for growth. PolyU looks forward to deepening cooperation with CFAU in faculty and student exchanges, academic seminars and join research, working together to cultivate high-calibre talent with a strong sense of social responsibility, national pride and global perspective for the development of Hong Kong and the Nation.   ***END***

PolyU research reveals neurocognitive correlates of testosterone in young men that shape generosity and self-worth

Hormones affect human physical functions, behaviour and mental well-being, with testosterone, a primary androgen hormone, playing a vital role in shaping male social cognition and behaviour. A research team of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has conducted interdisciplinary research to uncover the neurocognitive correlates of testosterone in the brain function of young men, and their impact on social behaviour. The findings provide valuable insights into potential applications of testosterone therapy in clinical and mental healthcare.  The research team is led by Prof. Yin WU, Associate Professor of the PolyU Department of Applied Social Sciences. By administering a single dose of testosterone or placebo gel to healthy young men who participated in the experiments and comparing their performance in assigned tasks, the team investigated the correlation between testosterone levels and various behavioural traits such as generosity, state self-esteem, sensitivity to angry facial expressions, aversion to inequality, prosocial learning and aggression. High testosterone may lead to increased selfishness Their first study focused on the impact of testosterone on socio-economic behaviour. The researchers combined pharmacological manipulation and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to discover how testosterone influences generosity and the underlying neural mechanisms. They evaluated the experimental subjects’ performance in a social discounting task, in which participants chose between benefiting only themselves and providing also some benefit to another person at a particular social distance, while also observing their brain activity through fMRI during the decision-making process.  Findings revealed that exogenous testosterone administration reduced generosity, particularly when interacting with more distant others. Additionally, the fMRI results showed that higher testosterone levels are linked to reduced neural activity in the temporoparietal junction (TPJ), an upper brain region associated with social cognition. The team suggested that testosterone may reduce concern for others’ welfare at the neural level by dampening activity in the TPJ, highlighting a correlation between increased testosterone levels, and selfishness and reduced empathy in economic decision-making. Prof. Wu said, “The role of hormones in human cognition is a growing research focus in psychology and neuroscience. Leveraging cutting-edge neuroimaging facilities, we have been able to make new discoveries in this area. However, key questions remain, such as how testosterone affects economic decision-making or how the stress hormone cortisol shapes social preferences like altruist behaviour. Our team is investigating these complex dynamics to drive impactful outcomes.” The research, conducted in collaboration with scholars from Peking University, Shenzhen University, South China Normal University and University of Zurich, was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). In recognition of his excellent work in this ground-breaking research, Prof. Wu has been honoured with the Second-class Award under the 9th Higher Education Outstanding Scientific Research Output Awards (Humanities and Social Sciences) by the Ministry of Education of China.  Increased testosterone levels help boost state self-esteem updating In another related study, the team explored the link between state self-esteem (SSE), a momentary sense of self-worth and perceived social status, and testosterone levels.  Experimental subjects were asked to complete a social evaluation task in which they adjusted their predictions of potential evaluation by others, while dynamically reporting their SSE based on the social feedback they received. The researchers then applied a computational modelling approach to investigate the dynamic changes in their SSE throughout the process. Persistent low SSE may induce aberrant behaviours and increase the risk of psychiatric conditions such as anxiety, depression and eating disorders. From a clinical perspective, low SSE in individuals with schizophrenia has also been associated with heightened self-aggression. The team found, however, that testosterone administration can boost SSE updating and alleviate these behaviours. Pharmacological studies have demonstrated that testosterone replacement therapy can significantly improve such aberrant behaviours, but chronic use may carry side effects. This research has provided valuable clinical insights in this regard, indicating that a single dose of testosterone can positively influence SSE, particularly in positive social environments. It is suggested that future clinical practice consider combining exogenous testosterone with behavioural interventions that foster supportive environments and social feedback to enhance SSE as a potential pre-clinical treatment for relevant aberrant behaviours and clinical symptoms. Prof. Wu remarked, “By combining computational modelling with behavioural pharmacology, we have uncovered the psychological mechanisms through which testosterone affects complex social processes. We envision that these findings could inform public organisations in developing public health policies and strategies that foster positive community environments and promote mental health and well-being.” Prof. Wu’s team collaborated with scholars from East China Normal University, University of California San Diego and University of Zurich in the research. The findings were published in the international journal Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging. Looking ahead, Prof. Wu and his team will continue to advance research into the implications of testosterone on social cognition and brain activity in young men, laying the foundation for future studies in this field, and further promoting the translation of the research outcomes into practical application. He is presently partnering with the PolyU Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering to investigate the influence of hormones on pilot flying performance and the underlying brain mechanisms, thereby supporting airlines in developing effective strategies for recruiting and training cadet pilots.   ***END***

PolyU hosts Hong Kong’s first Clinical Education Conference and collaborates with The University of Queensland to establish a joint research laboratory, advancing clinical education in physiotherapy and occupational therapy

The Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) hosted the inaugural Clinical Education Conference, the first event of its kind in Hong Kong, on 12 July on campus, aiming to promote the advancement of clinical education in physiotherapy and occupational therapy. During the Conference, PolyU signed a collaboration agreement with the University of Queensland to officially establish a Joint Health Professions Education Research Laboratory, with the aim of fostering collaborative research and innovation in healthcare professional education. The Conference brought together over 300 clinical educators and experts in physiotherapy and occupational therapy from government agencies, non-governmental organisations and private practices. Mr David NG, Assistant Director (Rehabilitation and Medical Social Services) of the Social Welfare Department of the HKSAR Government; Prof. Marco PANG, Shun Hing Education and Charity Fund Professor in Rehabilitation Sciences, Chair Professor of Neurorehabilitation, Head of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, and Director of the University Research Facility in Behavioural and Systems Neuroscience at PolyU; Prof. Sandy BRAUER, Deputy Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences at The University of Queensland; Prof. Kenneth FONG, Associate Head of the PolyU Department of Rehabilitation Sciences; Prof. Shirley NGAI, Associate Head of the PolyU Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Chair of the Organising Committee of the Clinical Education Conference; Mr Alexander WOO, President of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association; and Ms Sanne FONG, Chairperson of the Hong Kong Occupational Therapy Association, attended the Conference opening ceremony. Prof. Marco Pang and Prof. Sandy Brauer subsequently signed the collaboration agreement on behalf of both parties, symbolising the official establishment of the Joint Health Professions Education Research Laboratory and marking a significant step forward in their collaborative efforts in teaching and research. Prof. Marco Pang stated, “With PolyU’s extensive experience in the education of healthcare professionals, the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences has nurtured countless exceptional occupational therapists and physiotherapists, contributing to the healthcare industry and society at large. We look forward to leveraging the strengths of both PolyU and The University of Queensland to foster innovation in healthcare professional education and research, and to facilitate collaboration between educators and the industry, thereby advancing the development of physiotherapy and occupational therapy education.” The Clinical Education Conference featured keynote speeches, roundtable discussions and panel discussions. Prof. Sandy Brauer and Prof. Jodie COPLEY, Head of Occupational Therapy and Professor of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at The University of Queensland, delivered keynote speeches on allied health curricula and mastering clinical and professional reasoning, sharing the latest advancements and insights in clinical education with attendees. Seasoned industry practitioners from the Hospital Authority, non-governmental organisations and private practices also chaired roundtable and panel discussions, exploring innovative clinical placement models and coaching skills for clinical educators. ***END***

Nominations for PolyU Yuen Ren Chao Prize in Language Science 2026 open this August

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is pleased to announce that the Yuen Ren Chao Prize in Language Science (Chao Prize) 2026 will be open for nominations from 1 August until 31 October 2025. This biennial international award, now in its second edition, honours scholars and researchers worldwide who have made distinguished contributions to the field of language science. Initiated and hosted by the PolyU Faculty of Humanities, the Chao Prize is named after the late Professor Yuen Ren Chao, who is widely regarded as the father of modern Chinese language studies, with his legacy as a distinguished linguist, poet, composer, translator and educator. Two awards are presented in each cycle: the Lifetime Achievement Award, which honours long-term, internationally recognised contributions to the field, and the Early Career Contribution Award, which celebrates outstanding work by scholars or researchers aged 45 or below. The Prize also includes cash awards of US$100,000 and US$50,000, respectively. Placing significant emphasis on demonstrated leadership and impact on language science, the selection of award recipients is based solely on merit, regardless of background or affiliation. Prof. LI Ping, Dean of the PolyU Faculty of Humanities, remarked, “The Chao Prize not only celebrates excellence, but also fosters interdisciplinary dialogue, serving as a catalyst for global scholarly exchange and innovation in language science and calling the international academic and research community to engage, to reflect and to aspire. It reaffirms the Faculty’s commitment to advancing language science research with real-world impact, and embodies PolyU’s dedication to the pursuit of knowledge and its application for the benefit of mankind.” He expressed appreciation to the Prize’s patron, the iRead Foundation, for its generous support and shared vision in promoting language research. Ms LI Wen, iRead Foundation Founder and Executive Board Chair, added, “Language development is fundamental to how children learn, grow and connect with the world. At iRead, we are dedicated to promoting child literacy and improving the quality of children’s reading. We are proud to support the Chao Prize, which recognises scholars whose research not only advances our understanding of language, but also contributes to lasting impact in education and society.” The nomination timeline and the latest details regarding the 2026 Chao Prize are available on its official website. For enquiries, please contact chao.prize@polyu.edu.hk.   ***END***