KAN Laidi

Hi everyone, this is Rebecca Laidi Kan from mainland China. I graduated from Sichuan University (SCU) in 2017, majoring in occupational therapy (OT). PolyU and SCU have established a deep and long-term relationship since 2008 when the Wenchuan earthquake happened. Back then, the RS department of PolyU provided enormous help for the patients in Sichuan and helped to develop rehabilitation education at SCU. Besides the long-lasting connection between the two universities, a love for science, different cultures and languages nourishes my intention to pursue further study at PolyU. I received my master’s degree in OT from PolyU in October 2020 and now continue my study at PolyU as a PhD student.

My research is to predict the treatment outcome of intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) on depression by using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). iTBS has been wildly used as a treatment for depression; however, fewer than 50% of patients show sufficient response to this treatment. Hence markers for response prediction are urgently needed. Concurrent TBS/fNIRS measurements may provide a promising method that allows us to investigate treatment response effectively.