News

MHRC Member delivers mindful eating health talks at The University of Western Australia

Dr Dalinda Isabel SANCHEZ VIDANA, Member of the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC), Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, was invited to deliver interactive health talks “Mindful Bites: Exploring Mindful Eating and Taming Food Cravings” at The University of Western Australia, 27–28 February 2024. The interactive sessions included mindfulness exercises for developing healthy and mindful eating habits, providing participants with the opportunity to experience the benefits of mindfulness in eating and weight management.

MHRC Associate Director Prof. Sylvia CHEN elected as Fellow of Hong Kong Academy of the Humanities

We are delighted to announce that Prof. Sylvia Xiaohua CHEN, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Chair Professor of the Department of Applied Social Sciences, Associate Director of the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC), and Director of the Yan Oi Tong Au Suet Ming Child Development Centre, has been elected as a Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of the Humanities (HKAH). This prestigious recognition is a testament to Prof. Chen’s exceptional scholarship and her significant contributions to humanities and social sciences in Hong Kong. Prof. Chen’s research focuses on personality and social psychology, cross-cultural psychology, as well as  the psychosocial and cultural aspects of mental health. She investigates the social impact of bilingualism and biculturalism, as well as the effects of cultural contexts on the psychological functioning of bilingual and bicultural individuals. Her research explores the influence of globalisation on the changes experienced by bicultural individuals in mindsets, values, beliefs and identifications as a result of acculturation. The HKAH was founded in 2011 with the main aims of giving recognition to scholarly excellence and providing a platform for advocacy on behalf of the humanities in Hong Kong. HKAH Fellows are recognised by their peers as scholars of the highest academic distinction, or eminent practitioners of the arts, and are honoured for their lifetime contributions to humanities.  

Dr Chun Liang Hsu Receives Kuok Group Endowed Young Scholar in Ageing and Neuroimaging

A significant acknowledgement of his pioneering research, it is our pleasure to announce that Dr Chun Liang Hsu, member of MHRC, Assistant Professor of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, has been appointed as the Kuok Group Endowed Young Scholar in Ageing and Neuroimaging. This designation under The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)’s Endowed Young Scholars Scheme marks not just a milestone for Dr Hsu but also distinguishes him as the first from our department to receive this prestigious honour. Dr Hsu’s exemplary journey in the field of Rehabilitation Sciences began with his graduation from the University of British Columbia, where he fostered his deep interest and expertise in the intricate aspects of ageing, cognition, and mobility. His commitment and dedication to advancing our understanding of these areas were further recognised with the award of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Fellowship, enabling him to pursue postdoctoral training at the renowned Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Harvard Medical School. Using advanced neuroimaging techniques, Dr Hsu’s research offers critical insights into the neural underpinnings of functional impairments among ageing clinical populations. His groundbreaking work sheds light on the relationship between cognition and mobility and explores how targeted interventions can enhance cognitive and mobility outcomes. Dr Hsu's comprehensive approach, combining methodologies from magnetic resonance imaging with a hands-on understanding of clinical populations, places him at the forefront of his field. The Endowed Young Scholars Scheme, aimed at fostering young academic talents, recognises the potential of researchers like Dr Hsu to drive transformative changes in their disciplines. This award underscores the joint commitment between PolyU, its benefactors, and outstanding scholars to nurture innovations that have a lasting positive impact on society. By receiving this endowment, Dr Hsu will have access to essential annual funding, promoting further advancements in his influential research into ageing and neuroimaging. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr Hsu on this prestigious appointment and look forward to the continued impact of his research on understanding and enhancing the lives of ageing populations around the globe.  

MHRC Member Dr Jacky NG named APS Rising Star

Dr Jacky C. K. Ng has been nominated and selected as one of the Rising Stars of the Association for Psychological Science (APS). The Rising Star designation recognizes outstanding APS members in the earliest stages of their post-PhD research career. Individuals being considered for the designation are evaluated for their research excellence based on six criteria, including publications, recognitions, discoveries, methodological innovations, or theoretical or empirical contributions, work with potentially broad impact, commitment to diversity in science, demonstrated independence from mentors. Dr Ng is dedicated to investigating various methodological artifacts in mediation and moderation models, utilizing these models to gain insights into various social phenomena. His research findings have been published in internationally renowned journals. Currently, Dr Ng’s research focus lies in developing an implementation-friendly statistical tool to differentiate analytically equivalent models in moderation analysis and employing this tool to identify the mitigating factors for social media-induced depression. The full list of 2024 award winners are available here: https://www.psychologicalscience.org/members/awards-and-honors/aps-rising-stars/news-rising-stars  

Generous donation from The Seal of Love Charitable Foundation to promote mental health in universities

The Seal of Love Charitable Foundation, founded by Mr Lawrence CHAN, son of Mr and Mrs Chan Chak Fu, donated a total of $45 million to establish the “Seal of Love Charitable Foundation Health and Service Impact Fund” (the Fund) to advance PolyU’s research and impact in health-related disciplines.  The first project beneficiary is a five-year mental health initiative called the “Resilient Students Training Hub” (ReST Hub) under the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC), which aims to promote student mental health in universities in Hong Kong and Asia.  ReST Hub is led by Dr Grace W.K. HO, MHRC Member and Associate Professor in the School of Nursing. The project’s goal is to turn university campuses across Hong Kong and Asia into mental health promotive ecosystems through services, training, and community engagement events, of which HK$ 12.9 million is to be supported by the Fund.  

Chinese New Year Greetings from MHRC

Best wishes and happiness throughout the Year of the Dragon!

Dr Bolton Chau Awarded Research Grant to Conduct Brain Research

We are thrilled to announce a significant achievement made by Dr Bolton Chau, Associate Director of MHRC, Associate Professor of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences (RS): he has successfully secured funding from the Research Grants Council Collaborative Research Fund for young researchers. His research project, titled “Exploring the Human Frontopolar Cortex in Decision Making: Neural Network Modeling, Aging, and Enhancement,” receives a substantial grant of HK$4,591,504. In this innovative project, Dr Chau will collaborate with scientists from esteemed institutions including the University of Oxford, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Hong Kong Baptist University, to focus on the investigation of the frontopolar cortex (FPC), a greatly developed region of the human brain. Despite the significance of the FPC, its role in decision-making remains largely unexplored. Using a combination of methodologies including brain imaging, brain stimulation, and artificial intelligence, the project team aims to unravel the mysteries of the FPC. Recent findings on which this research builds are outlined in a published article (see https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(23)00566-1 for details). We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr Chau on his outstanding accomplishment. In the competitive realm of Young Collaborative Research Grant, Dr Chau’s success highlights his expertise and dedication. This award is not only an honour of MHRC and RS, but also an encouraging achievement for PolyU academic community at large.  

MHRC study reveals that apelin mediates the antidepressant effects of physical exercise

Dr Sonata YAU, MHRC member and Associate Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, presented at the annual meeting of The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) 2023 in Washington DC, US.The abstract entitled “Potential role of apelin in mediating the antidepressant effects of physical exercise” was selected by the Society of Neuroscience for press conference this year. Out of over 12,500 abstracts submitted to the meeting, less than 50 are being offered this prestigious opportunity of speaking directly to the media. The study revealed that apelin, a muscle-secreted peptide, is important for mediating the antidepressant effects of physical exercise. Sarcopenia, a muscle aging condition, is strongly correlated with geriatric depression, but the exact muscle-brain crosstalk isn’t well understood. Previous research has shown that apelin is linked to sarcopenia, and is also associated with hippocampal neuroplasticity and antidepressant effects. Using a mouse model of chronic unpredictable stress, Dr Yau and her research team showed that stressed mice exhibited decreased apelin expression levels in the hippocampus, which could be restored by 4-week physical running. Knockout of apelin specifically in skeletal muscle reduced the antidepressant effects of exercise, whereas overexpression of muscle apelin elicited antidepressant effects. The research deepens our understanding of the potential role of apelin in mediating the crosstalk of the muscle-brain axis, and holds important implications for understanding stress-related disorders.  

Get to know more about the Interim Director of MHRC via his feature story in PAIR Newsletter – Issue 8

Making “Happy Hong Kong” a genuine reality. One of the most widely heard slogans in the city this year has probably been “Happy Hong Kong”. The region is gradually returning to normalcy after the pandemic. In April 2023, the local government launched the “Happy Hong Kong” campaign to stimulate the city’s economy, lift people’s spirits, and bring joy to the community—with gourmet markets, carnivals, shopping festivals and many more fun events. “Happy Hong Kong” should not be just a short-term campaign for economic recovery but a long-term pursuit, requiring a forward-looking agenda for social welfare and community development. In this issue, Prof. Hector TSANG Wing-hong, Interim Director of the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC), shares insights into building a happier city.

MHRC holds Nobel Laureate Lecture

MHRC and the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences jointly organised a Nobel Laureate Lecture on 13 December 2023. Delivered by Prof. Thomas C. SÜDHOF, Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine (2013), the lecture titled “The Molecular Architecture of Synapse Formation” attracted over 1,000 online attendees from 17 countries and regions, including China, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Bhutan, United Kingdom, U.S.A. and Canada, etc. The event was also broadcasted live on multiple platforms, including YouTube, Bilibili, Weibo, WeChat and CSTCloud, drawing an impressive audience of over 15,000 in total. In the lecture, Prof. Südhof described the recent progress in understanding how selected trans-synaptic interactions guide and shape the formation of synapses and thereby control the molecular logic of neural circuits. A question-and-answer session moderated by Prof. Hector TSANG, Interim Director of MHRC, Chair Professor and Head, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Dr Sonata YAU, Associate Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, was followed. The audience and Prof. Südhof had a thought-provoking and fruitful discussion, exchanging views and knowledge in the field of neuroscience. Online review: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/mhrc/news-and-events/video-gallery/