News

Three PAIR research projects receive Green Tech Fund to drive sustainability innovations

Three green technology projects led by PAIR members have received a total grant of HK$14.09 million in the third round of Green Tech Fund of the Environment and Ecology Bureau, Hong Kong SAR. A total of eight projects were approved in this round of exercise, and PolyU is one of the local universities with the highest number of approved projects. The three PAIR projects are: Name of Project Coordinator Title(s) and Constituent Research Unit(s) Research Project Grant Approved Dr LI Meng-jung, Molly Member of RISE and RCRE The first intelligent ammonia-powered zero-carbon versatile-energy supply station, NH3-VESS HK$4,613,800 Dr LEU Shao-Yuan, Ben Management Committee Member of RCRE and Member of RiFood, RISE and RISUD Study of ammonia pretreatment – power generation system toward complete valorization of food waste digestate HK$6,870,100 Dr SHOU Dahua Member of RI-IWEAR, RISE, RISports, RCRE and RCTFF Development of multi-functional building clothing using textile waste for energy saving and waste reduction HK$2,606,000   Further reading: https://polyu.hk/dWgwv   Online coverage: Ta Kung Pao - https://epaper.tkww.hk/a/202401/31/AP65b95a37e4b0eb64da017f6b.html

PolyU tops RGC Research Impact Fund exercise, with five projects led by PAIR researchers

Five PolyU projects have been granted a total funding of HK$20.9 million from the Research Impact Fund (RIF) 2023/24 of the Research Grants Council (RGC). The funded projects are led by PAIR researchers and cover diverse research areas. A total of 14 projects were supported in this year’s exercise, and PolyU has the highest number of funded projects among local universities. The RIF supports universities to undertake impactful and translational research projects, and to develop research collaborations with government departments, business and industry, and research institutes. Successful projects are granted funding of up to HK$10 million per project for a period of three to five years. Funded PolyU projects include: Project Project Coordinator Development of Bacterial Pseudaminic Acid-based Vaccine to Combat Infections Caused by Multidrug Resistant Bacteria Prof. CHEN Sheng Member of the Research Institute for Future Food (RiFood), and Head and Chair Professor of Microbiology of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition Digital Twin-enabled Intelligent Assessment and Maintenance of Offshore Wind Turbine Structures in a Life-cycle Context Prof. ZHU Songye Leading Member of the Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT), Member of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE) and Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD), Associate Head and Professor of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering An AI-enabled Geospatial Platform for Smart Facility Management and Smart Mobility of People with Disabilities Dr LIU Xintao Member of the Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS), RISUD, Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR), Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI), and Associate Professor in the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics Durable Low-carbon Asphalt Pavement Built with Recycled Waste Polyolefin Plastics through Reactive Extrusion Prof. LENG Zhen Associate Director of the Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality (RCRE), Member of RILS and RISUD, and Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Developing a New Generation of Pressure-controlled Wearable Soft Braces to Improve the Efficiency and Compliance in Treating Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Prof. YIP Yiu-wan Joanne Management Committee Member of RiFood, Member of the Photonics Research Institute (PRI) and the Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports), Associate Dean and Professor of the School of Fashion and Textiles   Further reading: https://polyu.hk/XEMQd Online coverage: Hong Kong Economic Times - https://polyu.me/3tLzkeg (subscription required) Headline Daily - https://polyu.me/3RLVntk GBA Biz Tech Magazine - https://polyu.me/3Ubl0Xx Net Ease - https://polyu.me/47sx7lR  

RILS project supported by CEPU’s Public Policy Research Funding Scheme

A project led by Prof. WANG Yuhong, Member of the Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS), Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) and Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality (RCRE), was awarded a funding of HK$775,100 under the Public Policy Research Funding Scheme (PPRFS) 2023/24 (First Round) of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit (CEPU). The project “How to Effectively Implement Nature-Base Solutions (NBS) in Urban Development and Urban Renewal – A Comparison Study of Policies between Hong Kong and Leading European Cities” lasts 23 months and is granted the highest funding amount in this cycle. The PPRFS aims to support projects of smaller scale and shorter duration that that will inform the Government’s policy making process, drive changes, keep up with national development and international trends, and contribute to policy development. Reports from supported projects may be used as reference by relevant policy bureaux or departments in policy formulation and review process. Online coverage: Oriental Daily News - https://polyu.me/3ue9BLo (Chinese only)

MHRC members join healthtech project to improve mental health care

A healthtech project joined by three members of the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC), titled “Integrated innovative artificial intelligence, and genomic and biomedical technologies in healthcare: Objective diagnosis, personalised therapy and determination the etiology of major mental disorders”, was awarded HK$37 million funding from the Strategic Topics Grant 2023/24 of the Research Grants Council (RGC).   The five-year project is led by Prof. ZHANG Weixiong, Chair Professor in Bioinformatics & Integrative Genomics in the Department of Health Technology and Informatics and the Department of Computing. The research team is joined by three MHRC members from the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences: Associate Professor Dr Sonata YAU is the Co-Principal Investigator, while Assistant Professors Dr Georg KRANZ and Dr Jessie LIN are the Co-Investigators. The project aims to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI), genomic, biomedical and neuroimaging technologies to provide an innovative and integrated strategy for the diagnosis, treatment planning and understanding of major mental disorders. The AI-based, data-driven solution to be developed from the project will help improve the efficiency of diagnosis and treatment planning in mental health care. Further reading: https://polyu.hk/zoBrw

MHRC member awarded HMRF grant to develop digital mindfulness-based eating intervention for weight management

Dr Dalinda Isabel SANCHEZ VIDANA, Member of the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC) and Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, received a HK$1 M grant from the Health and Medical Research Fund of the Health Bureau, HKSAR, for her project “Digital mindfulness-based eating awareness training for obesity management: A randomised controlled trial”. The project aims to design a digital Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training (MB-EAT) and evaluate its effectiveness as an intervention for obesity management. The digital MB-EAT to be developed can be integrated into telemedicine or mobile app platforms, allowing users to administer so easily. Participants receiving the digital MB-EAT will be studied for their changes in eating behaviours, appetite-regulating hormones, stress and mood. The study will provide empirical evidence for the use of digital MB-EAT in addressing overweight and obesity in Hong Kong.

Five PAIR railway technology projects supported by MTR Research Funding Scheme

PolyU received a total funding of HK$7.25 million in the 2023 MTR Research Funding Scheme for six research projects that aim at developing cutting-edge technologies for the future advancement of railways. Among them, five projects are led by PAIR researchers: In alphabetical order of last name: Principal Investigator PAIR Research Unit Project Title Prof. CHUNG Chi-yung Photonics Research Institute (PRI)   Developing an Electromagnetic Energy Harvesting System to Energise Monitoring Systems in the Hong Kong MTR System Dr HUANG Xinyan Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) Intelligent Emergency Digital Twin System in Metro Station for Fire Evacuation Dr LAI Siu-kai   Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD)   Development of a New Inerter-based Rail Damper to Mitigate Railway-induced Ground-borne Noise by a Physics-informed Deep Learning Framework Dr REN Jingzheng Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (RIAM) and Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality (RCRE) Promoting Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) in MTR for Pursuing Sustainable Development Goals and Better Service Quality Dr YE Hongbo Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) Planning and Operation of Future Railway System with Autonomous Modularised Trains and Virtual Coupling Signalling   Read more: https://polyu.me/45mTfNr   Online coverage (Chinese only): Oriental Daily News - https://polyu.me/46jFost HK01 - https://polyu.me/46pRZdU

Ten PAIR projects granted Health and Medical Research Fund, bringing evidence-based solutions for better health

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has received a funding totalling of HK$25.1 million for 27 projects in the 2021 Exercise of the Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF), a higher number of projects supported and amount awarded than previous year.  Among them, 10 projects are led by researchers from PAIR constituent units: In alphabetical order of surnames Research Units Principal Investigator Project Title RCSV Dr CHUN Ka-man Combination effect of optical defocus and low dose atropine in myopia control – A randomized clinical trial RiFood, RISA, RCMI and RCSV Dr DO Chi-wai Characterization of baicalein, a natural molecule, as anti-glaucoma agent RiFood Dr DONG Xiaoli Rational design of oral drug delivery system for celastrol as a novel catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor to treat Parkinson’s disease RCMI Dr HO Yuen-shan Investigation of electroacupuncture as paramedicine to alleviate cognitive impairment in depression: A pre-clinical study MHRC Dr Georg KRANZ Intermittent theta-burst stimulation for major depression: an intensity-response study RiFood Dr LI Tian Investigation of a deep learning-empowered 4D multi-parametric MRI (4D-mpMRI) technique for liver cancer radiotherapy in a prospective clinical trial MHRC Dr Jessie LIN Jingxia A mobile application for early detection and symptoms trajectories of postpartum depression using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA): A prospective cohort validation study PRI Prof. QIN Jing Effectiveness of social virtual-reality on enhancing social interaction skills in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A three-arm pilot randomised controlled trial RCSV Dr Stanley John WINSER Cost of disease and falls among individuals with Parkinson’s disease living in Hong Kong: A prospective cost-of-illness analysis RI-IWEAR, RISports and RISA Dr Arnold WONG Yu-lok Effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy versus active controls in improving psychological functions of parents and children with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A randomized controlled trial   Further reading: https://polyu.me/44RGtGw   Online coverage: Hong Kong China News Agency - https://polyu.me/3t5ccXl(Chinese only)

MHRC member awarded funding from Health and Medical Research Fund to conduct study for early detection of postpartum depression

A project “A Mobile Application for Early Detection and Symptoms Trajectories of Postpartum Depression Using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA): A Prospective Cohort Validation Study” led by Dr Jessie LIN, Member of the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC), Assistant Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, was awarded a grant of about HK$500K from the Health and Medical Research Fund of the Health Bureau, HKSAR.   The project aims to evaluate the validity of using a mobile-based ecological momentary assessment (mEMA) for studying the changes in mood symptoms among pregnant women during and after pregnancy, thus enabling the early identification of postpartum depression and the trajectories of depressive symptoms and associated factors. The study will follow a sample of 120 pregnant women for six months, and assess their mood, sleep, exercise, physical wellbeing and environmental context via a mobile application. Findings of this project will facilitate the future development of effective digital interventions for maternal mental health.

MHRC members awarded funding from Quality Education Fund to develop digital physical quotient and learning platform

A three-year project “Digital Physical Quotient and Learning Platform” led by Members of the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC) including Dr Cynthia LAI, Associate Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences (RS) and Prof. Shamay NG, Associate Head and Professor of RS Department, was awarded a grant of HK$5.9 million under the e-Learning Ancillary Facilities Programme of the Quality Education Fund. Dr Lai and Prof. Ng are the project’s Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator, respectively.   The project aims to develop a digital learning platform for promoting children’s physical and cognitive development. The platform will include motor and cognitive skills developmental assessment and training for children, as well as online learning programmes for children, parents and teachers. The platform will apply multi-media, internet of things (IoT) tools and cloud technologies to enhance the learning and teaching experiences.

MHRC member awarded funding from Health and Medical Research Fund to conduct study for early detection of postpartum depression

A project “A Mobile Application for Early Detection and Symptoms Trajectories of Postpartum Depression Using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA): A Prospective Cohort Validation Study” led by Dr Jessie LIN, Member of the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC), Assistant Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, was awarded a grant of about HK$500K from the Health and Medical Research Fund of the Health Bureau, HKSAR. The project aims to evaluate the validity of using a mobile-based ecological momentary assessment (mEMA) for studying the changes in mood symptoms among pregnant women during and after pregnancy, thus enabling the early identification of postpartum depression and the trajectories of depressive symptoms and associated factors. The study will follow a sample of 120 pregnant women for six months, and assess their mood, sleep, exercise, physical wellbeing and environmental context via a mobile application. Findings of this project will facilitate the future development of effective digital interventions for maternal mental health.