News

MHRC Associate Director shares how to maintain healthy lifestyle under COVID-19 pandemic

Prof. Hector Tsang, Associate Director of the Mental Health Research Centre, Chair Professor and Head of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, was featured on two RTHK TV programmes on 24 May sharing how to maintain healthy lifestyle under the COVID-19 pandemic. The first programme was “Healthpedia”, in which he introduced how mind-body exercises, like Eight Brocades (八段錦) and “Rehab 8 Forms” designed by a PolyU research team led by Prof. Amy Fu, Associate Head of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, could help relieve long COVID symptoms. He reminded that the key to mind-body exercises is that the movement, breath and mind should be tied in, and one’s fitness could be improved in six to eight weeks with 10 minutes exercise a day and four to five days a week. Please click here to review the interview (Chinese only) starting from 09:04. The second programme was “Anti-pandemic News Express”. In this programme, Prof. Tsang gave tips on how to achieve work-life balance while working from home. He pointed out that working from home may cause uncertainties and hence anxiety. He encouraged the public could strike a better work-life balance by doing stretching exercises or reading, and being well-coordinated with superiors and family members. Prof. Tsang also reminded that adaptation is needed when going back to office as people may have already gotten used to working from home. Please click here to review the interview (Chinese only) starting from 09:16.

PAIR researchers elected as foreign members of the prestigious Academia Europaea

Three PAIR researchers have been elected as foreign members of the prestigious Academia Europaea (Academy of Europe) in recognition of their outstanding accomplishments in their respective fields. Prof. Cao Jiannong and Prof. Chen Changwen of the Department of Computing have been elected under the Informatics Section, while Prof. Weng Qihao of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics has been elected under the Earth and Cosmic Sciences Section. Not only does this honour serve to recognise the researchers’ distinguished achievements in the fields of computer science and geo-informatics, it is also testimony to the University’s continuous efforts in exploring new ways to benefit mankind through research and innovation.

MHRC Associate Director receives funding to develop digital platform for pandemic support

Congratulations to Prof. Hector Tsang, Associate Director of the Mental Health Research Centre, Chair Professor and Head of Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, for receiving HK$500,000 from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charity Trust - COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund 2.0! The fund aims to provide fast-track grants to NGOs for offering quick, specific and innovative services to people hard-hit by the pandemic and fostering mutual help in the community to fight against the pandemic. In view of the rapid and serious fifth wave of the COVID-19 since early this year, the Hong Kong Government has tightened the social distancing measures and raised the response level to Emergency, people who are financially deprived and from vulnerable or disability groups are seriously affected. The funded project titled “Development of a digital platform (Electronic Mental Evaluation, Resources and Information Toolkit; e-MERIT) for pandemic support on the mental health of the vulnerable groups” aims to provide imminent support in mental health context for the betterment of local vulnerable communities. It is our great pleasure to join hands with the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charity Trust to fight against COVID-19! We wish the mental health digital platform every success! 

Establishment of the Task Force on Campus Carbon Neutrality in PolyU

Climate change and high carbon emissions are among the world’s most pressing problems. To help achieve carbon neutrality on campus and support Hong Kong’s goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050, PolyU has established a Task Force on Campus Carbon Neutrality. The Task Force is under the chairmanship of Professor Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation), with expert members from different Faculties of PolyU as well as from various Research Institutes and Centres under the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR). Read the whole story from: https://polyu.hk/DBnHL    

Dr Ning LI Visited PolyU for Industrial Cooperation

Dr Ning LI, Chairman of Li-Ning Company Limited, visited PolyU on 5th May 2022 to seek further cooperation with PolyU. Li-Ning Company Limited is a famous Chinese sportswear and sports equipment company founded in 1989 by Ning LI, a former Chinese Olympic gymnast.   Professor Xiaoming TAO, Director of RI-IWEAR, Professor Jintu FAN, Professor Li LI, and Dr Tracy MOK, members of RI-IWEAR gave introductions on the research related to sportswear and health care for sportsmen, displayed the examples of the latest textile technology, and demonstrated the monitoring and rehabilitation technology for the sportsman, respectively.   Dr Ning LI detailed consulted on the relevant technical requirements and the possible development directions. The whole process of technology introduction and demonstration was broadcasted to the R & D team of Li-Ning Company Limited at the same time. This is communication for research and development knowledge transfer.

MHRC Member Receives HK$ 1.7 Million Funding from Innovation and Technology Fund

Congratulations to our proud member of MHRC, Dr Sonata Yau, Associate Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, receives HKD 1.7 million in funding from Mainland-Hong Kong Joint Funding Scheme (MHKJFS), one of the funding schemes under Innovation and Technology Fund, which aims to support and encourage research and development collaboration among universities, research institutes and technology enterprises in Hong Kong and the Mainland. The funded project entitled "Advancing application of the active compounds of Chinese Herbal Medicine formulas on counteracting depression: Investigation of the synergistic activation on PACAP-mediated rapid and lasting antidepressant effects" which will focus on advancing the clinical application of Yueju (越鞠丸), a Chinese multiherbal medicine formulated 800 years ago to treat syndromes associated with mood disorders, through examining the mechanistic action of its extracted active ingredients. The results will provide mechanistic insights of the synergetic action of extracted active ingredients from Yueju on antidepressant treatment target and will facilitate modernization of Yueju-based antidepressant formula with an optimal therapeutic dosage on treating depression patients. Congratulations again to Dr Yau!   

PAIR is featured in the latest issue of Excel x Impact Spring 2022

PAIR is featured in the latest issue of Excel x Impact published by PolyU! Let's read the full story: https://polyu.hk/QlgKX  

RI-IWEAR member appointed as Limin Endowed Young Scholar in Advanced Textiles Technologies

Congratulation to Dr Dahua Shou, member of the Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems was appointed as Limin Endowed Young Scholar in Advanced Textiles Technologies. An awardee of many prestigious awards, including TechConnect Global Innovation Awards for two consecutive years and those conferred by the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, Dr Shou has published over 60 SCI papers in impactful journals such as Science Advances, PNAS, Advanced Energy Materials, and Advanced Functional Materials. Currently he serves on the editorial boards of four SCI journals and is a lead guest editor for several SCI journals.   The Limin Endowed Young Scholar in Advanced Textiles Technologies is donated by Dr Harry LEE, Chairman of TAL Apparel Limited and member of the Industrial Advisory Committee for RI-IWEAR.   Click the link for more information of the Endowed Young Scholars Scheme.

RCSV-SO Joint Distinguished Lecture - “How the Baby Learns to See: Critical Periods Re-visited”

Award-winning Project by RiFood member: AkkMore™: a Fungus and Plant Based Supplement Against Obesity or Prediabetes

Dr Gail Jinhui Chang, Core Member of the Research Institute for Future Food (RiFood), developed AkkMore™: a fungus and plant-based supplement against obesity or prediabetes which received the silver medal at the Geneva Inventio Expo earlier. AkkMore™ is a nutritional supplement formula drink that improves users’ body conditions by building a healthy #microbiome. The drink boosts 𝘈𝘬𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘢 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘢 in human guts, reduces #metabolic disorders and therefore helps users to #loseweight. Please click the link to watch the video for this award-winning project: https://bit.ly/3NUwYz4