e-Bulletin April 2026

Professor Sophia Chan Receives Honorary Fellowship from the Royal College of Nursing in the UK
Recognition of Her Contributions to Nursing, Public Health and Primary Healthcare

We are delighted to announce that Professor Sophia Chan, Director of the HKU Primary Health Care Academy (PHCA) and Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Health and Nursing Workforce Development in Primary Health Care, has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in the United Kingdom in recognition of her outstanding contributions to nursing science, the nursing profession, public health, and health policy.

The RCN’s Honorary Fellowship is one of the College’s highest honours, conferred upon distinguished leaders who are not members of the College, in recognition of their exceptional contribution to the nursing profession. This international accolade further affirms Professor Chan’s longstanding dedication to advancing nursing development and improving population health.

We are proud to celebrate this well-deserved honour with Professor Chan.

Celebrating Award-Winning Research Breakthroughs
The 51^st International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva 2026

We are delighted to announce that our academic staff have received recognition at the 51^st International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, winning one Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury, two gold medals, and two silver medals for their ground-breaking research in public health innovation.

Special congratulations to Professor Tommy Lam and his team whose invention was honoured with a Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury. Their innovation provides an isothermal nucleic acid-based method and reagent kits for point-of-care testing of mosquito-borne viruses within 15 minutes, with serotype-level resolution.

Additionally, Professor Michael Chan, Dr Te Nigeer, and Professor Tommy Lam, along with their teams, earned further gold and silver medals for their impactful projects. These awards highlight our commitment to advancing public health innovations and impactful biomedical research on the global stage.

The School extends our heartfelt congratulations to all the award-winning teams for this well-deserved international recognition.

Award-Winning Projects

Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury
Rapid point-of-care molecular detection of evolving mosquito-borne viruses
By Professor Tommy Lam, Dr Wang Ji and Dr Liao Yunshi

Gold Medals
A broad-spectrum live-attenuated mucosal vaccine against beta-coronaviruses
By Dr Te Nigeer, Dr Alex Chin and Professor Leo Poon

Synthetic ion channels: a novel multifunctional therapeutic for emerging infectious disease and acute lung injury
By Professor Michael Chan, Dr Rachel Ching, Dr Sze To Wun-chung and Professor Yang Dan of School of Life Sciences, Westlake University

Silver Medals
Novel small-molecule antivirals against mosquitoborne flaviviruses: a host-directed approach via E3 ligase inhibition
By Professor Tommy Lam and Dr Iolanthe Lan Yun

T328, a novel triple-actions therapeutic for highly pathogenic respiratory virus infection
By Professor Michael Chan, Dr Rachel Ching, Dr Sze To Wun-chung and Professor Yang Dan of School of Life Sciences, Westlake University

HKU Primary Health Care Academy Designated as WHO Collaborating Centre for Health and Nursing Workforce Development in Primary Health Care
Advancing Health and Nursing Workforce Development in the Western Pacific Region

The Primary Health Care Academy (PHCA) has been officially designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Health and Nursing Workforce Development in Primary Health Care. This designation recognises HKU’s leadership in advancing primary health care and strengthening the health and nursing workforce in the Western Pacific Region.

As a WHO Collaborating Centre, the Academy will serve as a regional platform to support workforce development and health system transformation through capacity building, research, knowledge exchange and partnership. Building on its ongoing work, the Academy has delivered primary health care training programmes for nurses to strengthen competencies in community-based care and non-communicable disease prevention. It is also collaborating with the Hospital Authority and the Government of the Hong Kong Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China to develop and deliver smoking cessation training, supporting frontline healthcare professionals in preventive care and health promotion.

World Health Day
Together for Health, Stand with Science

This World Health Day, the global community unites under the powerful theme “Together for Health, Stand with Science”. This year’s message is a clarion call: science serves everyone, everywhere. It reminds us that from healthy diets and clean water to vaccines and mental health, scientific evidence is the bedrock of progress.

Our School is proud to stand with this mission, with a commitment to rigorous science, global collaboration, and the translation of research into tangible health impact. As WHO emphasises, progress in public health is built on global solidarity. Through partnerships and pioneering research, we strive to embody this spirit every day.

Researchers at our School are actively advancing this field. A landmark study by Professor Ben Cowling, Helen and Francis Zimmern Professor in Population Health, Chair Professor of Epidemiology, and Head of the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at our School, and an international team of researchers provide the first robust evidence that an antiviral treatment can curb the spread of influenza to close contacts. The CENTERSTONE trial found that a single dose of baloxavir can significantly reduce the odds of untreated household members contracting influenza by 32%, with no new safety concerns.

Professor Leo Poon, Daniel C K Yu Professor in Virology, Chair Professor of Public Health Virology at our School, and Co-Director of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Global Health Institute (HKJCGHI), and his research team have achieved a major breakthrough with cb1, a novel live-attenuated vaccine candidate. This single-dose vaccine offers broad protection against multiple coronaviruses and blocks transmission in animal models – a promising step toward a broadly protective coronavirus vaccine.

Together, these contributions reflect the very essence of the WHO’s message: scientific innovation, developed and practised with a One Health perspective, is key to safeguarding our collective future.

The WHO reminds us that its ability to connect science with real-life practice is powered by a global network of collaborating centres. A prime example is our ongoing collaboration with the National Health Commission of China (NHC). With the generous support from the Institute of Philanthropy, we have developed training programmes for senior management officials from Mainland China’s healthcare system to enhance collaboration and exchanges between mainland China and Hong Kong in the healthcare sector, thus contributing to the long-term development of the nation’s public health. This ensures that science-led public health benefits more people and helps guide future health policies.

This World Health Day, WHO calls on everyone to “stand up and speak for science”. At our School, we do this through our research, our teaching, and our partnerships. By standing with science, we commit to generating the evidence needed for a healthier, more equitable world.

New Year Party 2026
An Afternoon of Connection and Cheer

Our School hosted the New Year party at the St. John’s College on February 27, 2026. The event, a vibrant Spring Gathering to celebrate the Year of the Horse, was filled with laughter, music, and festive cheer. The celebration brought together over 230 attendees—students, faculty, honorary staff and colleagues—creating a lively atmosphere of togetherness and joy.

The event provided a wonderful platform for the School community to come together, socialise, and strengthen our bonds in a relaxed and festive atmosphere. The historic surroundings of St. John’s College served as a unique and elegant backdrop for the celebrations. The air was filled with excitement as guests indulged in delicious refreshments, participated in a lucky draw, and enjoyed an engaging game. Highlights of the event included a series of student performances that kept the energy high.

The New Year party concluded with great success, leaving attendees with full hearts, a renewed sense of community, and high hopes for a prosperous Year of the Horse.

HKUSPH and HKJC Unite for a Dynamic Career Sharing Session
Empowering the Next Generation of Public Health Leaders

Our School, in collaboration with The Hong Kong Jockey Club, hosted an inspiring career sharing session in March. The event brought together our current Master of Public Health (MPH) students, distinguished alumni, and a passionate community of public health enthusiasts for an afternoon of connection and insight.

We were privileged to hear from two of our MPH alumni, who offered a candid and motivating look into their professional journeys. They spoke not only about the milestones and successes but also about the challenges they have navigated and the meaningful impact they are now making within the public health landscapes. Their stories were a powerful testament to the diverse and rewarding paths a career in public health can take.

We extend our deepest gratitude to our alumni speakers and The Hong Kong Jockey Club for making this event possible. We hope the stories and insights shared have ignited a spark in our students, encouraging them to explore their own unique paths in the vast field of public health.

Protecting Adolescent Mental Health
The Importance of Self-Perception and Supportive Environments

A recent study led by Dr Ni Yanyan, Research Assistant Professor at our School, along with Professor Michael Ni, Clinical Associate Professor, and their team, examined promotive and protective factors supporting Hong Kong adolescents aged 10 to 14. Using population-representative data, they explored how positive self-evaluation and contextual influences from family, peers, and schools shape emotional and behavioural well-being.

Findings revealed that positive self-evaluation and school experiences improved emotional well-being, while family cohesion, peer relationships and supportive school environments enhanced behavioural well-being over time. Notably, strong peer relationships buffered stress, especially for those facing multiple adverse events. The study highlights nurturing self-perception and supportive environments as vital for adolescent resilience.

The findings have now been published in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Click here to view the publication.

Beyond the Pandemic
Latest Study Uncovers Striking Disparities in Post COVID-19 Mortality Trends

Did the world truly return to pre-pandemic mortality patterns after COVID-19? A global study by Ms Chen Xiyin, Research Postgraduate student at our School, alongside Professor David Bishai and Professor Ben Cowling, offers a compelling answer. Analysing over 352 million deaths across 34 countries from 2015 to 2024, the team examined whether mortality patterns have returned to pre-pandemic norms, and the findings reveal a complex and uneven recovery.

The study found that only three countries—Greece, Latvia, and Poland—showed evidence of mortality displacement, a phenomenon where deaths occurred earlier during the pandemic, leading to post-pandemic mortality declines. In contrast, the United States returned to normal mortality patterns by 2024. However, most European countries have not yet recovered, continuing to experience higher than expected deaths compared to pre-pandemic trends.

The findings suggest that pandemic strategies should prioritise population-wide protection rather than narrowly focused interventions. They also underscore the urgent need to understand why many European countries have failed to resume their pre‑COVID‑19 pattern of mortality decline—a question that warrants further investigation.

The findings have now been published in JAMA Network Open. Click here to view the publication.

Publications in February and March 2026
Scholars’ Output Highlighted

The following are research papers published by SPH researchers in February and March 2026:

Remarks:

      * Member of School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong

• This list is compiled by searching in Scopus using the keywords “School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong” for February and March 2026
• Arranged by date of publication

Distinguished Lecture by Professor Adalsteinn Brown
Pedagogical Innovations and Challenges in Public Health Education in Canada

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Global Health Institute Co-Directors Public Lecture

XVII^th International Nidovirus Symposium (NIDO 2026)