205 Congregation

International • Professor Chen Honglin (Microbiology) was granted US$5.51M in a partnering agreement with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to evaluate a nasal spray COVID-19 vaccine made with live attenuated influenza viral vector, as part of a collaboration extension to rapidly develop a vaccine candidate against COVID-19. Local • The following Faculty members have been granted a total of HK$167.235M under the Theme-based Research Scheme 2021/22 of the Research Grants Council: – Professor Jin Dong-yan (Biomedical Sciences) and his team Project: Ecology, molecular virology and pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2: From bedside to bench and back (HK$42.278M) – Dr Vincent Lui Chi-hang (Surgery) and his team Project: Translating disease-mechanism discoveries to improve treatment of biliary atresia, an intractable newborn liver disease (HK$56.127M) – Professor Leo Poon Lit-man (Public Health) and his team Project: Virological, immunological and epidemiological characterization of COVID-19 (HK$68.83M) • The following Faculty members have been granted a total of $91.02M for commissioned research projects on Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) under the Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) by Food and Health Bureau, HKSAR Government: – Professor Benjamin John Cowling (Public Health) Project: Comprehensive assessment of longitudinal vaccine-induced immune responses, safety and potential effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines (HK$44.99M) – Dr Philip Li Hei (Medicine) Project: HKU optimizing protection and effectiveness (HOPE) of COVID19 Vaccines (HK$12.51M) – Professor Yuen Kwok-yung (Microbiology) with Professor Ivan Hung Fan-ngai, Dr Michael Cheung Ka-shing, Dr Lee Chi-ho (Medicine), Professor Chen Honglin, Professor Chen Zhiwei, Dr Kelvin To Kai-wang, Dr Jasper Chan Fuk-woo, Dr Chu Hin, Dr Richard Kao Yi-tsun, Dr Kok Kin-hang, Dr Siddharth Sridhar, Dr Yeung Man-lung, Dr Yuan Shuofeng, Dr Zhao Hanjun, Dr Zhou Jie (Microbiology) and Professor Huang Jiandong (Biomedical Sciences) Project: Preparing for COVID-19 upcoming challenges by clinical and virological investigations (HK$33.52M) • Two Faculty members received support of HK$56M in total for Commissioned Research on Control of Infectious Diseases (Phase IV) under the Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) by Food and Health Bureau, HKSAR Government, in October 2020: – Professor Benjamin John Cowling (Public Health) Project: Control of emerging, epidemic and endemic infectious diseases (HK$28M) – Professor Yuen Kwok-yung (Microbiology) Project: Research for the control of emerging or important acute microbial infections with public health threat to HKSAR (HK$28M) • Six Faculty members were granted a total of HK$56.96M on Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Studies by Food and Health Bureau, HKSAR Government: – Professor Benjamin John Cowling (Public Health) Project: Randomized trial of COVID-19 booster vaccinations (Cobovax trial) (HK$7.63M) – Professor Cindy Lam Lo-kuen (Family Medicine and Primary Care) Project: The long term spill-over impact of COVID-19 on health and healthcare of patients with non-communicable diseases: an indepth outcome and health economic evaluation (HK$9.33M) – Professor Lau Yu-lung (Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine) Project: To compare the reactogenicity and immunogenicity of the 3 recommended COVID-19 vaccines in young adolescents in Hong Kong (HK$10M) – Dr Kathy Leung Sze-man (Public Health) Project: Quantifying the impact of different public health and social measures on population mixing vis-à-vis contact matrices in Hong Kong (HK$9.99M) – Dr Michael Ni Yuxuan (Public Health) Project: Psychobehavioural responses to COVID-19 and vaccine confidence in Hong Kong (HK$10M) – Professor Ian Wong Chi-kei (Pharmacology and Pharmacy) Project: COVID-19 vaccines adverse events response and evaluation (CARE) Programme (HK$10M) Major Research Support 18

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