Research Projects
Cardiometabolic Parameters in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome


Programme(s) to which this project applies:
☒ MPhil/PhD ☑ MRes[Med] ☒ URIS

Objective and Significance:

Objectives:

  1. To compare markers of subclinical atherosclerosis and abdominal obesity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and normal ovulatory controls
  2. To explore the correlations between endocrine and metabolic parameters with subclinical atherosclerosis and abdominal obesity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Results of the study will provide insights on the cardio-metabolic risk of women with different phenotypes of PCOS, and the endocrine and metabolic factors which can modulate the risk.

Research Plan and Methodology:

This will be a prospective observational study to compare ultrasonographic markers of subclinical atherosclerosis, namely carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), as well as measures of abdominal obesity, namely pre-peritoneal fat thickness and visceral fat thickness, between women with PCOS and normal ovulatory controls. Correlations of various endocrine and metabolic parameters (anthropometric parameters, androgen indices, insulin resistance indices, glycaemic indices, chronic inflammatory markers and adipocytokines) with subclinical atherosclerosis and abdominal obesity will also be studied.

The study and control cohorts recruited in this study will also be followed up longitudinally for long term outcomes but this will be beyond the current MRes(Med) course.

Dr RHW Li, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Biography
raymondli@hku.hk

For more information or to express interest for this project, please email the supervisor or the specified contact point in the project description.  Interested candidates are advised to enclose with your email:

  1. your CV,
  2. a brief description of your research interest and experience, and
  3. two reference letters (not required for HKUMed UG students seeking MRes[Med]/URIS projects).

Information on the research programme, funding support and admission documentations could be referenced online at the Research Postgraduate Admissions website. General admission enquiries should be directed to rpgmed@hku.hk.

HKUMed MBBS students interested in the Master of Research in Medicine (MRes[Med]) programme may visit the programme website for more information.  

HKUMed UG students interested in the Undergraduate Research Internship Scheme (URIS) may visit the scheme’s website for more information. 

Research @ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology