Research Projects
Deer Emo: DEpREssion and EMOtional health-research and innovative treatment in clinical psychiatry

I am a psychiatrist and researcher based at Queen Mary Hospital and Western Psychiatric Centre, with clinical and research interests in mood disorders, particularly depression and anxiety. My team focuses on mood disorders, particularly depression and anxiety, with an emphasis on innovative treatment approaches, youth mental health, and community engagement. Students Postgraduate students with innovative ideas are also welcome to propose a feasible project of their own within the year(s), provided it aligns with the team’s research focus and is discussed in advance.

Current and ongoing projects include:

• A double-blind randomised controlled trial of neuromodulation in mood disorders.
• A clinical trial using digital health interventions for depression.
• An adolescent mental health project examining online behaviour in both clinical and community settings.
• Community and school engagement initiatives, including collaborations to disseminate evidence-based mental health knowledge.
• Systematic and scoping literature reviews on novel interventions for mood disorders.
• Secondary analyses of existing datasets, including experience sampling methods, digital interventions, and qualitative interviews.

Additional projects may be launched in the 2026/27 academic year depending on research developments.

Students will be expected to develop basic research skills, assist with data collection and analysis, and strengthen their interpersonal abilities in engaging with participants. 

Beyond clinical research, the team also leads @deer.emo, a creative Instagram initiative translating mental health research into accessible, community-facing content. Students with interests in social media engagement, content creation, or visual communication are especially encouraged to contribute.

This module is  a multi-domain nature placement, suited for students keen to bridge clinical psychiatry, research, and community engagement, and interest not only in psychosis, but broader mental health disorders.

Students may contribute across three main domains, depending on interest and skills:

1. Clinical Exposure (*Clinical exposure will be linked to contribution and responsibility within the research team.) 
   
   Students contributing to projects will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in psychiatric services, including attending outpatient clinics, observing patient care, and supporting data collection in mood disorder studies.
   
   
2. Research Component
   
   Students with a strong research interest will be expected to work more intensively, typically around 4 working days per week. Tasks may include participant engagement, data management, statistical or qualitative analysis, and literature reviews.
   
   This track is particularly suited for students keen on academic output (abstracts, posters, or publications).
   
   
3. Social Media Advocacy (@deer.emo)
   
   Students with skills in social media engagement, content creation, or visual communication can take part in our creative public engagement initiative, translating mental health research into accessible content.
   
   This track allows greater flexibility of time commitment.

Overall Expectation: 

Students may choose to focus on one area or blend across domains.

Regardless of track, students are expected to develop core research skills, engage professionally with participants or community stakeholders, and contribute to the team’s mission of advancing mental health care and awareness.

Professor HKY Lo , Department of Psychiatry

Since joining in 2023, Dr Heidi Lo published around 40 peer-reviewed papers (≈12 as first/corresponding) in high-impact venues including World Psychiatry/ Lancet Psychiatry (as co-author only), European Neuropsychopharmacology/Journal of Affective Disorders/BJPsych Open (in the capacity of either primary or corresponding author). My work spanned population cohorts (excess mortality in depression; psychopharmacology), digital intervention (experience sampling/ ecological momentary intervention), neuromodulation interventions (tDCS; transcranial pulse stimulation), and youth mental health (adolescents and young adults).Dr Lo leads several ongoing projects for hands-on research opportunities. To date, three alumni from the team have gone on to study master in clinical/educational psychology in Hong Kong. If you are passionate about mental health research and consider applying as a volunteer research assistant/ pursue MPhil studies, you are welcome to reach out Dr Heidi Lo in email with CV and sample of research work.

Biography
HKU Scholars Hub
Lab Homepage
ORCID
lokaying@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.