Research Projects
Virus-Host Interactions and Swine Influenza Transmissibility

The scope of this study is to investigate viral and host specific factors that may be associated with the transmission potential of swine influenza viruses. The first objective of this study is to investigate the role of HA-NA balance in transmission of swine influenza viruses. This include using optimized glycan arrays to evaluate HA glycan binding profiles and NA substrate specificity of swine influenza viruses and studying viral interactions with mucins. The second objective of this study is to compare differential host responses after infection with viruses of different transmissibility. 

Professor HL Yen, School of Public Health

My research focuses on understanding the transmission mechanisms of influenza and other respiratory viruses, investigating potential virus-host interactions that affect viral pathogenicity and transmission, and examining the molecular determinants that confer antiviral resistance. A major research focus is to understand factors that facilitate emergence and spread of novel respiratory viruses within and between different reservoir hosts. We study viral determinants of interspecies transmission and works with a multidisciplinary team to study the transmission modes of influenza and other respiratory viruses in the field and in the laboratory.

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.