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Research
Influenza

Influenza pandemics, avian influenza outbreaks, and local seasonal influenza bring not only sickness to individuals, but on a population level there’s significant social disruption and economic loss. To understand the natural course of the infection, evaluate treatment responses, identify opportunities for intervention, and assess impacts in a public health context, our research team includes researchers of different disciplines supported by clinical, laboratory, and field resources in Hong Kong and other countries/places.

Clinical research

  • Determinants of clinical outcome of influenza infection
  • Exhaled air dispersion during application of common respiratory therapies at clinical healthcare service facilities
  • Clinical management of severe influenza infection
  • Clinical trials on novel treatment options
  • Assessment of the influenza vaccine performance and determination of the associated biomarkers

Laboratory research

  • Identification of host genetic factor information known to associate with hospitalized severe influenza
  • Host factors related to severe influenza infection in children
  • Host responses against influenza virus infection at different age groups
  • Pathogenesis of human, avian and swine influenza
  • Consequence on viral fitness as a result of gene reassortment between circulating influenza viruses
  • Cellular biology of different influenza viruses
  • Immunological and virological features in patients with influenza virus infection
  • Development of novel treatment options at pre-clinical stage
  • Novel antivirals screening in primary human respiratory epithelial cultures

Public health research

  • Social network configuration and contexts of influenza infection
  • Transmission of influenza and infection control
  • Spatial and temporal epidemiology of pandemic influenza A (H1N1)2009
  • Serology of seasonal influenza viruses
  • Viral interference and its impact in human health
  • Acceptance of healthcare workers for seasonal influenza vaccine
  • Community-based influenza-like-illness surveillance