Cardiovascular, Metabolic and Stroke Care
Mission
The mission of the Cardiovascular, Metabolic and Stroke Care Group is to advance the generation of knowledge and innovations in cardiovascular, metabolic and stroke care through conceptual and impactful research, leading to improved cardiovascular and metabolic health and post-stroke recovery outcomes.
Its main research priorities include:
- Addressing the needs of people who have or are at risk of developing cerebro-cardiovascular diseases (CVD);
- Developing and evaluating innovative stroke rehabilitation services designed to overcome physical challenges and manage cognitive and emotional impacts following stroke ; and
- Developing effective approaches to non-pharmacological management and CVD risk reduction in people with metabolic syndrome, and to lifestyle interventions for people with diabetes.
Key Researchers
Professor
Prof. Lau Ying’s research focuses on preventive medicine. Her specific areas of research can be concluded by the acronym ‘STOP’: (1) sleep deprivation prevention; (2) technology-enhanced interventions; (3) obesity prevention; and (4) psychological well-being promotion. With extensive research experience in Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, and Mainland China, she developed several interventions such as online resilience intervention for healthcare workers, blended resilience programme and transition to practice for undergraduates, and web-based cognitive behavioural therapy for pregnant women.
Vice-Director of Research / Professor
Prof. Chair Sek Ying’s research is dedicated to improving cardiovascular and metabolic health through various innovative nursing interventions, such as motivational interviewing, home-based cardiac rehabilitation, web-based rehabilitation, empowered self-management care, Tai Chi and music-paced exercise to enhance patient outcomes. Her extensive research has focused on integrating educational and cognitive-behavioural strategies to reduce risk factors as well as promoting engagement in cardiac rehabilitation and lifestyle modifications.
Emeritus Professor
Prof. Janita Chau has a strong track record in developing and evaluating innovative stroke rehabilitation services (e.g. virtual multidisciplinary stroke care clinic) and interventions (e.g. social participation-focused virtual reality) for stroke survivors. Her research has brought about practice improvements in stroke rehabilitation. Prof. Chau has taken many initiatives to develop and implement evidence-based clinical practice guidelines and evaluate clinical and nurse-sensitive patient outcomes in hospitals. Her expertise in knowledge synthesis enables her to produce high-quality systematic reviews of clinical effectiveness.
Professor
Assistant Dean (Alumni Affairs), Faculty of Medicine
Prof. William Li has developed a strong research interest in the field of paediatric oncology. He conducted a number of paediatric oncology studies including the impact of cancer and its treatment on children’s physical and psychological well-being, developing and evaluating psychological interventions for children with cancer and those who survived cancer. Recently, his research team has conducted several studies on resilience, with the aim of improving resilience, psychological well-being, and quality of life in children with cancer and their parents.
Professor
Prof. Mary Waye’s research is dedicated to exploring genetic factors and bio-behavioural markers underlying complex diseases including cardiovascular disease, stroke, psychiatric disorder, autism, developmental dyslexia and metabolic syndrome. She is currently working on the genetics of autism, and also collaborating with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) on a research project that uses MRI data to construct brain-age models for predicting risks of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Associate Professor (Practice in Nursing)
Prof. Aileen Chan has developed successful research programmes to investigate the effectiveness of tai chi and qigong among people with various chronic illnesses. The common thread running through her scholarly activities is a unique interest in engaging people who are most affected by chronic illnesses. Her research is found contributing to the knowledge base regarding the beneficial effects of regular tai chi and qigong practice on various health disorders.
Associate Professor
Prof. Suzanne Lo is dedicated to improving the health and recovery outcomes of stroke survivors. Her research focuses on examining the effects of self-management programmes for community-dwelling stroke survivors, promoting community reintegration and work ability of young stroke survivors, and enhancing home-based stroke rehabilitation using innovative strategies such as ballet-inspired workouts. Prof. Lo is also enthusiastic about building community capacity by training lay and professional volunteers to support stroke survivors’ recovery in the community.
Research Assistant Professor
Prof. Alan Tam is devoted to improving the cardiometabolic health of patients through researching on innovative educational interventions with the support of technology. He is also interested in enhancing older adults’ subjective health to support healthy ageing, and conducting systematic reviews to examine the effectiveness of various interventions on cardiometabolic and older adults’ health.
Research Highlights
Selected Research Projects
| Project Title | Funding Source | Principal Investigator | Project Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Improving work ability of young adults with stroke through personal resource building and inclusive volunteering: A randomised controlled trial | General Research Fund | LO Hoi Shan, Suzanne | 2022 – 2024 |
| Effects of a social participation-focused virtual reality intervention on the physical, psychological and social outcomes of community-dwelling stroke survivors with physical disabilities: A randomised controlled trial | General Research Fund | CHAU Pak Chun, Janita | 2021 – 2023 |
| Promoting community reintegration using narratives and skills building for young adults with stroke: A randomised controlled trial | Early Career Scheme | LO Hoi Shan, Suzanne | 2020 – 2023 |
| Effects of a multidisciplinary team-led school-based human papillomavirus vaccination health-promotion programme (MDL-SHPVP) on improving vaccine acceptance and uptake among female adolescents: A cluster randomised controlled trial | General Research Fund | CHAU Pak Chun, Janita | 2020 – 2022 |
| Feasibility of a novel ballet-inspired low-impact at-home workout programme to improve balance, gait and memory in adults with stroke: A mixed methods exploratory trial | Health and Medical Research Fund | LO Hoi Shan, Suzanne | 2020 – 2022 |
| Promoting healthy ageing through light volleyball (LVB) promotion in Hong Kong and Mainland China | Research Impact Fund | CHAN Wai Kiu, Aileen | 2019 – 2024 |
| The Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a virtual multidisciplinary stroke care clinic for community-dwelling stroke survivors and caregivers: A randomised controlled trial | Health and Medical Research Fund | CHAU Pak Chun, Janita | 2018 – 2021 |
| A theory-based educational program to improve the cardiovascular health among Hong Kong Chinese post-menopausal women | General Research Fund | CHAIR Sek Ying | 2018 – 2021 |
| "COMBO-KEY" (Coaching Ongoing Momentum Building On stroKe rEcovery journeY) - a home visiting and phone coaching programme to promote stroke survivors' recovery: A territory-wide project | Health Care and Promotion Fund | LO Hoi Shan, Suzanne | 2018 – 2021 |
| The cost-effectiveness and effects of a music-paced physical activity intervention on clinical outcomes and physical activity maintenance of post-cardiac rehabilitation patients with coronary heart disease | Health and Medical Research Fund | CHAIR Sek Ying | 2017–2021 |
International Research Collaborations
| Effects of a social participation-focused virtual reality intervention on the physical, psychological and social outcomes of community-dwelling stroke survivors with physical disabilities: A randomised controlled trial, in collaboration with a faculty member from the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen’s University Belfast, United Kingdom |
| Improving work ability of young adults with stroke through personal resource building and inclusive volunteering: A randomised controlled trial, in collaboration with a faculty member from the Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, United States |
| Studied the effectiveness of a nurse-led temporal self-regulation theory-based programme on heart failure self-care, in collaboration with Dr. Jocelyn Chew from the National University of Singapore and Prof. David Sim from the National Heart Centre in Singapore |