A major goal of our infectious diseases group is to further the understanding of the interplay between the variables that determine the typical course of infection within an individual host and the variables that control the pattern of infection within communities of people. The techniques that are required to address research questions in this area include the study of the properties of non-linear differential equations, the organisation and management of large-scale field studies of the transmission and control of infection and the analysis and manipulation of large and complex databases.

The environmental health research group has two decades of experience studying the impact of environmental factors on population health. This work has mainly centred on the interactions of outdoor and indoor air pollutants, climatic conditions and infectious agents, such as respiratory viruses, on population health at all levels. Our work in the areas of air pollution, influenza and such persistent environmental pollutants as dioxins has attracted research grants from Hong Kong funding agencies and international organisations.

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The disease burden in Hong Kong and mainland China, particularly of chronic diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, obesity, diabetes and mental ill health, is increasing rapidly with the growing and ageing population. Most of these diseases are caused by the interaction of lifestyle (such as smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and diet), environmental (such as air pollution and occupational hazards) and genetic factors. Traditionally, most epidemiological studies have ignored the role of genetic factors, whereas most laboratory-based genetic studies have ignored lifestyle and environmental factors. In the past few years, Western countries have devoted a huge amount of resources to research programmes that are aimed at the frontiers of lifestyle, environmental and genetic interactions. One of our main programmes has been to set up large cohort studies with the long-term collection of biospecimens (usually DNA, plasma or serum).

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Working closely with government and supranational agencies, and leveraging rich sources of routine health care and economic data, we have carried out numerous impactful studies of Hong Kong’s health system (at different levels of contextual aggregations and settings). Current research priorities include:- 1) the economic impact of risk factors and the cost-effectiveness of health care interventions; 2) the definition and diagnosis of problems in health care systems and financing, so as to devise policies and solutions; 3) health sector accounting and comparative equity research.

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Our Centre for Psycho-oncology Research and Teaching, which is recognised as the regional benchmark in East Asia, collaborates with the Departments of Paediatrics, Clinical Oncology, Surgery and Nursing Studies. We have shown that the high levels of psychosocial morbidity that follow cancer are essentially avoidable through tailored clinical diagnostic and treatment-planning consultations. Our Health Behaviour Research Group gathers data on the risk perceptions of the Hong Kong population to enable an examination of the impact of SARS and avian flu on risk perception and behaviour. Additionally, we have data on other perceived health risks in the HKSAR, such as air pollution, passive smoking and traffic conditions.

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