SARS-related research projects in HKU

 

Investigators Department Project title Key words
Mr. K.P. Cheung Architecture

Multi-disciplinary research on devices and systems for protecting patients and health care workers against SARS

Personal protection devices and systems for patients, and for health care workers; portable, mobile, and fixed, powered HEPA air filtering systems, optimized virus-control design for ventilation and air conditioning for SARS wards, conversion of existing hospital wards/rooms for combating SARS and similar infectious diseases
Mr. S.S.Y. Lau

BHI as a benchmarking tool to classify residential buildings in respect of health & hygiene environment for Hong Kong

see Sick Building Syndrome [Chinese version]

health and hygiene, building, thermal hygiene indicator, temperature, ventilation (see
Mr. S.S.Y. Lau The study of Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect to alleviate bad ventilation and enhancing thermal comfort in the layout of mass housing in high density Hong Kong by developing a Thermal Hygiene Indicator (THI) Urban Heat Island, urban planning, external environment, mass housing
Mr. W.S. Wong An analysis of the health and hygiene issues in public housing with special reference to non-compliance of Buildings Ordinance (CAP 123) Public housing, Buildings Ordinance, health and hygiene
Mr. W.S. Wong Review of building regulations and legislative control to achieve healthier living conditions for private residential buildings Private residential buildings, building regulations, control, living conditions
Ms J.A. Karakiewicz SARS and high-density development in Hong Kong  
Professor A.G.O. Yeh CUPEM Spatial simulation of SARS using Geographic Information System (GIS) and Cellula Automata (CA) Mapping, Spatio-Temporal Analysis, Simulation, Cellular Automata  
Professor A.G.O. Yeh Spatio-temporal analysis and simulation of SARS
Dr. D.C.W. Ho Real Estate and Construction   Assessing health and hygiene in Built Facility - a pilot study.  
Professor K.W. Chau Constructing a health and hygiene index for residential buildings in Hong Kong  
Dr. P.C. Lai

Geography

Harnessing the geographic information system (GIS) technology to develop a community disease surveillance system Geographic Information System, GIS, disease surveillance
Dr. P.C. Lai Mapping Atypical Pneumonia (SARS) - A website and workshops to develop mapping and spatial awareness mapping awareness, spatial analysis, disease mapping
Dr. A.B. Bodomo Linguistics Atypical lectures in an environment of atypical pneumonia and other contagious diseases SARS, Class Suspension, Interactive ICT learning, Effective Course Delivery on WebCT, Conversational Learning Community (CLC), Languages and Linguistics
Dr. A.F. Farhoomand
School of Business Project SARS Rebound - a study of the impact of SARS on various major industry sectors in Hong Kong and the road to recovery positive outcomes, retail, travel, property, banking & finance, trading, logistics hotel, crisis management, crisis communication, IT in managing adversity
Dr. H.K. Yip Faculty of Dentistry     An investigation of the aerosoal loading of a coronavirus in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in dental office Coronavirus pneumonia infection, new infection, virus-loaded aerosol dental office, air quality, air filter
Dr. H.K. Yip Is your dentist a likely source for transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)? Coronavirus pneumonia infection, SARS, dentists, virus-loaded aerosol dental office
Dr. H.K. Yip Impact of a major outbreak in Hong Kong of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) on dental patients seen in private dental practices and a teaching dental hospital Coronavirus pneumonia infection, SARS, patients, virus-loaded aerosol
Dr. S.L. Wong Faculty of Education Understanding science teachers' conceptions of the nature of science and science teaching using the scientific investigation of the SARS virus as the context Nature of Science, Science Education, Teachers' conception
Dr. J. P. Maxwell Institute of Human Performance Impact on SARS on the health and exercise behviours of Hong Kong residents Exercise, disease prevention and healthy living
Dr. D.W.L. Cheung

Computer Science and Information Systems
or
Centre for E-Commerce Infrastructure Development

Development of an ebXML Messaging System for SARS and Other Infectious Diseases
Department of Health, NIDIMS, SARS, notifiable infectious disease information messaging system, centralized and standardized disease surveillance system, electronic surveillance system, XML, ebXML, e-commerce, e-business, Web Services, open source, integrated IT solution
Professor J.H.W. Lee Civil Engineering Project Amoy - Investigating the transmission routes of the large SARS outbreak in Amoy Gardens  
Professor F.H.Y. Chan Electrical and Electronic Engineering Positioning system for SARS infrared scanners at border control check points Automatic Detection of Travellers at Infrared Scanning positions, Rapid SARS Screening
Dr. G.Q. Huang Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering Information and coordination strategies and technological infrastructure for effective and efficient resources and operation management in SARS-related disease control Information Strategies, Coordination Strategies, Resource Planning, Operation Management , Disease Control, Trace and Track, Workflow Management, Call Centre
Dr. G.Q. Huang SARSic: Online SARS INFORMATION AND coordination Call Centre Spreading spot, Spreading Clusters, Super Spreader, Cross Spreading, Origin / Source Spreader, Decision support system, Web services
Dr. T.L. Lau To design ergonomic equipment and procedures for the prevention of SARS SARS Prevention Strategy, Ergonomic Design, Non-contact Devices
Dr. K.C. Cheung Mechanical Engineering Investigation in techniques to sanitise banknotes  
Dr. M.K.H. Leung Local exhaust ventilation for protection against noscocomial infection of SARS contagious bioaerosols, dispersion, nosocomial transmission, local exhaust ventilation, computation fluid dynamics, photocatalytic disinfection  
Dr. M.K.H. Leung Local exhaust ventilation for protection against nosocomial transmission of SARS
Dr. Y.G. Li A proposal for constructing a SARS patient ward test chamber Transmission routes, Amoy Gardens, Epidemiological study, Environmental study, Building design  
Dr. Y.G. Li An investigation of the transmission routes of the major SARS outbreak in Amoy Gardens
Dr. R.M.W. Chau Anatomy "Dermal-thermo-natural medicinal herb treatment" for rehabilitation of recovering SARS patients: a pilot study TCM, Dermal, Thermal, Natural medicinal herb, Luteolin, SARS CoV infection, Treatment, Rehabilitation, Respiration, Circulation, Prognosis
Dr. R.M.W. Chau Drug development specific for inhibiting SARS-Coronavirus infectivity:targeting on S, M, E, 3cLpro and RNA polymerase SARS Coronavirus, Molecular modelling, Drug development and design, Anti-SARS CoV drug, Gramm docking, SwissViewer, Molecular interaction
Dr. R.M.W. Chau Study on the physical and biochemical properties of the S, M, E proteins of the SARS-Coronavirus in relation to its very unique penetrating property of infectivity SARS Coronavirus, Spike protein, Membrane protein, Envelop protein, Gene cloning, Gene Expression, Physical property, Circular Dichroism, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, X-ray Crystallography
Dr. R.M.W. Chau Study on the physical and structural properties of the S, M, E proteins of the SARS-coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and anti-SARS viral drug design SARS Coronavirus, Spike protein, Gene cloning, Gene Expression, Physical property, Circular Dichroism, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, X-ray Crystallography, Yeast two hybrid, CD13, minopeptidase N, Receptor, Molecular modelling, Drug design, Gramm docking, Molecular interaction
Professor K.F. So Neuroprotection in steroid treated SARS patients: an animal model steroid induced neurodamage, hypercortisolemia, neuroprotection
Professor K.F. So Neuroprotection in steroid therapy: an animal model hypercortisolemia, hippocampal damage, neuroprotection
Dr. D.Y. Jin Biochemistry Roles of spike protein in the biology and pathogenesis of SARS coronavirus SARS coronavirus (SCoV, SCV), spike (S) protein, SCV receptor, membrane fusion, cell-to-cell fusion, NF-kappaB, ER stress
Dr. I.H.N. Wong Epigenetic modification of the human genome after coronaviral infection in the development of SARS  
Dr. J.D. Huang Biochemical characterization and therapeutic targeting of the helicase/NTPase from SARS coronavirus helicase; drug target; meta ions; antivirus  
Dr. J.D. Huang The Helicase/NTPase and RNA-directed RNA Polymerase from SARS Coronavirus: Biochemical characterization and antiviral assay development
Professor J.P.E. Karlberg Clinical Trials Centre Web-based SARS data capturing and reporting system SARS statistics, SARS data, SARS daily update, Clinical Trials, Health communication, Medical communication, Social Impact
Dr. G.M. Leung Community Medicine Determination of the prevalence of the SARS-CoV and associated seroconversion in close contacts of confirmed SARS patients in the Hong Kong epidemic prevalence, seroconversion, contacts
Dr. G.M. Leung The development and validation of a clinical prediction rule for SARS clinical prediction rule, validation
Professor A.J. Hedley SARSID: development and implementation of an integrated database for the analysis of the epidemic epidemiological determinants, informatics, database
Professor A.J. Hedley Validation of diagnostic tests for the SARS agent diagnostic test, validation
Professor T.H. Lam Extended public health serveillance and one year follow-up on anxiety, risk perception and precautionary measures in relation to the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic in Hong Kong public health surveillance, public risk perception, precautionary measures
Professor T.H. Lam June to August 2003 (Phase 2) Public Health surveillance on anxiety, risk perception and precautionary measures in relation to the SARS epidemic in Hong Kong.
Professor T.H. Lam March to May 2003 (Phase 1) Public Health surveillance on anxiety, risk perception and precautionary measures in relation to the SARS epidemic in Hong Kong.
Professor T.H. Lam Studies on epidemiological determinants of SARS
Dr. C.G.C. Ooi Diagnostic Radiology Clinical utility of radiological assessment of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome: a retrospective and prospective study on a cohort of SARS patients  
Dr. M.C.M. Lin Institute of Molecular Biology Combating SARS with interferons interferons, SARS therapy, SARS prevention, preclinical study
Dr. M.L. He Silencing the SARS - co virus by RNA interference siRNA, SARS therapy, replicase, FRhk-4 cells, gene silencing
Dr. S.S.M. Chung Development of helper-dependent SARS coronavirus and use of this virus to study SARS pathology at cellular level  
Dr. S.S.M. Chung Helper-dependent SARS-coronavirus  
Professor H.F. Kung Silencing the SARS-coronavirus by RNA interference Adenovirus vector, Adeno-Associated Virus vector, siRNA, SARS therapy, Preclinical study
Professor H.F. Kung Studies on the anti-SARS effect of MAP30 from bitter melon Natural product, Food, SARS therapy, SARS prevention
Dr. B.M.Y. Cheung Medicine Detection of human body temperature with infrared thermographic imaging SARS, severe acute respiratory syndrome, infra-red thermography, infra-red, screening, body temperature, pyrexia, fever
Dr. G.K.K. Lau Characterisation of T-cell response of Hepatitis B infected patients to human coronavirus causing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome  
Mr. J.C.K. Leung Serum markers for monitoring the onset and outcome of SARS - associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), serum markers, proinflammatory cytokines
Mr. J.C.K. Leung Anti-inflammatory therapy for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS): challenge of the major mortality issue in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), anti-inflammatory therapies, animal model, macrophage
Dr. J.C.W. Mak Serum cytokine levels in convalescent patients with SARS  
Dr. J.C.W. Mak The role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2, -8 and -9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP-1 and -2) in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)  
Dr. K.W.T. Tsang A retrospective analysis of the efficacy of various treatment regiments in short term clinical outcome for patients with SARS  
Professor C.S. Lau A study to evaluate the immunopathology of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome  
Professor K.N. Lai Development of monoclonal antibodies against SARS-associated coronavirus: specific targeting for early diagnosis and future treatment  
Professor K.N. Lai Establishment of immortalized B-lymphocyte cell lines for subsequent development of monoclonal antibodies against SARS - associated Coronavirus with clinical application in early diagnosis and future treatment.  
Professor J.S.M. Peiris Microbiology Innate immune responses and the SARS coronavirus macrophages, cytokines, immunopathology, pathogenesis
Professor J.S.M. Peiris Molecular epidemiology of SARS virus evolution, epidemiology, transmission
Dr. B. Zheng A study of antiviral peptides targeting spike and matrix proteins of SARS coronavirus Antiviral peptides against SARS coronavirus
Dr. B. Zheng Primary study for development of an inactivated coronavirus vaccine Inactivated coronavirus vaccine
Dr. L.L.M. Poon Rapid molecular diagnosis of SARS coronavirus Rapid diagnosis, SARS, RT-PCR, real-time PCR, quantitative PCR
Dr. L.L.M. Poon Reverse genetic for a coronavirus responsible for severe acute respiratory syndrome Reverse genetic, genetic, molecular biology, virology, SARS, replication, transcription
Dr. P.C.Y. Woo Development of an ELISA-based antibody test for SARS associated coronavirus infection Seroepidemiology study
 
Dr. P.C.Y. Woo Longitudinal seroepidemiology of SARS associated coronavirus infections
Dr. P.L. Ho Risk factors for SARS in health care workers following incubation of SARS patients  
Dr. R.Y.T. Kao Identification and characterization of small molecule compounds perturbing the pathogenic pathways of the SARS-associated coronavirus SARS-associated coronavirus, high-throughput screening, small molecule inhibitors, chemical genetics
Dr. R.Y.T. Kao The application of high-throughput screening (HTS) technologies to identify inhibitors of SARS-associated coronavirus main proteinase High-throughput screening, inhibitor, SARS-associated coronavirus, 3C-like protease
Dr. S.K.P. Lau Detection of nucleocapsid protein in patients with SARS related coronavirus infections Rapid Diagnostic Tests
Dr. S.K.P. Lau Enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) - based antigen test for rapid diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
Dr. S.W.K. Im Investigation of community exposure to a novel coronavirus associated with SARS and Herd Immunity developed among healthy population
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS); Community exposure; Herd Immunity
Dr. Y. Guan Identification of the possible animal reservoirs for SARS-like coronavirus in southern China  
Dr. Y. Guan Searching for the precursor of SARS-Cov in Southern China  
Professor K.Y. Yuen An oral DNA vaccine for SARS associated coronavirus infections  
Professor K.Y. Yuen An oral mucosal DNA vaccine for SARS associated coronavirus infections  
Dr. A.F.Y. Tiwari Nursing Studies An investigation into the needs of patients with SARS SARS patients' needs
Dr. A.F.Y. Tiwari Psychosocial risk, vulnerability and protective factors in SARS infections: a controlled case-match study of hospital and community infected patients Psychological risk, protective factors, SARS infections
Dr. S.S.C. Chan A one year surveillance study of nurses' preventive measures and health status in relation to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic in Hong Kong Nurses, preventive measures, SARS
Dr. S.S.C. Chan A study of the physical, psychological, and social needs of a cohort of suspected SARS paediatric patients and their parents during hospitalization needs, Paediatric patients, nursing, SARS
Dr. S.S.C. Chan The effectiveness of a telephone health assessment and health education intervention to vulnerable elderly during the SARS epidermic health education, elderly, SARS
Ms. E.M.Y. Wong Evaluation of nursing knowledge and practices for the infection control precaution in the paediatric units during SARS crisis  
Dr. W.M. Tang Orthopaedic Surgery Avascular necrosis of femoral head in patients with history of SARS treated with high dose steroid. A prospective study of the epidemiology  
Dr. A.S.Y. Lau Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Mechanism of SARS-coronavirus pathogenesis - identification of viral genes implicated in immune dysregulation SARS coronavirus, immunity dysregulation, macrophages, cytokine, signaling pathways
Dr. P.T. Cheung The efficacy of RNA interference in silencing coronavirus genes in vivo - towards establishing a platform for exploring for novel therapeutic interventions upstream of live-virus infection models testing  
Dr. S.S.S. Chiu Seroepidemiology survey of SARS-associated coronavirus antibody in healthcare workers and patients in private clinics in a community with SARS outbreak  
Professor Y.L. Lau Is low serum mannose-binding lectin (MBL) associated with poorer outcome in patients with SARS mannose binding lectin, SNP, SARS-CoV
Professor Y.L. Lau The role of manose binding lectin (MBL) and MBL associated serine protease-2 (MASP-2) in the pathogenesis of SARS associated coronavirus infection
Dr. B.M. Jones Pathology   Cytokines in patients with CVP and analysis of laboratory database for SARS Immunology, cytokines, inflammation, SARS
Dr. I.O.L. Ng Developing mouse models expressing viral proteins of SARS coronavirus and its pathogenetic study Transgenic mouse models, viral proteins, SARS coronavirus, pathogenetic study
Dr. I.O.L. Ng Study on the pathogenesis of SARS -Coronavirus by establishing transgenic mouse lines expressing SARS-CoV viral proteins Study of the pathogenesis, SARS coronavirus, establishing transgenic mouse lines, SARS-CoV viral proteins
Dr. J.M. Nicholls Ultrastructural characterization of the SARS Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) SARS-associated Coronavirus, Electron microscopy, Viral proliferation
Dr. L.W. Lu Effects of SARS-associated coronavirus infection on the lymphoid system SARS-associated coronavirus; Immune system; Lymphocyte function
Dr. M.P. Wong Analysis of the pathology and pathogenesis in the lungs of patients suffering from the SARS SARS, Human-CoV, Acute Lung Injury, Diffuse alveolar damage, Pathology, Pathogenesis, Electron microscopy, Cause of Death  
Dr. M.P. Wong Pathology and pathogenesis of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infection in the lung and other organs
Dr. S.L. Beh A study of the profile of causes of death in patients suspected to suffer from SARS and its impact on subsequent clinical management SARS, Autopsy findings, Clinical Pathological Correlation, Diagnosis, Diagnostic Criteris
Dr. U.S. Khoo Genetic polymorphism study of the immune response genes in relation to susceptibility, clinical outcome and treatment response of SARS SARS, Genetic polymorphisms, susceptibility, clinical outcome, immune response genes
Professor L.C. Chan Pathogenic effects of SARS-associated Coronavirus infection on lymphoid System  
Dr. R.Y.L. Chen Psychiatry Neurobiological dysfunction in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) following corticosteroid treatment: A 6-month follow-up study Neuropsychology, neuroimaging, hippocampus, brain derived neurotrophic factor
Dr. S.E. Chua The psychological effects of SARS in health-care workers, their patients and the community psychological, health-care workers, community, SARS patients
Professor P.W.H. Lee The attitudes towards life and death among Hong Kong general public before and after the outbreak  
Professor J. Wu School of Chinese Medicine Studies on the anti-SARS effect of herbal medicine  
Dr. C.L. Lin Surgery The effect of SARS-associated coronavirus Spike protein on immune regulation of SARS  
Dr. Y. Ren Proteomics computational analysis of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)  
Professor W.I. Wei Immunity status against coronavirus among health care personnels working in a moderately high risk environment  
Professor W.I. Wei Quantification of droplet and aerosol production during medical procedures  
Dr. C.B. Ko Chemistry   Development of high throughput screening platform for the identification of anti-SARS CoV agents from TCM  
Dr. G.H. Chen Computer-aided design of SARS coronavirus main proteinase inhibitors SARS-CoV, 3CL^pro, homology model, AG7088, RNA
Dr. H. Sun Helicase as a drug target for virus: toward finding new metal-containing antivirus agents helicase; drug target; meta ions; antivirus
Professor C.M. Che Development of environmental-friendly broad spectrum anti-viral disinfectants  
Dr. L.S. Chan Earth Sciences Feasibility study of infrared thermographic measurement of human body temperature  
Dr. T.W. Ng Mathematics A double epidemic model for the SARS propagation double epidemic hypothesis, SEIRP epidemic model, SARS propagation
Dr. F.C.C. Leung Zoology Cloning of the viral genes from the newly identified SARS Coronavirus  
Dr. F.C.C. Leung Development of a rapid high throughput RT-PCR assay to detect SARS-CoV  
Dr. F.C.C. Leung Rapid accurate diagnostic assay for the SARS coronavirus  
Dr. J.C.W. Chan Politics and Public Administration   Lessons from civil society's response to SARS  
Dr. P.T.Y. Cheung The politics of the SARS outbreak in South China: cross-boundary inter-governmental cooperation and crisis management  
Dr. I.Y.M. Lau Psychology Psychosocial problems of the reintegration of ex-SARS patients back to the community Intolerance of ambiguity, avoidance of SARS affected individuals
Dr. I.Y.M. Lau Recovering from SARS: the relation between need for cognitive closure and accepting ex-SARS patients Need for cognitive closure, acceptance of SARS affected individuals, public education
Dr. S.M.Y. Ho Psychological adjustment to SARS among healthcare professionals in public hospitals: a follow-up study Psychological Adjustment, SARS Fear, Post-Traumatic Stress, Post-Traumatic Growth, Health Care Professionals
Professor T.K.F. Au SARS-prevention: primary and secondary school students' SARS-risk behaviours upon returning to school SARS Prevention Blind spots, primary schools, secondary schools
Professor T.K.F. Au Think Biology: A new approach to SARS education SARS education, public health education, schools, community centres
Professor I. Chi Sau Po Center on Ageing Relationship between SARS outbreak and psychological well-being in Hong Kong older adults  
Professor C.L.W. Chan Social Work and Social Administration A meaning-oriented group-based preventive intervention study on the psychological impact of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS): morbidity versus grow post-SARS growth, chronic patients, debriefing, psychosocial support
Professor C.L.W. Chan Post-SARS growth among recovered health care workers in Hong Kong Post-traumatic growth, HA infected staff, resilience
Professor C.L.W. Chan

Intervention for Chronic Patients [see flyer and survey results]

 
Dr. Y.W. Chu Sociology Managing the socio-political implications of public health: an international perspective  
Dr. P.S.F. Yip Statistics and Actuarial Science An epidemiological study of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and assessing the effectiveness of interventions in Hong Kong SAR Mean reproductive number, case-fatality rate, infectious disease, competing risk model, Susceptible-Infected-Removal model, multi-type epidemic process, branching process  
Dr. P.S.F. Yip Statistical analysis of SARS epidemic and assessing the effectiveness of interventions in Hong Kong SAR
Professor T.W.K. Fung Diagnosis and prognosis prediction using high-resolution computed tomography for SARS High-resolution computed tomography; chest X-ray; sensitivity and specificity; prognosis
Professor T.W.K. Fung Estimation of case fatality rate of SARS, and related issues Case fatality rate; auto-regressive model; time series analysis
Mr Allen Fung China Study Society, HKUSU Campaign on "Sustainable Actions for Rejuvenating Society"  

25 June 2003