2 more HKBU researchers awarded the Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) from the Health Bureau

We are proud to announce that two more esteemed researchers have been awarded a significant fund of almost HK$2 million in the latest round of the Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) by the Health Bureau. They are Professor Li Min, Executive Associate Dean of Chinese Medicine and Ma Pak Leung Endowed Professor in Innovative Neuromedicine from the School of Chinese Medicine, and Dr Duan Yanping, Associate Professor from the Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health of the Faculty of Social Sciences.

As an expert in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases by using Chinese medicine, Professor Li was awarded the grant for her exceptional project “Investigating the mechanism of (-)Schisandrin B on the treatment of Parkinson's disease via regulating ATG16L1/NLRP3 signalling pathway”. She aims to dissect (-)Sch B, an active compound possessing neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties, and evaluate its pre-clinical efficacy in Parkinson’s disease (PD). The ultimate target is to develop it as a novel disease-modifying drug for PD treatment. 

Being a professional in physical activity and health promotion, Dr Duan’s awarded project is “Effects of high-intensity interval training on bone health, physical fitness and quality of life in elderly women with osteopenia: a pilot randomized controlled trial”. She will develop and evaluate the feasibility and effects of an innovative exercise programme named “high intensity interval training (HIIT) for improving bone health in Hong Kong elderly women with osteopenia (a decrease in bone mineral density and a precursor to osteoporosis)”.

The main aims of HMRF are to build research capacity, encourage, facilitate and support health and medical research to inform health policies, improve population health, strengthen the health system, enhance healthcare practices, advance standard and quality of care, and promote clinical excellence through evidence-based scientific knowledge in health and medicine. 

We would like to extend congratulations to Professor Li and Dr Duan again, and also the other three HKBU awardees in this round of the Fund, for their unwavering dedication and contribution to the research field and human society. 

Click here to read more about the other three awardees – Dr Lung Hong Lok from the Department of Chemistry, and Dr Yin Kejing and Dr Eric Zhang from the Department of Computer Science.