Professor Kwan Hiu-yee secures over HK$1.4 m from Health and Medical Research Fund

With her project, “Identification of blood-based sEV proteins for early detection of at-risk obese individuals for type 2 diabetes,” Professor Kwan Hiu-yee (Associate Professor, School of Chinese Medicine) has been awarded a grant by the Health Bureau’s Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) from the Health Bureau.

In collaboration with Professor Chan Kam-wa (Assistant Professor, School of Chinese Medicine), Professor’s Kwan’s research explores additional parameters that could further improve the risk-based screening approach for diabetes or prediabetes in the obese in Hong Kong. The study tests the hypothesis that circulating small extracellular vesicles (sEV) integrin-β2 and ECM1 proteins can be used for early detection of obese individuals at risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D). 

By measuring metrics, including body weight, BMI, fasting blood glucose levels, Hb1Ac levels, and the protein levels of sEV integrin-β2 and ECM1 in both recruited participants and mouse models, the study is expected to determine whether circulating sEV integrin-β2 and ECM1 are effective for early detection of obese individuals at risk for T2D, independent of plasma glucose. This research will provide crucial data for a subsequent cohort study that supports Hong Kong’s prevention strategy for non-communicable diseases. 

Established in 2011, the HMRF provides funding for evidence-based health promotion projects that help people to adopt a healthier lifestyle by enhancing awareness, changing adverse health behaviours, and creating an environment conducive to good health practices. It also aims to build research capacity and leverage evidence-based scientific knowledge from local health and medical research to inform health policies, strengthen the healthcare system, and improve the overall health, clinical excellence, and standard of care of the population.