Expertise:

Paediatric Radiology, MRI Imaging, Ultrasound Imaging

Research Interests:

– Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

– Paediatric Oncology & Haematology

– Fetal Imaging & Congenital Anomalies in Children

– Advanced MRI Imaging in Brain & Hepatology

– Ultrasound Imaging

Prof Winnie Chu is a dedicated educator in radiology. She has been giving a great varieties of radiology lectures in international, regional and local conferences. Her audience include radiologists (general/ paediatric radiologists/ trainees/ specialists), clinicians (paediatricians, surgeons, oncologists, neurologists, obstetricians, family doctors) and allied health members (radiographers, nurses).  

She is also actively involved in under-graduate medical student teaching and post-graduate radiologist/ sonographer training. She is the Director of the MSc course in diagnostic ultrasonography. She is also the lecturer for MSc in Gastroenterology; MSc Neurological Sciences; and MSc in Obstetric and Midwifery Care, contributing to the imaging part of the syllabus of these professional programs.

She is the coordinator of the in-house radiology training for residence within the Department of Imaging & Interventional Radiology in the Prince of Wales Hospital.

She is the regular keynote speaker and faculty member of the annual meeting of AOSPR (Asian Oceanic Society of Pediatric Radiology). She has been invited to give lectures in large international radiology meetings such as RSNA and SPR.

Professor Winnie Chu provides regular weekly clinical service sessions for the public and private patients at the Prince of Wales Hospital. Her main expertise remains in the paediatric imaging, where she provides frontline imaging service covering MRI, CT and ultrasound in paediatric imaging, plus additional input into clinico-radiological conferences and ad hoc consultations. She also provides breast imaging, CT and MRI imaging for adult patients.

She is one of the few paediatric radiologists in Hong Kong who has vast clinical experience in Dynamic MR Urography for congenital urinary track anomalies in children, fetal MRI and functional MRI neuroimaging and hepatology imaging.

She is the honorary clinical consultant of the Department of Imaging & Interventional Radiology in the Prince of Wales Hospital and honorary consultant in the New territories east cluster. She is the clinical coordinator of paediatric imaging service, as well as clinical coordinator of Ultrasound service in PWH.

She is the member of clinical work group (Paediatric Radiology) & Task Force on Development of Hong Kong Children’s Hospital, member of working group of Paediatric Radiology training guidelines and paediatric radiology subspecialty trainer for the Hong Kong College of Radiologists. She is also the expert panel member to the Council of Hong Kong Paediatric Society (HKKPS), an member of Grant Review Board for reviewing applications to the Health and Medical Research Fund (HKRF) under Research Office of the Food and Health Bureau.

Professor Chu has given many years of service to the Hong Kong College of Radiologists. She is the Editor-in-Chief for the Hong Kong Journal of Radiology (HKJR) since 2011.  Professor Chu is an examiner for joint the Royal College of Radiologists UK and the Hong Kong College of Radiologists Final Examination for the Fellowship.

Besides being an academic researcher,  her other major service to The Chinese University of Hong Kong include Head of MRI Division, Gerald Choa Neruoscience center; vice- chairmen for Faculty Medical student admission committee and member of the Fitness to Practice Committee.

Professor Winnie Chu is an academic radiologist specializing and focusing in the research, education, and clinical service in Paediatric Imaging.

Professor Chu is the author of over 300 peer-reviewed scientific papers and over 100 presented scientific paper abstracts. She is the foundation member and currently the Academic Secretary of Asian Oceanic Society of Pediatric Radiology, AOSPR and editor of the online journal AOfPR. She is also the Program Committee member of AOSOR (Asian Oceanian School of Radiology) for Asian Oceanian Society of Radiology (AOSR)

She is the editorial board member of “Pediatric Radiology” journal. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of Hong Kong Journal of Radiology (HKJR) and section editor of European Journal of Radiology (EJR).

She is the contributor of major textbooks in paediatric imaging including Caffey’s Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging (Coley editor, 12th and 13th editions, Elsevier Saunders) and the associate editor of Pediatric Imaging: Practical Imaging Evaluation of Infants and Children (Lee editor 2017, Wolters Kluwer). These books are comprehensive & considered reference texts in the field of Pediatric Imaging & have been published by premier publishing companies in the world. She is also the co-author of a few ultrasound textbooks (Amirsys series).

Professor Chu’s main research interest and her MD title is on morphometric Studies of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS). She is the academic radiologist who has published the largest number of MRI-related research on AIS. Her presentations have been chosen to be the best clinical science paper in Harrington Spine Symposium 2005 and in the IRSSD meeting in 2010 & 2016. She has obtained several competitive research grants related to AIS research as the Principal Investigator.

As a clinician radiologist, Prof Chu has been working closely with multiple clinical departments related to paediatric and maternal care, including general paediatrics, paediatric surgery, paediatric orthopaedics, neonatology, children cancer unit and antenatal obstetrics care. Her other paediatric research interests include imaging of paediatric oncology and haematology patients, fetal MRI, imaging of congenital anomalies in children (including CNS, thoracic and urogenital malformations). She has published widely on the applications of ultrasound in children imaging including development of dynamic imaging protocol for urinary bladder and Color Doppler imaging of ureteric waveforms. An invited review paper has been published on the above topic in the Pediatric Radiology Journal.

During the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003, Prof Chu has collaborated with paediatrics centres in Toronto and Singapore and reported the chest radiograph pattern in a cohort of children suffered from SARS from different nations. This paper has been chosen as the prestigious Walter Berdon Award for the best Clinical Scientific paper in Paediatric Radiology in 2004. CUHK has conducted a multi-centre follow up of SARS children among five hospitals in our locality and coordinating high resolution CT imaging for this group of patients. During the outbreak of renal complications related to melamine-tainted milk products, Prof Chu has collaborated with the pediatric department and published papers on this topic, including one article in the New England Journal of Medicine. Two external competitive grants have been obtained on follow up of this cohort of patients.

MR Morphometric Studies of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis 

• Chau WW, Chu WCW, Lam TP, Ng BKW, Fu LLK, Cheng JCY. Anatomical origin of abnormal Somatosensory evoked potential SEP) in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis with different curve severity and correlation with cerebellar tonsillar level determined by MRI. SPINE 2016;41(10): E598-604
• Cheng JC, Castelein RM, Chu WCW, Danielsson AJ, Dobbs MB, Grivas TB, Gurnett CA, Luk KD, Moreau A, Newton PO, Stokes IA, Weinstein SL, Burwell G. Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis. NATURE Review Disease Primer. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2015 Sept 24; 1:15030
• Deng M, Hui SC, Yu FW, Lam TP, Qiu Y, Ng BK, Cheng JC, Chu WCW. MRI-based Morphological Evidence of Spinal Cord Tethering Predicts Curve Progression in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis. Spine J 2015 Jun 1;15(6):1391-401
• Lee, RKL, Griffith, JF, Leung JHY, Chu WCW, Lam TP, Ng BKW, Cheng JCY. Effect of upright position on tonsillar level in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Eur Radiol. 2015 Aug;25(8):2397-2402
• Wang D, Kong Y, Shi L, Ahuja AA, Cheng JC, Chu WCW. Fully automatic stitching of diffusion tensor images in spinal cord. J Neurosci Methods 2012: 15;209(2):371-378
• Schlosser TP, van Stralen M, Brink RC, Chu WCW, Lam TP, Vincken KL, Castelein RM, Cheng JC. Three-dimensional characterization of torsion and asymmetry of the intervertebral discs versus vertebral bodies in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Spine 2014;39(19):E1159-66.
• Kong Y, Shi L, Hui SC, Wang D, Deng M, Chu WCW, Cheng JC. Variation in anisotropy and diffusivity along the medulla oblongata and the whole spinal cord in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a pilot study using diffusion tensor imaging. American Journal of Neuroradiology 2014;35(8):1621-1627. Selected as highlights in AJNR News Digest April 2015
• Shi L, Wang D, Hui SC, Tong MC, Cheng JC, Chu WCW. Volumetric changes in cerebellar regions in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis compared with healthy controls. Spine J 2013;13(12):1904-1911.
• Wang D, Shi L, Chu WCW, Burwell RG, Cheng JC, Ahuja AT. Abnormal cerebral cortical thinning pattern in adolescent girls with idiopathic scoliosis. NeuroImage 2012;59(2):935-942.
• Shi L, Wang D, Chu WCW, Burwell GR, Wong TT, Heng PA, Cheng JC. Automatic MRI segmentation and morphoanatomy analysis of the vestibular system in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. NeuroImage 2011;54 Suppl 1:S180-188.
• Shi L, Wang D, Chu WCW, Burwell RG, Freeman BJ, Heng PA, Cheng JC. Volume-based morphometry of brain MR images in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and healthy control subjects. American journal of neuroradiology 2009;30(7):1302-1307.
• Wang D, Shi L, Chu WCW, Paus T, Cheng JC, Heng PA. A comparison of morphometric techniques for studying the shape of the corpus callosum in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. NeuroImage 2009;45(3):738-748.
• Chu WCW, Man GC, Lam WW, Yeung BH, Chau WW, Ng BK, Lam TP, Lee KM, Cheng JC. Morphological and functional electrophysiological evidence of relative spinal cord tethering in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Spine 2008;33(6):673-680.
• Chu WCW, Man GC, Lam WW, Yeung BH, Chau WW, Ng BK, Lam TP, Lee KM, Cheng JC. A detailed morphologic and functional magnetic resonance imaging study of the craniocervical junction in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Spine 2007;32(15):1667-1674.
• Chu WCW, Lam WW, Chan YL, Ng BK, Lam TP, Lee KM, Guo X, Cheng JC. Relative shortening and functional tethering of spinal cord in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis?: study with multiplanar reformat magnetic resonance imaging and somatosensory evoked potential. Spine 2006;31(1):E19-25.
• Chu WCW, Li AM, Ng BKW, Chan DFY, Lam TP, Lam WWM, Cheng JCY
  Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging in assessing lung volumes, chest wall and diaphragm motions in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis versus normal controls. Spine 2006; 31:2243-2249
• Liu T, Chu WCW, Li K, Yeung HY, Guo L, Man GCW, Lam WWM, Wong STC, Cheng JCY. MR analysis of Regional Brain Volume in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis – neurological manifestation of a systemic disease. J Magn Reson Imaging 2008; 27:732-736; Epub Feb 26
• Chu WCW, Rasalkar DD, Cheng JCY.Asynchronous Neuro-osseous Growth in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis – Magnetic Resonance Imaging- Based Research. Pediat Radiology 2011; 41:1100-1111

Support from Competitive Grants:

• GRF Grant 2016 HK$ 672,387
• GRF Grant 2012: HK$1,060,875
• GRF Grant 2012: HK$1,161,500
• GRF Grant 2011: HK$969,110
• GRF Grant 2010: HK$878,990
• GRF Grant 2006: HK$996,568
• Cotrel Fondation (France) 2014: €60,000
• Cotrel Fondation (France) 2013: €60,000
• Scoliosis Research Society (US) & Cotrel Fondation (France) 2006: US$77,000
• National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) 2013: RMB700,000
• Basic Research for Shenzhen Municipal Science & Technology Programme 2013: RMB400, 000

Dynamic and Doppler Ultrasound Studies of Urinary Tracts in Children and Fetuses

• Leung VY, Rasalkar DD, Liu JX, Sreedhar B, Yeung CK, Chu WCW. Dynamic ultrasound study on urinary bladder in infants with antenatally detected fetal hydronephrosis. Pediatric Research 2010; 67(4): 440-443.
• Leung VYF, Chu WCW, Metreweli C. Hydronephrosis Index: a Better Physiological Reference in Antenatal Ultrasound for Assessment of Fetal Hydronephrosis. J Pediatr. 2009 Jan;154(1):116-20.
• Sreedhar B¹, Yeung CK, Leung VY, Chu WCW. Ultrasound bladder measurements in children with severe primary nocturnal enuresis: pretreatment and posttreatment evaluation and its correlation with treatment outcome. J Urol. 2008; 179:1568-1572
• Liu JX, Leung VY, Chu WCW, Sreedhar B, Metreweli C, Yeung CK. Characteristics of the Bladder in Infants with Urinary Tract Infections: An Ultrasound Study. Pediatr Radiol 2008; 38:1084-1088
• Leung VYF, Chu WCW, Yeung CK, Metreweli C. Doppler waveforms of the ureteric jet: an overview and implications for the presence of a functional sphincter at the vesicoureteric junction. Pediatr Radiol. 2007;37(5):417-25. Chosen for CME accreditation
• Leung VYF, Chu WCW, Yeung CK, Metreweli C. Gender difference in achieving rate of maturity of the vesicoureteric junction Pediatr Radiol 2007;37:189-193
• Leung VYF, Chu WCW, Yeung CK, Sreedhar B, Liu JX, Wong EMC, Metreweli C. Nomogram of total renal volume, urinary bladder volume and bladder wall thickness index in 3376 pediatric subjects with normal urinary system. Pediatr Radiol 2007; 37:181-188
• Leung VYF, Chu WCW, Yeung CK, Metreweli C. Ureteric Jet Doppler Waveform and Bladder Wall Thickness in Children with Nocturnal Enuresis. Pediatr Res. 2006 60(5):582-586. Selected as Editorial Focus.

Imaging of Paediatric Oncology and Haematological Diseases Including Thalassaemia

• Lee RK, Chu WCW, Leung JH, Cheng FW, Li CK. Pathological fracture as the presenting feature in paediatric osteosarcoma. Pediatric Blood & Cancer 2013;60(7):1118-1121
• Rasalkar DD, Chu WCW, Lee V, Paunipagar BK, Cheng FW, Li CK. Pulmonary Metastases in Pediatric Patients with Osteogenic Sarcoma: Characteristics and Impact on Patient Survival. Pediatr Radiology 2011; 41:227-236
• Chu CM, Rasalkar DD, Hu YJ,Cheng FW, Li CK, Chu WCW. Atypical clinical presentations and imaging findings of neuroblastoma beyond abdominal mass and a review of imaging algorithm. Br J Radiol 2011; 84:81-91
• Rasalkar DD, Chu WCW, Cheng FW, Paunipagar BK, Shing MK, Li CK. Atypical Location of Germinoma in Basal Ganglia in Adolescents: Radiological Features and Treatment Outcomes. Br J Radiol 2009;83:261-267
• Chu WCW, Reznikov B, Lee EY, Grant RM, Cheng FWT, Babyn P. Primitive neuroectodermal tumour (PNET) of the kidney: a rare renal tumour in adolescents with characteristics radiological features: a case series and review of literature. Pediatr Radiol 2008; 38:1089-1094
• Chu WCW, Chik KW, Chan YL, Yeung DK, Roebuck DJ, Howard RG, Li CK, Metreweli C. White matter and cerebral metabolite changes in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia undergoing treatment: longitudinal study with MR imaging and proton spectroscopy. Radiology 2003; 229:659-669
• Au WY, Li CF, Fang JP, Chen GF, Sun X, Li CG, Zhang XH, Wu XD, Gao HY, Hao WG, Rasalkar D, Deng M, Mok SPA, Fernando T, Chu WCW. Assessment of iron overload in very young children with limited thalassemia care resources in South China. Hemoglobin 2014;38(2):119–126
• Chu WCW, Au WY, Lam WW. Magnetic resonance imaging of cardiac iron overload. JMRI 2012 ;36(5):1052-9
• Leung AW, Chu WCW, Lam WW, Lee V, Li CK . Magnetic resonance imaging assessment of cardiac and liver iron load in transfusion dependent patients. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009; 53:1054-1059
• He T, Kirk P, Firmin DN, Lam WM, Chu WCW, Au W, Chan GCF, Tan RS, Ng I,Biceroglu S, Aydinok Y, Fogel MA, Cohen AR, Pennell DJ. Multi-center transferability of a breath-hold T2 technique for myocardial iron assessment. J Cardiovasc Magn Reson 2008; 10:11

Specific Paediatric Imaging during Outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003

• Yu CCW, Li AM, So RCH, McManus A, Ng PC, Chu WCW, Chan D, Cheng F, Chiu WK, Leung CW, Yau YS, Mo KW, Wong EMC, Cheung AYK, Leung TF, Sung RYT, Fok TF. Longer term follow up of aerobic capacity in children affected by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Thorax 2006; 61:240-246
• Chu WCW, Li AM, Ng AW, So HK, Lam WW, Lo KL, Yeung MC, Yau YS, Chiu WK, Leung CW, Ng PC, Hon KL, Mo KW, Fok TF, Ahuja AT. Thin-Section CT 12 Months After the Diagnosis of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in Pediatric Patients. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2006; 186:1707-1714
• Cheng FWT, Ng PC, Chiu WK, Chu WCW, Li AM, Lo KL, Hon EKL, Nelson EAS, Leung TF, Ng WH, Wong E, Ip P, Fok TF. A case control study of SARS versus community-acquired pneumonia. Arch Dis Child 2005;90:747-749
• Babyn PS, Chu WCW, Tsou IYY, Allen U, Bitnun A, Chee TSG, Cheng FWT, Chiu MC, Fok TF, Hon, EKL, Gahunia HK, Kaw GJL, Khong PL, Leung CW, Li AM, Manson D, Metreweli C, Ng PC, Read S, Stringer DA, Gervais KL, Cheong WS. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS): Chest radiographic features in children. Pediatr Radiol 2004; 34:47-58. Chosen as the prestigious Walter Berdon Award for The best clinical scientific paper in Paediatric Radiology
• Hon KLE, Leung CW, Cheng WTF, Chan PKS, Chu WCW, Kwan YK, Fong ANC, Ng PC, Chiu MC, Li CK, Tam JS, Fok TF. Clinical presentations and outcome of severe acute respiratory syndrome in children.THE LANCET 2003; 361:1701-1703

Specific Paediatric Imaging during Outbreak of Melamine- tained Milk Products (MTMP) in 2009

• Ho SS, Chu WCW, Wong KT, Li CK, Wong W, Ng PC, Ahuja AT. Letter to editor: Ultrasonographic evaluation of melamine-exposed children in Hong Kong. N Engl J Med. 2009;360(11):1156-1157.
• Kong AP, Choi KC, Ho CS, Chan MH, Wong CK, Liu EK, Chu WC, Chow VC, Lau JT, Chan JC. Hong Kong Chinese school children with elevated urine melamine levels: a prospective follow up study. BMC Public Health 2011; 11:354
• Lam HS, Ng PC, Chu WCW, Wong W, Chan DFY, Ho SS, Wong KT, Ahuja AT, Li CK. Renal screening in children after exposure to low dose melamine in Hong Kong: cross sectional study. BMJ 2008; 337; a2991

Application of Advanced Imaging Technique in Clinical Hepatology

• Abrigo JM, Shen J, Wong VW, Yeung DK, Wong GL, Chim AM, Chan AW, Choi PC, Chan FK, Chan HL, Chu WCW. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: spectral patterns observed from an in vivo phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy study. J Hepatol. 2014;60(4):809-815
• Leung VYF, Shen J, Wong VW, Abrigo J, Wong GL, Chim AM, Chu SH, Chan AW, Choi PC, Ahuja AT, Chan HL, Chu WCW. Quantitative elastography of liver fibrosis and spleen stiffness in chronic hepatitis B carriers-comparison between shear wave elastography and transient elastography (Fibroscan) with liver biopsy correlation. Radiology 2013; 269:910-918