Mobility scheme drives research in infectious diseases epidemiology

Since 2017, Prof. KWOK Kin On of the Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, and Prof. Steven Riley of Imperial College London (Imperial) and Dr. Jonathan Read of Lancaster University (Lancaster) in the UK have made several research visits under the CUHK Internationalisation Faculty Mobility Scheme. Prof. Kwok has since built up his research on infectious diseases epidemiology and mathematical modelling in Hong Kong and South China with his two UK collaborators. They have produced joint publications and received multiple grants from Hong Kong, including those from the Food and Health Bureau, Health and Medical Research Fund and Research Grants Council. One of their studies about the social interaction patterns of Hong Kong people was featured in the South China Morning Post. The first-of-its-kind study reveals that people of the city met 12 to 13 individuals daily on average, which helps inform mathematical models of disease epidemics.

‘The mobility scheme has allowed me to expand my network and consolidate my partnerships with my collaborators at Imperial and Lancaster.’ Looking ahead, Prof. Kwok aims to acquire more local and international funding to support his antimicrobial resistance and influenza research, produce high impact papers and increase media coverages in order to raise public awareness of infectious diseases.

The Internationalisation Faculty Mobility Scheme aims to strengthen the international research capacity of CUHK’s faculty members and the visibility of the University. Airfare and accommodation are provided to outbound faculty members while accommodation is provided to inbound visiting scholars under the scheme. Application for 2020–21 will open soon. Stay tuned for the announcement!

With the support of the Internationalisation Faculty Mobility Scheme, Prof. KWOK Kin On has built up solid international research partnerships with scholars from top universities in the UK.