The next-generation probiotics for marine bivalve aquaculture
(August 2025-July 2027)
ENSURE Collaborative Projects
(August 2025-July 2027)
Project Coordinators: Professor Haiwei Luo, School of Life Sciences (CUHK), and Dr Robert Ellis, Biosciences (Exeter)
Project Aim: Building on findings from a previous ENSURE Initiator Grant, this project aims to evaluate the long-term efficacy of the novel Ruegeria strain MC10 – a promising next-generation marine probiotic for oysters – through field trials that test its ability to establish lasting host associations under natural environmental conditions.
(March 2024-July 2024)
Project Coordinators: Professor Haiwei Luo, School of Life Sciences (CUHK), and Dr Robert Ellis, Biosciences (Exeter)
Project Aim: To develop and evaluate next-generation marine probiotics, focusing on Ruegeria strains, to enhance their incorporation and effectiveness in oysters, thereby reducing re-inoculation needs and supporting sustainable aquaculture practices.
(March 2024-July 2024)
Project Coordinators: Professor Yan Zhan, Geophysics (CUHK), and Dr James Hickey, Earth and Environmental Science (Exeter)
Project Aim: To assess the environmental impacts of geothermal energy extraction through a multidisciplinary collaboration combining fieldwork, lab experiments, numerical modelling, and geophysical monitoring to understand and predict subsurface biogeochemical processes and promote sustainable geothermal resource management.
(March 2024-July 2024)
Project Coordinators: Professor Shelly Lap-Ah TSE, The Jockey School of Public Health and Primary Care (CUHK), and Dr Hanbin Zhang, European Centre for Environment and Human Health (Exeter).
Project Aim: To strengthen CUHK–Exeter collaboration by exploring Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for climate and health in Hong Kong and the UK, through knowledge exchange, comparative analysis, joint workshops, and identification of future research opportunities and funding sources.
(March 2024-July 2024)
Project Coordinators: Professor Ting-Fung Chan, School of Life Sciences (CUHK), and Dr Hans-Wilhelm Nuetzmann, Biosciences (Exeter).
Project Aim: To develop an interdisciplinary plant science community across the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the University of Exeter which will be positioned to tackle urgent problems in plant health, plant adaptations to changing climates, food security and biodiversity.
(Jan 2019-Dec 2022)
Project Coordinators: Prof. Hon-Ming Lam, Director, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology (CUHK), and Dr. Catherine Caine, Lecturer, Law School (Exeter)
Project Aim: To examine the inter-relationship between agricultural intensification, consumers’ diets/food choice, and human health with the aim of developing policies which will alleviate climate change and minimise environmental impacts.
(Jan 2019-Jul 2021)
Project PIs: Prof. Steve Yim*, Associate Professor, Department of Geography and Resource Management (CUHK), and Prof. Jim Haywood, Professor of Atmospheric Science, Department of Mathematics (Exeter)
Project Aim: To gain a better understanding about emissions, chemical transformations, and deposition rates of air pollutants and the resultant population exposures and health impact.
Jan 2019-Dec 2020
Project PIs: Prof. Joe Lee, Co-Director, ENSURE (CUHK), and Prof. Brendan Godley, Professor of Conservation Science, College of Life and Environmental Sciences (Exeter)
Project Aim: To study the capacity of coastal ecosystems in the Greater Bay Area to provide critical services that sustain human livelihood, health, and wellbeing with a view to developing a framework to inform development in other coastal mega-cities.
(May 2021-Apr 2023)
Project PIs: Prof. Lin Liu, Associate Professor, Earth System Science Programme (CUHK), and Prof. Stephan Harrison, Professor of Climate and Environmental Change, Department of Geography (Exeter)
Project Aim: To assess rock glaciers as a potential water resource by developing climate projections and a hydrological model to understand their future behaviour.
(May 2021-Apr 2023)
Project PIs: Prof. Amos Tai, Associate Professor, Earth System Science Programme (CUHK), and Prof. Stephen Sitch, Chair in Climate Change, Department of Geography
Project Aim: To evaluate different approaches of implementing large-scale tree-planting programmes in China and the UK, considering all pros and cons to reduce trade-offs to ensure co-benefits for human health, economic opportunities, social equity and climate resilience