Research Initiative on COVID-19 and NIDs


The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted numerous political, economic, and social-psychological problems that affect individuals and society, and has drawn global and public attention to medical, epidemiological, behavioural, and social science research.

In view of the tremendous and continuing challenges from the pandemic and from possible future novel infectious diseases (NIDs), Policy Research @ HKIAPS has initiated the Research Initiative on COVID-19 and NIDs to bring together various diverse research efforts on COVID-19 at CUHK that can inform the development of policies. The results of up-to-date and cutting-edge interdisciplinary research on COVID-19 grounded on empirical scientific evidence are shared, compiled, and integrated through the discussion and exchange of data and ideas.

As of 1 September 2020, 47 researchers from six Faculties, namely the Arts, Business Administration, Education, Law, Medicine, and Social Science, have joined the Initiative as members. Two brainstorming sessions were arranged among members to discuss possible collaborations and future activities. Members shared their research projects on the following research themes:

    ●  Prediction, Preparedness, and Responses to Pandemic
    ●  Public Space, Environmental Design, and Sustainability
    ●  Challenges and Opportunities for Economic Development and Job Security
    ●  The New Normal of Work/Study, Leisure, and Consumption Patterns
    ●  Risk Society and Socio-political Management
    ●  Communication, Interpersonal-intergroup Relations, and Well-being

In line with the vision for research collaboration, the Initiative has designed and is conducting various activities to facilitate the exchange of research ideas, dissemination of research outputs, and engagement in public policies.

The Initiative has established an e-portal containing a compilation of global resources and references related to COVID-19. The information is categorized into several clusters: Academics and Think-tanks, Business and Industry, IGOs and INGOs, and Media. The e-portal is updated weekly. These references and resources are compiled from newsletter, podcast, database, portal, map visualization, and other formats, and cover regular data updates, news summaries and policy briefings, commentaries and opinion pieces, articles and journals across different continents and disciplines. All of these references and resources help to generate research discussions that can support further research explorations and collaborations as well as enhance members’ understanding of the latest developments in the field.

The Initiative not only fosters synergy among researchers but also facilitates public engagement. Since August 2020, the Initiative has launched the “COVID-19 Webinar Series” to disseminate members’ research output to the general public. So far, the Initiative has organized three webinars, namely Bioethical Issues Arising from the COVID-19 Pandemic, Individual and Policy Responses to COVID-19: Local and Global Perspectives, and What Factors Caused the Spread of COVID-19 among the Provincial Regions in China?. The Initiative will continue to organize seminars, webinars, and forums to facilitate exchanges of ideas among members, engagement with various stakeholders, and dissemination of public policy implications based on academic research output.

In the future, the Initiative hopes to extend the range of the Initiative’s impact beyond the local and regional areas. We plan to build up international collaboration and strengthen the resource networks of IGOs and INGOs, such as through the international strategic partners of the University, the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), and the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN).

Policy Research @ HKIAPS is committed to supporting CUHK researchers in linking their cutting-edge research with practices and policies. Through integrated, interactive, and collaborative research efforts, the Initiative expects to build up sustained momentum on expanding the impact of NIDs research so that the world may be more prepared to face new challenges with other NIDs in the future.

We encourage CUHK faculty members to join us in this Research Initiative on COVID-19 and NIDs. Please contact us at policyresearch@cuhk.edu.hk for more details. ■