Research on Influenza

Background

Influenza pandemics bring not only sickness to individuals, but on a population level there's significant social disruption and economic loss. Since the 20th century, the world has been exposed to four major influenza pandemics, in 1918/1919, 1957/1958, 1968/1969 and 2009. The Asian connection of these pandemics is far too obvious. The World Health Organisation predicted that "the world will face up to several hundred million outpatient visits, more than 25 million hospital admissions and several million deaths globally, within a very short period" (www.who.int).

The current ongoing Avian Influenza outbreaks in poultry and the reported human infections serves as a wake-up call to the human population on the need for effective preparedness. Understandably, interdisciplinary research plays a key role in helping us understand the natural course of the infection, evaluate treatment responses, identify opportunities for intervention, and assess impacts in a public health context. It's against this background that an Influenza Research Group has been established by the Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases (CEID) towards the end of 2005. The challenges imposed by the 2009 influenza pandemic have further strengthened its role.

Objectives

At the Chinese University of Hong Kong, The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, the CEID Influenza Research Group brings together researchers from different fields to build a coordinated effort in supporting the development of effective clinical and public health responses to influenza. The primary aim of the Group is to enhance influenza preparedness in Hong Kong and the region. Specifically the Group's objectives are, to:

1. stimulate, promote and support collaborative inter-disciplinary research on influenza ;
2. coordinate research activities and provide connections with clinical and public health services.

Our Scope

The Influenza Research Group is both a focal point for effective coordination, as well as a forum for supporting the generation of research activities on all aspects of influenza. The main programme areas of the Group are:

• diagnostics, prophylaxis & clinical management
• infection control
• public health impacts and response
• basic science

Research activities are conducted as projects led by the respective investigators who are academic staff of CEID or are affiliated with the Centre as researchers. A coordinator provides the oversight for the operation of the Group.

Research activities included:

• The gene expression profiles of CD4 and CD8 T cells in influenza infected patients
• Enteric involvement of seasonal influenza A virus infection and its pathogenesis
• Social network configuration and contexts of influenza infection
• Consequence on viral fitness as a result of gene reassortment between circulating influenza viruses
• Exhaled air dispersion during application of common respiratory therapies at Prince of Wales Hospital new clinical service block versus Princess Margaret Hospital infectious diseases block
• Cellular pathogenesis of human swine influenza
• Preparedness and responses of at risk groups (frontline healthcare workers in community clinics, community out reach teams and elderly homes) to pandemic influenza in Hong Kong
• Responsiveness of university students to influenza in Hong Kong
• Acceptance of healthcare workers for pandemic influenza vaccine
• Viral kinetics and host response in patients with severe influenza
• Clinical management of severe influenza infection
• Transmission of influenza and infection control

Selected Publications

Investigators

• Prof. Paul CHAN, CEID & Dept of Microbiology
• Dr. KW CHOI, CEID & Tai Po Nethersole Hospital
• Prof. David HUI, CEID & Dept of Medicine and Therapeutics
• Prof. Joseph LAU, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics
• Prof. Nelson LEE, CEID & Dept of Medicine and Therapeutics
• Prof. SS LEE , CEID

Coordinator

Prof. Paul CHAN
Stanley Ho Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases
The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prince of Wales Hospital
Shatin, Hong Kong

Tel:	2632 2301
Fax:	2635 4977
Email:	paulkschan@cuhk.edu.hk