Healthy Aging Collaboration Hub Seminar Series:

Advanced Epidemiological Methods

Registration: https://hku.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cMEAPHJnv3iGDhs

Date: September 25 (Thursday)

Time: 2 PM - 4 PM

Location: HKJC-S1A, G/F, 5 Sassoon Road

Join us for a seminar on advanced epidemiological methods to improve causal inference. Our speakers will discuss how target trial emulation enhances observational studies in pharmacoepidemiology and health services, and how to apply Mendelian Randomization in cardiovascular health to improve causal inference. Target trial emulation provides a way to design observational studies that closely mimic randomized controlled trials. Mendelian Randomization uses genetic variants as instruments to minimize confounding and strengthen causal inference.

Speakers

Prof. Eric Wan
Professor Eric Wan is an Assistant Professor at The University of Hong Kong, jointly appointed by the Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care and the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy. He leads the evaluation of the Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme (CDCC), commissioned by the Health Bureau, and is Deputy Principal Investigator of the Jockey Club PHARM+ Community Medication Service Network Project.
His scholarly work has been widely recognized. He received the Excellence Young Scientists Award from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Health and Medical Research Fund Research Fellowship from Hong Kong SAR Government as a visiting scholar at Harvard University. In addition, he has authored over 250 articles, including 100 as first or corresponding author in top-tier journals like Annals of Internal Medicine, Diabetes Care, Hypertension, The Lancet Infectious Disease, and The Lancet Healthy Longevity. His h-index is 41, and his citation impact is 3.81, showing his work is cited 281% above the global average. Wan has a strong record of securing HK$38.7 million (US$5 million) in research funding for managing non-communicable diseases in primary care, from sources like the Collaborative Research Fund, Health and Medical Research Fund, and Hong Kong government departments.
His recent research focuses on evaluating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of health service and medications used in patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidaemia.

Prof. Jane Zhao
Professor Jane Zhao is an Assistant Professor at School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong. Prof. Zhao has been focusing on the potential causes and modifiable drivers of chronic diseases, mainly cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic kidney disease. In her research, she utilized interdisciplinary approach incorporating epidemiology, genetics, nutrition and clinical trials, to assess the role of modifiable targets, such as dietary factors and medications, on chronic diseases. These dedicated efforts generated fruitful research outputs, with 80 publications in prestigious international journals such as the British Medical Journal (BMJ), European Heart Journal (EHJ), Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), BMC Medicine, Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), Diabetologia, Drugs, and American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 55 of these as the first author and/or corresponding author. Prof. Zhao was awarded the HKU Research Output Prize, and Faculty Outstanding Research Output Award, as well as the prestigious Takemi Fellowship at Harvard University.
Considering the differences by settings, Prof. Zhao is dedicated to finding locally relevant evidence, as well as prevention and treatment strategies. As Principal Investigator (PI), in collaboration with Elderly Health Service Centers in Hong Kong, Prof. Zhao coordinated the Elderly Biobank, an elderly biobank built based on a large elderly cohort across all 18 districts in Hong Kong. As a leader, she got funded to establish the Collaboration Hub on healthy aging, to promote data sharing and lead collaborative work.

For enquiry, please contact
Dr. Tiffany Leung
3917-6836 / tinghtl@hku.hk