Meet The Team
Principle Investigator
Sonata Suk-Yu YAU
Associate Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Science,
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Key Research Areas:
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Neurobiology & environmental risk factors of neurodegenerative & psychiatric disorders
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Peripheral biomarkers for pro-cognitive effects of physical exercise
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Pharmacological treatment target for improving mood & memory performance
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Mechanisms of neuroprotective effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Diseased animal models (e.g depression, autism, diabetes and memory impairment)
Jesse Jiasui Yu
Postdoctoral Fellow
Research Interest:
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Peripheral mediators of neuroprotective effects of physical exercise
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Hippocampal adult neurogenesis
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Traditional Chinese Medicine
Crystal Tong Cheng
Postdoctoral Fellow
Research Interest:
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Rapid antidepressant treatments
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Physical exercise interventions
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Spinogenesis and synaptic plasticity in the PFC
Douglas Formolo
PhD Student
Research Interest:
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Neurobiology of exercise behavior
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Peripheral & central mechanisms underlying antidepressant response
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Lifestyle factors & mental health
Akhlaq Hussain
PhD student
Research Interest:
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Air pollutants on cognitive function & neurological health
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The gut–brain axis
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Dietary interventions
Davina Yunxiao Zhong
PhD student
Research Interest:
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Pro-cognitive effects of physical exercise
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Aging animal models
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Hippocampal synaptic plasticity
Mars Zonghao Ma
MPhil student
Research Interest:
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Ambient air pollutants on lung & brain health
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Inflammation
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Depression & learning and memory
Charles Ho Kiu Chan
Part-time Undergraduate Researcher (Physiotherapy)
Research Interest:
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Psychophysiology of mind-body interventions
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Neuropsychiatric & mental illness
Alumni
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Douglas Formolo — PhD (2025), MPhil (2020) (Currently Assistant Professor at Hong Kong Shue Yan University)
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Ahadulla — MPhil (2021)
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Thomas Hoiyin Lee — MPhil (2020)
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Ke Lai — Postdoctoral Fellow
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Zafar Iqbal — Postdoctoral Fellow
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Julia Mercado — Postdoctoral Fellow (currently Assistant Lecturer at CUHK)
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Wilson Leung - Research Associate (currently Assistant Professor in Tung Wah College)
Undergraduate Researchers
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Isbella Chee Yin Yam (Occupational Therapy)
[FHSS Summer Undergraduate Research Award 2025]
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Mars Zhonghao Ma (Applied Biology and Chemical Technology)
[University Undergraduate Research and Innovation Scheme, URIS 2023]
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Jamie Kit Wai Ip (Physiotherapy)
[FHSS Summer Undergraduate Student Research Award 2023]
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Kin Hei Chan (Physiotherapy)
[FHSS Summer Undergraduate Student Research Award 2021]
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Ka Hei Wong (Physiotherapy) — Undergraduate Researcher