The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of resilient health systems, timely public health responses, and evidence-based policymaking. The Centre conducts research on COVID-19 and emerging infectious diseases to support evidence-based policy and strengthen health system preparedness. Our work examines disease surveillance, risk assessment, public health measures, healthcare system resilience, and behavioural responses to infectious disease threats, generating insights for policymakers in Hong Kong and internationally.

(i) Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) Studies

The Centre has undertaken several studies funded by the Health and Medical Research Fund Commissioned Research on the Novel Coronavirus Disease to support Hong Kong’s response to COVID-19 and future infectious disease threats: “Hong Kong’s early detection, assessment and response system (S-EDAR) to the new emerging infectious disease outbreak COVID-19” in May 2020, and subsequent “Epidemic intelligence and a data informed risk assessment system to inform policy decisions critical for maintaining systems control of COVID-19 in strategies to enhance recovery” in April 2021. These studies examined Hong Kong’s surveillance, early detection, assessment, and response systems for COVID-19 [https://www.hkmj.org/system/files/hkmj2508sp4p4.pdf], as well as the development of epidemic intelligence and risk assessment tools to support evidence-based decision-making.

The team also conducted other projects investigated the identification of asymptomatic infections, environmental contamination, airborne transmission, and factors affecting disease transmission and severity. The research has contributed to public health strategies by generating evidence to strengthen outbreak preparedness, risk assessment, and response planning.

(ii) World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborations

The Centre has been actively involved in the WHO COVID-19 Social Science Research Group, contributing to a range of international studies on:

• Psychosocial Care during COVID-19
• Government Response Measures
• The Role of Evolving Evidence in Pandemic Decision-making and Recovery
• Rapid Review of Qualitative Research Tools
• Home Care Service to Older Adults with Chronic Disease

Professor EK Yeoh led the WHO Health System Impact Subgroup of the WHO COVID-19 Social Science Research Group, and collaborated with researchers and policymakers from five other Asian Jurisdictions including South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Shanghai, and Japan since April 2020 to examine key government containment, control and mitigation policies and measures which have generated insights for policy learning applicable for different contexts in other jurisdictions. A technical report has been produced for dissemination by WHO GOARN. From the results of this study, a paper on assessing the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions on the transmissibility and severity of COVID in the Western Pacific Region was published in an international peer-reviewed journal [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352771421000033].

The Centre Director was also commissioned by WHO to synthesise global evidence for a policy brief on social science and community-centred considerations in adjusting public health and social measures during pandemics.

(iii) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Supply Chain Resilience

The Centre Associate Director Professor Eliza Wong, in collaboration with The City University of Hong Kong, received funding from the Collaborative Research Fund (CRF) of the Research Grants Council to conduct a study on “Resilient PPE Supply Chains for Hong Kong Health Systems: Current and Post-COVID-19 Pandemic.”

The study examines how healthcare supply chains can be strengthened to ensure adequate protection for frontline healthcare workers during future infectious disease outbreaks. It explores innovative approaches to improve supply chain resilience, preparedness, and recovery in times of crisis.

(iv) Health System Response and COVID-19 Impact Studies

The Centre has conducted a wide range of studies on the health system response to COVID-19. Using data from the Department of Health and Hospital Authority, researchers examined disease transmission patterns, superspreading events, vaccine effectiveness, risk factors for severe disease, and healthcare utilisation during the pandemic.

The Centre has also conducted surveys among the general public and vulnerable populations to understand perceptions of government control measures, testing policies, risk perceptions, and healthcare-seeking behaviours. Findings from these studies have been shared with policymakers and published in international peer-reviewed journals.