STAFFS

Understanding the neural mechanisms and heterogeneity of prodromal α-synucleinopathies, particularly REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), by using advanced neuroimaging approaches. I am also interested in integrating multi-omics data, such as gut microbiota and other biomarkers, to investigate gut–brain interactions and their role in disease progression.

Multimodal MRI studies (structural, functional, and diffusion imaging) to characterize brain alterations in RBD and to identify distinct neurobiological subtypes. In parallel, I am integrating gut microbiota profiling with imaging and clinical assessments to explore how microbial signatures are linked to brain changes and clinical trajectories in RBD.

• Sleep and circadian rhythm in mental resilience.
• Acoustic stimulation for sleep and mental health.

• Mental resilience and sleep macro- and microstructures in adults with insomnia symptoms
• Acoustic stimulation of slow wave sleep for improving sleep quality in adults with insomnia disorder

1. Chen CX, Li SX, Ho CS, Chan JWY, Chan LKW, Lee TM, Wing YK, Chan NY.
   Associations of psychological resilience with macro- and microstructures in NREM and REM sleep in adolescents.
   International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology. 2025 Apr-Jun;25(2):100570. doi: 10.1016/j.ijchp.2025.100570.
2. Chen CX, Zhang JH, Li SX, Chan KCC, Li AM, Kong APS, Chan JWY, Wing YK, Chan NY.
   Secular trends in sleep and circadian problems among adolescents in Hong Kong: From 2011-2012 to 2017-2019.
   Sleep Medicine. 2024 May;117:62-70. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2024.03.003.
3. Chen CX, Li TMH, Zhang J, Li SX, Yu MWM, Tsang CC, Chan KCC, Au CT, Li AM, Kong APS, Chan JWY, Wing YK, Chan NY.
   The impact of sleep-corrected social jetlag on mental health, behavioral problems, and daytime sleepiness in adolescents.
   Sleep Medicine. 2022 Dec;100:494-500. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2022.09.027.
4. Chen CX, Wang R, Cheung FTW, Ho AWY, Ho CS, Chan NY, Chan JWY, Hou WK, Yau SY, Liu Y, Lee TMC, Li SX, Wing YK.
   A modified at-home methodology for measuring dim light melatonin onset timing in healthy adults.
   Chronobiology International. 2025 May;42(5):653-663. doi: 10.1080/07420528.2025.2500404.
5. Chen SJ, Que JY, Chan NY, Shi L, Li SX, Chan JWY, Huang W, Chen CX, Tsang CC, Ho YL, Morin CM, Zhang JH, Lu L, Wing YK.
   Effectiveness of app-based cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia on preventing major depressive disorder in youth with insomnia and subclinical depression: A randomized clinical trial.
   PLoS Medcine. 2025 Jan 21;22(1):e1004510. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004510.

My research investigates the intricate relationship between gut microbiota, behavioral factors, and human health outcomes. I specifically examine how sleep patterns and dietary habits interact with gut microbial communities to influence disease outcomes, with a particular focus on conditions related to aging, such as cardiometabolic diseases and cognitive function.

Currently, I lead several interconnected projects exploring these relationships in different populations, including post-COVID patients and individuals with sleep disorders. Through this work, I aim to uncover novel pathways linking the gut microbiome-behavior to age-related health conditions.

• Childhood adversity
• Trauma
• Psychopathology
• Resilience
• Cultural difference in mental health

• Prevalence of adversity and trauma
• Promoting psychiatric resilience
• Subjectivity and meaning-making of life events

• Epidemiology
• Digital mental health
• Bipolar Disorder

• The Hong Kong Mental Morbidity Survey
• The Hong Kong Elderly Health Services (EHS) Cohort
• Incident mental morbidity and web-based psychological treatment in COVID-19

1. Leung, O., Chiu, N. K., Wong, S. Y., Cuijpers, P., Alonso, J., Chan, P. K., … & Mak, A. D. (2023).
   Dimensional structure of one-year post-COVID-19 neuropsychiatric and somatic sequelae and association with role impairment.
   Scientific Reports, 13(1), 12205.
2. Mak, A. D. P., Leung, O., Chou, I. W. Y., Wong, S. L. Y., Chu, W. C. W., Yeung, D., … & Lee, S. (2021).
   White matter integrity in young medication-naïve bipolar II depressed adults.
   Scientific Reports, 11(1), 1816.
3. Mak, A. D., Neggers, S. F., Leung, O., Chu, W. C., Ho, J. Y., Chou, I. W., … & Lee, S. (2021).
   Antidepressant efficacy of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in antidepressant-nonresponding bipolar depression: a single-blind randomized sham-controlled trial.
   International Journal of Bipolar Disorders, 9, 1-11.
4. Mak, A. D., Lau, D. T., Chan, A. K., So, S. H., Leung, O., Wong, S. L., … & Lee, S. (2018).
   Cognitive impairment in treatment-Naïve bipolar II and unipolar depression.
   Scientific Reports, 8(1), 1905.

• Human Sensing
• Smart Health
• Time Series Mining

1. Li, C. T., Shen, J., Yang, Y., Cao, J., & Stojmenovic, M. (2021, October). Repetitive Activity Monitoring from Multivariate Time Series: A Generic and Efficient Approach. In The 18th IEEE International Conference on Mobile Ad-Hoc and Smart Systems (IEEE MASS) (pp.1-9).
2. Li, C. T., Cao, J., Liu, X., & Stojmenovic, M. (2020). mSIMPAD: Efficient and Robust Mining of Successive Similar Patterns of
   Multiple Lengths in Time Series. ACM Transactions on Computing for Healthcare, 1(4), 1-19.
3. Li, C. T., Cao, J., & Li, T. M. (2016, September). Eustress or distress: An empirical study of perceived stress in everyday college life.
   In Proceedings of the 2016 ACM International Joint Conference on Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing: Adjunct (pp. 1209-1217).

Relationships/mechanism between sleep disorders (REM sleep behavior disorder and obstructive sleep apnea) and neurodegenerative diseases, including ɑ-synucleinopathies (Parkinson’s disease, Dementia with Lewy bodies) as well as other types of dementia (Alzheimer’s disease), leveraging advanced technologies, such as machine learning and digital tools.

1. Actigraphy-Based Detection of Isolated REM Sleep Behavior Disorder: Multicenter Validation Across Devices and Populations
2. Detection of Gait Alterations Related to Parkinson’s Disease Prior to Diagnosis Using Free-Living Wrist Accelerometer Data
3. A Physiology-guided AI/ML Model for Predicting Long-Term Neurodegenerative Outcomes in Obstructive Sleep Apnea using Real-World Data

My research interests focus on REM Sleep Without Atonia (RSWA) and its relationship with REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD). I am dedicated to exploring the underlying mechanisms of the sleep-related movement disorder and its broader implications for public health. Additionally, I would like to investigate subjects’ insights into illness such as mental illness and sleep disorders, specifically how these insights affect compliance with screening, levels of distress and may ultimately influence prognosis.

In my current role, I am actively engaged in research focused on Sleep-related movement disorders. My objective is to derive insights into these disorders and their implication for patient health, while also exploring potential interventions to enhance clinical outcomes.