Christopher K C LAI

Professor Christopher K C LAI

MBChB (CUHK), MRCP (UK), PDipID (HKU), FRCPath (UK), FHKCPath, FHKAM (Pathology)
Assistant Professor (Clinical),
Department of Microbiology,
Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong
Honorary Consultant,
CUHK Medical Center

President,
The Hong Kong Society of Microbiology and Infection

Vice President,
The Hong Kong College of Pathologists

Chairman,
Education Committee, The Hong Kong College of Pathologists

Honorary Associate Consultant,
New Territories East Cluster, Hong Kong Hospital Authority,

Honorary Associate Consultant,
Queen Elizabeth Hospital

HOKLAS Assessor,
Hong Kong Accreditation Service

Professor Christopher K C LAI

chris.kclai@cuhk.edu.hk

Research

ORCID: orcid.org/ 0000-0001-8591-5944

Research interest
Clinical application of advanced technologies in the diagnosis infectious diseases and detection of antimicrobial resistance
Use of machine learning in improving the management of bloodstream infection including S. aureus bacteremia and infective endocarditis
Clinical, epidemiology, and laboratory diagnosis of emerging infectious diseases and respiratory viral pathogens
The human gut microbiota and its association with health, lifestyle, diet, diseases, and drug interactions
Role of human microbiota in multiple drug resistance organism carriage
Infection control and hospital epidemiology
Postgraduate students
Information for Postgraduate Study in Department of Microbiology
Our Team
Staff
Student
Research Experience
2021Distinguished Young Fellow for the year 2021. The Hong Kong Academy of Medicine
2015Top 10 Abstracts Award The 7th International Congress of Asia Pacific Society of Infection Control
2010HA Outstanding team award “HA Rapid Diagnostic Laboratory Network for Influenza
Research Grants
Microbiome and Metabolomic Profiling in Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (403092784)
Co-Investigator
QuickCAS: An easy‐to‐use in‐vitro diagnostic system for quick detection of infectious pathogens based on microrobotic technology (454187385)
Co-Investigator
Levels of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Cell-free DNA (MTB cfDNA) in Tuberculous and Non-tuberculous Pleural Effusion (398950125)
Co-Investigator
Gut Microbiota in Major Depressive Disorders with and without Rapid Eye Movement Behaviour Disorder: Tracing a Subtype of Depression with Underlying Neurodegeneration (184642823)
Co-Investigator
To characterize the aerodigestive tract and gut microbiome of preterm neonates – a pilot study (399869318)
Principal Applicant
Neuropsychiatric ‘Long-COVID’ in Adult Patients (327871954)
Principal Applicant
Infection Control Course for Hong Kong Fire Services Department (328049762)
Principal Applicant
CUHK Direct Grant for Research 2019/2020. A pilot prospective study of healthy gut microbiota to identify changes associated with common health conditions in general Hong Kong Population (Ref 2019.046)
Principal Applicant
Delineate the prevalence, risk factors, temporal distribution and epidemiological characteristics of hidden novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection in the community, (142345687)
Co-Investigator
Comprehensive clinical, virological, microbiological, immunological and laboratory monitoring of patients hospitalized with Coronavirus Diseases (COVID-19), (143799741)
Co-Investigator
Characterizing Whole Genome Stability of the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. (149478076)
Co-Investigator
SARS-CoV-2 global and local variant characterization in associate with clinical and public impacts, The Chinese University of Hong Kong – Research Committee – Project Impact Enhancement Fund. (182660252)
Co-Investigator
One Health approach to Track and Target Antimicrobial Resistance (TnT-AMR). Food and Health Bureau (FHB)
Co-Investigator
Publications (Representative)

  1. Lai CKC, Choi KW, Yao J, Tong RCF. Detection of volatile organic compounds in exhaled breath for mass screening of COVID-19 infection. Hong Kong Med J. 2022 Dec 17. doi: 10.12809/hkmj2210594.
  2. Lai CKC, Lam W. Laboratory testing for the diagnosis of COVID-19. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2021 Jan 29;538:226-230. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.10.069. Epub 2020 Oct 28.
  3. Lai CKC, Chen Z, Lui G, Ling L, Li T, Wong MCS, Ng RWY, Tso EYK, Ho T, Fung KSC, Ng ST, Wong BKC, Boon SS, Hui DSC, Chan PKS. Prospective Study Comparing Deep Throat Saliva With Other Respiratory Tract Specimens in the Diagnosis of Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019.
  4. Lai C, Lam W, Lee MP A case of Mycobacterium sherrisii pneumonia diagnosed by PCR/ESI-MS method Int J Infect Dis. 2014 Jun 5;25C:119-121.
  1. Lai CK, Lui GC, Wei Y, Chong KC, Chen Z, Ling L, Ng RW, Boon SS, Ho WC, Yeung AC, Hui DS, Chan PK. Remdesivir reduced upper respiratory tract SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA concentration in COVID-19 patients who developed pneumonitis. J Infect. 2022 Aug 31:S0163-4453(22)00513-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2022.08.031.
  2. Lai CKC, Lam W, Tsang KY, Cheng FWT, Wong, MCS. COVID-19 pandemic after Omicron. Hong Kong Med J 2022;28:196-8. PMID: 35765729. DOI: 10.12809/hkmj215130. https://doi.org/10.12809/hkmj215130
  3. Wong MCS, Wong ELY, Cheung AWL, Huang J, Lai CKC, Yeoh EK, Chan PKS. COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in a City with Free Choice and Sufficient Doses. Vaccines (Basel). 2021 Oct 28;9(11):1250. doi: 10.3390/vaccines9111250.
  4. Lai CK, Lui GC, Chen Z, Cheung YY, Cheng KC, Leung AS, Ng RW, Cheung JL, Yeung AC, Ho WC, Chan KC, Hui DS, Tsang DN, Chan PK. Comparison of self-collected mouth gargle with deep-throat saliva samples for the diagnosis of COVID-19. J Infect. 2021 Jul 25:S0163-4453(21)00354-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2021.07.012.
  5. Wong MCS, Wong ELY, Huang J, Cheung AWL, Law K, Chong MKC, Ng RWY, Lai CKC, Boon SS, Lau JTF, Chen Z, Chan PKS. Acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine based on the health belief model: A population-based survey in Hong Kong. Vaccine. 2021 Feb 12;39(7):1148-1156. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.12.083.
  6. Wong MCS, Ng RWY, Chong KC, Lai CKC, Huang J, Chen Z, Boon SS, Chan PKS. Stringent containment measures without complete city lockdown to achieve low incidence and mortality across two waves of COVID-19 in Hong Kong. BMJ Glob Health. 2020 Oct;5(10):e003573. doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2020-003573. PMID: 33028700; PMCID: PMC7542625. Journal Impact Factor ™ (2021): 8.056; Rank: Public, environmental & occupational health in SCIE edition (24/210); Citations: 14
  7. Wong MC, Huang J, Lai C, Ng R, Chan FKL, Chan PKS. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in fecal specimens of patients with confirmed COVID-19: a meta-analysis [published online ahead of print, 2020 Jun 11]. J Infect. 2020;S0163-4453(20)30394-7. doi:10.1016/j.jinf.2020.06.012.
  8. Wong ATY, Chen H, Liu SH, Hsu EK, Luk KS, Lai CKC, Chan RFY, Tsang OTY, Choi KW, Kwan YW, Tong AYH, Cheng VCC, Tsang DNC; Central Committee on Infectious Diseases and Emergency Response, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.; From SARS to Avian Influenza Preparedness in Hong Kong, Clinical Infectious Diseases, Volume 64, Issue suppl_2, 15 May 2017, Pages S98–S104, https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/cix123. Journal Impact Factor ™ (2021): 20.999; Rank: Microbiology in SCIE edition (6/136); Citations: 22.
  1. Cheung MK, Tong SLY, Wong MCS, Chan JYK, Ip M, Hui M, Lai CKC, Ng RWY, Ho WCS, Yeung ACM, Chan PKS, Chen Z. Extent of Oral-Gut Transmission of Bacterial and Fungal Microbiota in Healthy Chinese Adults. Microbiol Spectr. 2023 Jan 10:e0281422. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.02814-22. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36625652.
  2. Ling L, Lai CKC, Lui G, Yeung ACM, Chan HC, Cheuk CHS, Cheung AN, Chang LC, Chiu LCS, Zhang JZ, Wong W-T, Hui DSC, Wong CK, Chan PKS and Chen Z. Characterization of upper airway microbiome across severity of COVID-19 during hospitalization and treatment. (2023) Characterization of upper airway microbiome across severity of COVID-19 during hospitalization and treatment. Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol. 13:1205401. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1205401
  3. Lai CKC, Cheung MK, Lui GCY, Ling L, Chan JYK, Ng RWY, Chan HC, Yeung ACM, Ho WCS, Boon SS, Chan PKS, Chen Z. Limited Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the Human Naso-Oropharyngeal Microbiota in Hospitalized Patients. Microbiol Spectr. 2022 Nov 9:e0219622. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.02196-22.
  4. Zuo T, Zhang F, Lui GCY, Yeoh YK, Li AYL, Zhan H, Wan Y, Chung A, Cheung CP, Chen N, Lai CKC, Chen Z, Tso EYK, Fung KSC, Chan V, Ling L, Joynt G, Hui DSC, Chan FKL, Chan PKS, Ng SC, Alterations in Gut Microbiota of Patients With COVID-19 During Time of Hospitalization, Gastroenterology (2020), doi: https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2020.05.048.
  1. Lai CKC, Ng RWY, Leung SSY, Hui M, Ip M. Overcoming the rising incidence and evolving mechanisms of antibiotic resistance by novel drug delivery approaches – An overview. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2021 Dec 9;181:114078. doi: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.114078.
  2. Zhu C, Li C, Lai CKC, Ng R, Chau KY, Wong KT, Lo NWS, Barua N, Yang Y, Liyanapathirana V, Hui M, Lai RW, Fung KSC, Tsang DN, Ip M. Longitudinal Genomic Characterization of Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) Reveals Changing Pattern of CPE Isolated in Hong Kong Hospitals. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2021 Nov;58(5):106430. doi: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2021.106430.
  3. Lai CKC, Ng RWY, Wong MCS, Chong KC, Yeoh YK, Chen Z, Chan PKS. Epidemiological characteristics of the first 100 cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China, a city with a stringent containment policy. Int J Epidemiol. 2020 Aug 1;49(4):1096-1105. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyaa106.
  4. Leung HH, Lai CK, Yeung KL, Kwan JK, Tsang DN.. Multilevel antimicrobial disinfectant coating in reducing the viability of multidrug-resistant organisms in hospital environment. Hong Kong Med J 2018;24(Suppl 6):S37-9.
  5. Ip M, Lai CK, Fung KSC, Wong KT, Zhu C, Van de Velde S, Tsang DN, Hawkey P. Activity of temocillin and 15 other agents, including fosfomycin and colistin, against Enterobacteriaceae in Hong Kong. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis (2017) 36: 2491. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-017-3091-8.
  6. Chung, HY; Wong, CWY; Lai, CKC; Siu, HK; Tsang, DNC; Yeung,KY; Ip, DKM; Tam, PKH A prospective interventional study to examine the effect of silver alloy and hydrogel–coated catheter on the incidence of catheter-associated urinary tract infection Hong Kong Med J. 2017 Jun;23(3):239-45. doi: 10.12809/hkmj164906.
  7. Lai CK, Wong SY, Lee SS, Siu HK, Chiu CY, Tsang DN, Ip MP, Hung CT. A hospital-wide screening programme to control an outbreak of vancomycin-resistant enterococci in a large tertiary hospital in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Med J. 2017 Feb 24.
  8. C.K.C. Lai, W.M. Chuang, M.Y. Kong, H.K. Siu, D.N.C. Tsang. Antimicrobial susceptibility in hospitals in Hong Kong: The current status 2009–2011. Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance 2 (2014) 225–231
  9. Lai CK, Cheng KL, Lee SY, Siu HK, Tsang DN. Outbreak of influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in a nursing school in Hong Kong. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2010 Jun; 31(6):653-5.

Back