Health Deep Sector Engagement Area

I graduated with a medical degree in China (2002) and a PhD in neuroscience from the University of Melbourne in 2006, followed by a postdoctoral research position at UNSW (2006-2008). My academic career started in 2008 when I joined UTS as a lecturer. I am an award-winning educator. My teaching focuses on human physiology and pathophysiology (including diseases in the endocrine, digestive, and nervous systems) and pharmacology (anti-diabetic drugs and anti-obesity medications). 

As a researcher, I am a leading authority on the effects of the adverse in-utero environmental risks (e.g. (e-)cigarettes or air pollution) on the health of offspring. My groundbreaking discoveries have influenced the policy on e-cigarette sales in Australia. My current research focuses on environmental toxin exposure-induced chronic diseases, including in-utero and direct exposure. My recent endeavours have been into early-onset dementia due to air pollution exposure and ageing-related dementia due to Alzheimer's Disease (AD), utilising diverse in vitro and in vivo models. The hallmark achievements of my investigations lie in the comprehensive assessment of neurocognitive dysfunction, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, epigenetic regulation, blood-brain barrier integrity, and glial hemichannel homeostasis

I am an epidemiologist and Public Health Physician with a track record of successfully undertaking impactful, transdisciplinary and translational longitudinal research with capacity to improve wellbeing for individuals within and across population contexts.

My most significant research roles include establishing the University of Auckland cross-faculty Centre for Longitudinal Research – He Ara ki Mua (C4LongR) in 2010 and being the Foundation Director & Principal Investigator of the contemporary longitudinal child cohort study Growing Up in New Zealand at the University of Auckland (UoA) from 2005 until 2022.

My expertise includes:

• Life course epidemiology - socio-ecological modelling of intergenerational and broad environmental influences that shape trajectories of health and wellbeing throughout the life course for individuals and populations
• Designing and evaluating multi-disciplinary scientific research protocols to respond to complex population health issues
• Application and innovation related to statistical methodologies relevant to longitudinal, linked administrative (Big data) and population datasets (quantitative and qualitative)
• Translational research - knowledge translation of scientifically robust research findings into robust evidence with capacity to inform cross-sectoral policy initiatives to improve wellbeing
• Applying a broad social determinants lens to health research - undertaking research with a view to addressing health inequities (unjust differences) in New Zealand and globally
• Challenging existing assumptions about scientific knowledge to seek context and population specific knowledge to inform systems and sector change (in health and beyond)
• Leading and inspiring multidisciplinary teams to achieve excellent, impactful research while successfully navigating challenges and disruptions in the research ecosystem and funding environment.