In this project, we systematically investigate intra- and interindividual moderators of therapeutic repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) effects on prefrontal cortex. We utilize concurrent rTMS/fMRI and concurrent rTMS/fNIRS to cross-validate target engagement. The project is funded by the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

In this randomized, multicentre, triple-arm, controlled clinical trial, we aim to compare the efficacy of different stimulation intensities in a 4-week treatment of daily intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) in patients with major depression. The project is funded by the Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF), the Health Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.

In this three-arm pilot study, we will systematically assess the modulatory role of brain state to prefrontal excitability and its effects on the outcome following therapeutic rTMS. In each arm, prolonged intermittent theta burst stimulation (piTBS) of the left DLPFC will be used concurrently with fNIRS. This project is funded by an internal grant of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

In this project, we utilize the combination of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) with brain stimulation to systematically investigate stimulation-induced modulation of blood oxygenation as a proxy for induced brain activity changes. We aim to elucidate the utility of stimulation-induced brain modulation for the prediction of a recurrence of a major depressive episode in patients who are currently remitted from a major depressive disorder. This project is funded by a General Research Fund of the RGC Research Grants Council.

In this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial, we probe the utility of transcranial pulse stimulation (TPS) as a modern antidepressant treatment. This is the first double-blind RCT worldwide on the use of TPS for depression in psychiatry. This study is funded by a fund of the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

In this research project, we conduct a series of pilot studies using transcranial pulse stimulation (TPS) to (1) investigate the dose-response relationship of TPS on neural activation, (2) optimize TPS treatment parameters for its clinical utilization, and (3) compare the effect of different stimulation targets on neural network organization. The study is funded by an internal grant of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

This project has two objectives: the first objective is to develop concurrent NIBS/brain imaging protocols that guide treatment individualization; the second objective is to develop TPS protocols for individualized treatment in mental health. This project is supported by a Strategic Hiring Scheme Start-up Grant of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

In this project, we use concurrent TBS/fNIRS to systematically investigate TBS-induced modulation of blood oxygenation as a proxy for induced brain activity changes. The project aims to (1) elucidate the immediate effects of excitatory and inhibitory TBS on prefrontal activity in TBS treatment-naïve patients with MDD and (2) validate the potential utility of TBS-induced brain modulation at baseline for the prediction of antidepressant response to four weeks of daily TBS treatment. The project is funded by a General Research Fund of the RGC Research Grants Council.

This project aims to strengthen academic relations between the Department of Psychiatry at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, a leading psychiatric center in Germany, and the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The project is funded by the Germany/Hong Kong Joint Research Scheme of the RGC Research Grants Council.

In this study, we systematically investigate the neuromodulatory process underlying priming stimulation to enhance metaplasticity in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) – one of the main targets for therapeutic rTMS – in individuals with subclinical depression. This project is funded by an Early Career Scheme Grant of the RGC Research Grants Council.