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Nicole Ngai Yung Tsang

Dr

14/02/1995

Y3830

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+85260870676

Flat 28A, Block 1, Illumination Terrace, 5 Tai Hang Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong

RGC

In the Forum, I look forward to presenting my research findings on COVID-19, and receiving valuable comments from scientists in multidisciplinary fields, to refine my ideas and maximize the impact of my research in the field.

Participating in different plenary and breakout sessions, I aim to broaden my interests in scientific enquiry and research methodology, foster my global perspectives, enhance my professional skills, and gain new insights for innovative research ideas, to stay in the forefront of the field.

The technical visits will allow me to familiarise myself with the latest methodologies and scientific development, to explore future research directions. The scholarly discussion will give me enlightenment on the translation of research findings into practice.

Interacting with different young scientists and distinguished researchers from various disciplines around the world, I can increase my exposure, establish connections for research projects, and gain highly valuable advice on the research journey. Sharing our research experience will enable me to gain a deeper determination to pursue my passions about scientific research and continue my research journey. I am confident that the Forum would enrich my research experience, and my full participation would be beneficial to my career development in scientific research.

Postdoc

Infectious disease epidemiology and public health

The University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong

2024 RGC Postdoctoral Fellowship
2024 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Global Top-Rated Poster
2024 JSPH International Participant Award
2024 Fellow, Royal Society of Public Health
2023 Young Investigator Award, International Society for Influenza and other Respiratory Virus Diseases
2023 HKU Foundation Publication Award for Research Postgraduate Students
2023 Leong Che-Hung Medical and Research Enrichment Scholarship
2022 Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Professional Development Award, International Society for Infectious Diseases
2022 Associate Fellow, Advanced Higher Education
2021 Young Scientist Award, European Scientific Working Group on Influenza

Vaccines was reported to offer moderate protection against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 infection. With consecutive waves of evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants, the population immunity was increasingly impacted by repeated doses of vaccine and/ or rounds of natural infection. A robust examination on the relative changing protection by vaccination and natural immunity over time in preventing infection incidence would be needed.

A representative cohort of 14930 participants aged 5 years and older with and without prior infection in Hong Kong has been maintained over 2 years since March 2022. Participants performed the rapid antigen tests regularly irrespective of symptom or exposure history in the BA.2, BA.5, XBB, and JN.1 waves. The protective effect of natural infection and vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 infection was estimated with a Cox proportional hazards regression model with time-dependent covariates, after adjustment for demographic factors and chronic conditions.

An up-to-date dose provided protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection in BA.2 wave, but conferred practically no additional or even negative protection in XBB and JN.1 waves. Our findings indicated that prior infection conferred the most substantial protection, with a protective effectiveness of 89% (95% CI: 83%-92%), 76% (72-79) and 45% (38%-51%) during periods of BA.2, BA.4/BA.5, and XBB predominance respectively.