Dr. Chiu major research interest focuses on the “Retina Brain Research” direction, includes: (1) multi-modal retinal imaging/function markers of stress-related symptoms and resilience; (2) neuroprotection and regeneration in retinal and optic nerve disease. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology and a Principal Investigator in the State Key Laboratory (SKL) of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the University of Hong Kong; and a Visiting Professor in NanKai University Eye Hospital, School of Medicine, NanKai University, Tianjin, China.

She established broad networks with peers in neuroscience, ophthalmology, and visual sciences both in Hong Kong and mainland China, resulting in productive collaborations in both industry and academia. We are evaluating computational retinal microvasculature biomarkers (CRMBs) through a computerized automatic analytical system based on fractal analysis using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) images. With newly defined CRMBs, we are setting up early diagnostic parameters on various retinal degenerations as well as systemic diseases through the structural and functional evaluation of retina. In another collaborative research, we used iPSC-MSC as a donor of mitochondria to the degenerating neurons in situ, as well as potentiate the viability of the stem cell for transplantation using novel nanomaterial together with electrical stimulation. These works were published in Theranostics (2019) and Biomaterials (2020), respectively.

She published more than 50 papers, 5 book chapters, and over 70 abstracts, the vast majority of which involve basic science as well as translational studies. In the past 6 years, 2 Ph. D and 1 M. Phil students graduated, and 4 postdocs were trained in her lab. With the expertise in the animal model establishment, her major basic science research field is retinal neuroprotection and regeneration. The primary aim of the translational bench work is to use different strategies, including electrical stimulation, immune modulation, mesenchymal stem cell and Lycium barbarum to safeguard retinal neurons during disease pathogenesis. Our current collaborative work with Neurotech is an example how our retinal degenerative disease animal model platform can be used for neuroprotection. The wireless trans-scleral electrical stimulation (TsES) method will likely evolve into an innovative, minimally invasive, and low-cost implant that can be used for both neuroprotection and immune modulation in the eye.

Another line of research in her laboratory concentrates on how our eyes reflect pathological changes in various neurodegenerative diseases, particularly in regards to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Her investigation of the eye as a window to monitor and investigate brain neurodegeneration in AD has been recognized in recent publications. To innovatively address the mechanism of LB using the retina as a proxy for the brain, we use in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro techniques in conjunction with behavioral, functional, histopathological, and gene expression analyses along with cytokine evaluation. Combining these types of investigations in the future will allow us to further examine the eye as a proxy for the brain during the progression of neurodegeneration and monitor the treatment effect.

As a PI in the SKL of Brain and Cognitive Science, she is actively exploring “looking through the eye into the soul”. She is a co-investigator of a ten million CNY project “Deep phenotyping and molecular genetic analysis across the spectrum of schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, and major depression disorders” in mainland China during 2020 to 2023. COVID-19 challenges the whole society both physically and mentally. Stress-related psychopathologies such as major depressive disorder (MDD), anxiety, conduct disorders, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) perturb behavioral, cognitive, and social domains and exacerbate one’s reactivity to stressful events are included. With the collaboration with ophthalmologist and psychologists, her clinical research focus is on the multi-modal retinal imaging/function markers of stress-related symptoms and resilience: towards prevention and intervention for promoting mental health in the context of stress.