Haogao GU
Room 5-28, Laboratory Block, E-mail: [email protected]
21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Mobile: (852)96372964
Hong Kong Website: guhaogao.com
EDUCATION
• PhD (Infectious Disease), The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China Sep. 2016 – Oct. 2020
• BMed (Preventive Medicine), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China Sep. 2011 – Jun. 2016
EXPERIENCE
• Research Assistant Professor (School of Public Health), The University of Hong Kong Jul. 2024 – Present
• Visiting scholar (Evolutionary dynamics of infectious diseases), Institut Pasteur Dec. 2024 – Present
Mentor: Sebastian Duchene, Department of computational Biology
• Postdoctoral fellow (School of Public Health), The University of Hong Kong Jan. 2021 – Jun. 2024
• Intern (AIDS Control, Environmental Health), Zhongshan CDC Oct. 2015 – Jan. 2016
• Clinical intern, Huizhou Municipal Central Hospital Jul. 2015 – Sep. 2015
Department of cardiovascular medicine, Gastroenterology and Infectious disease
• Clinical intern, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University Sep. 2014 – Nov. 2014
Department of Nephrology, Gastroenterology, Paediatrics, Neurology and Infectious diseases
HONORS AND AWARDS
• The HKU-Pasteur Fellowship (4th edition), HKU-Pasteur Research Pole Apr. 2024
• Faculty Outstanding Research Output Award, The University of Hong Kong Feb. 2024
awarded twice on two projects
• RGC postdoctoral fellowship, University Grant Committee (Hong Kong) Apr. 2023
totalling stipend > 1.2 million HKD for 36 months
• Outstanding project team on COVID-19 research award, Food and Health Bureau (Hong Kong) Nov. 2021
• Postgraduate Scholarship, The University of Hong Kong 2016–2020
• Best student poster, International Symposium for One Health Research (Guangzhou) 2014
• Individual Scholarship, Sun Yat-sen University 2013
• The Third Prize Scholarship, Sun Yat-sen University 2012
• First Prize, Chinese National Olympiad in Biology Sep. 2010
with guaranteed admission to Sun Yat-sen University
GRANTS
• Investigation of repeated influenza vaccination for epitope focusing 2023-2025
NIH CEIRR Option, University of Georgia, $454,428 (USD)
Role: Key personnel (PI: Sophie Valkenburg)
TEACHING
• Scientific Skills (LMLS6003), MSc in Biomedical Science, HKU SPACE Oct. 2024
Lecturer for 6 classes on Data Handling in Bioinformatics
• Applied Medical Microbiology (LMLS6004), MSc in Biomedical Science, HKU SPACE Nov. 2024
Lecturer for 2 classes on Bioinformatic Tutorial
Room 5-28, Laboratory Block, E-mail: [email protected]
21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Mobile: (852)96372964
Hong Kong Website: guhaogao.com
EDUCATION
• PhD (Infectious Disease), The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China Sep. 2016 – Oct. 2020
• BMed (Preventive Medicine), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China Sep. 2011 – Jun. 2016
EXPERIENCE
• Research Assistant Professor (School of Public Health), The University of Hong Kong Jul. 2024 – Present
• Visiting scholar (Evolutionary dynamics of infectious diseases), Institut Pasteur Dec. 2024 – Present
Mentor: Sebastian Duchene, Department of computational Biology
• Postdoctoral fellow (School of Public Health), The University of Hong Kong Jan. 2021 – Jun. 2024
• Intern (AIDS Control, Environmental Health), Zhongshan CDC Oct. 2015 – Jan. 2016
• Clinical intern, Huizhou Municipal Central Hospital Jul. 2015 – Sep. 2015
Department of cardiovascular medicine, Gastroenterology and Infectious disease
• Clinical intern, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University Sep. 2014 – Nov. 2014
Department of Nephrology, Gastroenterology, Paediatrics, Neurology and Infectious diseases
HONORS AND AWARDS
• The HKU-Pasteur Fellowship (4th edition), HKU-Pasteur Research Pole Apr. 2024
• Faculty Outstanding Research Output Award, The University of Hong Kong Feb. 2024
awarded twice on two projects
• RGC postdoctoral fellowship, University Grant Committee (Hong Kong) Apr. 2023
totalling stipend > 1.2 million HKD for 36 months
• Outstanding project team on COVID-19 research award, Food and Health Bureau (Hong Kong) Nov. 2021
• Postgraduate Scholarship, The University of Hong Kong 2016–2020
• Best student poster, International Symposium for One Health Research (Guangzhou) 2014
• Individual Scholarship, Sun Yat-sen University 2013
• The Third Prize Scholarship, Sun Yat-sen University 2012
• First Prize, Chinese National Olympiad in Biology Sep. 2010
with guaranteed admission to Sun Yat-sen University
GRANTS
• Investigation of repeated influenza vaccination for epitope focusing 2023-2025
NIH CEIRR Option, University of Georgia, $454,428 (USD)
Role: Key personnel (PI: Sophie Valkenburg)
TEACHING
• Scientific Skills (LMLS6003), MSc in Biomedical Science, HKU SPACE Oct. 2024
Lecturer for 6 classes on Data Handling in Bioinformatics
• Applied Medical Microbiology (LMLS6004), MSc in Biomedical Science, HKU SPACE Nov. 2024
Lecturer for 2 classes on Bioinformatic Tutorial
PUBLICATIONS
Summary
Papers in peer-reviewed journals: 39 (citations: 2033; h-index: 18)
- first-/last- authored papers 14
Journal papers (in reverse chronological order):
1. Wanying Sun, Ka Tim Choy, Ka Man Cheng, Christopher J Brackman, Samuel MS Cheng, Thomas HC Sit, CN
Anne, Leslie D Sims, Haogao Gu, Amy WY Tang, Andrew NC Wong, Andrew TL Tsang, Joe CT Koo, Leo LH Luk,
Hui-Ling Yen, Malik Peris, Leo LM Poon. Detection and characterisation of high pathogenicity avian influenza virus
(H5N1/H5N8) clade 2.3. 4.4 b, Hong Kong SAR, China, 2021 to 2024. EUROSURVEILLANCE, 2400839. (2025) (IF: 9.9)
2. Yi Cao, Alex WH Chin, Haogao Gu, Mengting Li, Yuner Gu, Sylvia PN Lau, Kenrie PY Hui, Michael CW Chan,
Leo LM Poon. An interferon-stimulated long non-coding RNA USP30-AS1 as an immune modulator in influenza A virus
infection. PLOS PATHOGENS, e1012854. (2025) (IF: 5.5)
3. Gonghua Wu, Shenghao Wang, Wenjing Wu, Tarik Benmarhnia, Shao Lin, Kai Zhang, Xiaobo Xue Romeiko, Hao-
gao Gu, Yanji Qu, Jianpeng Xiao, Xinlei Deng, Ziqiang Lin, Zhicheng Du, Wangjian Zhang, Yuantao Hao. Potential
causal links of long-term PM2. 5 components exposure with diabetes incidence and mortality in the United States. SUS-
TAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY, 106071. (2024) (IF: 10.3)
4. Xiaowen Wang, Yuqin Zhang, Benmarhnia Tarik, Kai Zhang, Shao Lin, Xinlei Deng, Haogao Gu, Wenjing Wu, Xiao
Lin, Zhicheng Du, Ying Wang, Yanji Qu, Ziqiang Lin, Man Zhang, Yongqing Sun, Guang-hui Dong, Yongyue Wei,
Wangjian Zhang, Yuantao Hao. The effect of residential greenness on cardiovascular mortality from a large cohort in South
China: An in-depth analysis of effect modification by multiple demographic and lifestyle characteristics. ENVIRONMENT
INTERNATIONAL, 108894. (2024) (IF: 9.61)
5. Chase Nelson, Leo L.M. Poon, Haogao Gu. Reply to: Population genetic considerations regarding the interpretation of
within-patient SARS-CoV-2 polymorphism data. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 15, 3239. (2024) (IF: 17.694)
6. Janice Jia*, Carolyn Cohen*, Haogao Gu*, Milla McLean, Raghavan Varadarajan, Nisha Bhandari, Malik Peiris,
Gabriel Leung, Leo Poon, Amy Chung, Benjamin Cowling , Nancy Leung , Tim Tsang, Sophie Valkenburg. Influenza
antibody breadth and effector functions are immune correlates from acquisition of pandemic infection of children. NATURE
COMMUNICATIONS, 15, 3210. (2024) (IF: 17.694)
7. Samuel M.S. Cheng, Chris K.P. Mok, John K.C. Li, Ken K.P. Chan, Kristine S. Luk, Ben H.W. Lee, Haogao Gu, Karl
C.K. Chan, Leo C.H. Tsang, Karen Y.S. Yiu, Ken K.C. Ling, Yun Sang Tang, Leo L.H. Luk, Jennifer K.M. Yu, Andrew
Pekosz, Richard J. Webby, Benjamin J. Cowling, David S.C. Hui, Malik Peiris. Cross-neutralizing antibody against
emerging Omicron subvariants of SARS-CoV-2 in infection-na ̈ıve individuals with homologous BNT162b2 or BNT162b2
(WT+ BA. 4/5) bivalent booster vaccination. VIROLOGY JOURNAL, 21(1), 1-7. (2024) (IF: 4.8)
8. Xiaoqing Xu, Yu Deng, Jiahui Ding, Xianghui Shi, Xiawan Zheng, Dou Wang, Yu Yang, Lei Liu, Chunxiao Wang,
Shuxian Li, Haogao Gu, Leo LM Poon, Tong Zhang. Refining detection methods for emerging SARS-CoV-2 mutants in
wastewater: A case study on the Omicron variants. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT, 904, 166215. (2023) (IF:
9.8)
9. Xiaoqing Xu, Yu Deng, Jiahui Ding, Xiawan Zheng, Chunxiao Wang, Dou Wang, Lei Liu, Haogao Gu, Malik Peiris,
Leo L.M. Poon, Tong Zhang. Wastewater genomic sequencing for SARS-CoV-2 variants surveillance in wastewater-based
epidemiology applications. WATER RESEARCH, 244, 120444. (2023) (IF: 12.8)
10. Ming Z. M. Zheng, Tiong Kit Tan, Fernando Villalon-Letelier, Hilda Lau, Yi-Mo Deng, Svenja Fritzlar, Sophie A.
Valkenburg, Haogao Gu, Leo L. M. Poon, Patrick C. Reading, Alain R. Townsend, Linda M. Wakim. Single-cycle
influenza virus vaccine generates lung CD8+ Trm that cross react against viral variants and subvert virus escape mutants.
SCIENCE ADVANCES, 9 (36), eadg3469. (2023) (IF: 13.6)
11. Ruopeng Xie, Kimberly M. Edwards, Dillon C. Adam, Kathy S.M. Leung, Tim K. Tsang, Shreya Gurung, Weijia
Xiong, Xiaoman Wei, Daisy Y.M. Ng, Gigi Y.Z. Liu, Pavithra Krishnan, Lydia D.J. Chang, Samuel M.S. Cheng,
Haogao Gu, Gilman K.H. Siu, Joseph T. Wu, Gabriel M. Leung, Malik Peiris, Benjamin J. Cowling, Leo L.M. Poon,
Vijaykrishna Dhanasekaran. Resurgence of Omicron BA.2 in SARS-CoV-2 infection-naive Hong Kong. NATURE COM-
MUNICATIONS, 14, 2422. (2023) (IF: 17.694)
Summary
Papers in peer-reviewed journals: 39 (citations: 2033; h-index: 18)
- first-/last- authored papers 14
Journal papers (in reverse chronological order):
1. Wanying Sun, Ka Tim Choy, Ka Man Cheng, Christopher J Brackman, Samuel MS Cheng, Thomas HC Sit, CN
Anne, Leslie D Sims, Haogao Gu, Amy WY Tang, Andrew NC Wong, Andrew TL Tsang, Joe CT Koo, Leo LH Luk,
Hui-Ling Yen, Malik Peris, Leo LM Poon. Detection and characterisation of high pathogenicity avian influenza virus
(H5N1/H5N8) clade 2.3. 4.4 b, Hong Kong SAR, China, 2021 to 2024. EUROSURVEILLANCE, 2400839. (2025) (IF: 9.9)
2. Yi Cao, Alex WH Chin, Haogao Gu, Mengting Li, Yuner Gu, Sylvia PN Lau, Kenrie PY Hui, Michael CW Chan,
Leo LM Poon. An interferon-stimulated long non-coding RNA USP30-AS1 as an immune modulator in influenza A virus
infection. PLOS PATHOGENS, e1012854. (2025) (IF: 5.5)
3. Gonghua Wu, Shenghao Wang, Wenjing Wu, Tarik Benmarhnia, Shao Lin, Kai Zhang, Xiaobo Xue Romeiko, Hao-
gao Gu, Yanji Qu, Jianpeng Xiao, Xinlei Deng, Ziqiang Lin, Zhicheng Du, Wangjian Zhang, Yuantao Hao. Potential
causal links of long-term PM2. 5 components exposure with diabetes incidence and mortality in the United States. SUS-
TAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY, 106071. (2024) (IF: 10.3)
4. Xiaowen Wang, Yuqin Zhang, Benmarhnia Tarik, Kai Zhang, Shao Lin, Xinlei Deng, Haogao Gu, Wenjing Wu, Xiao
Lin, Zhicheng Du, Ying Wang, Yanji Qu, Ziqiang Lin, Man Zhang, Yongqing Sun, Guang-hui Dong, Yongyue Wei,
Wangjian Zhang, Yuantao Hao. The effect of residential greenness on cardiovascular mortality from a large cohort in South
China: An in-depth analysis of effect modification by multiple demographic and lifestyle characteristics. ENVIRONMENT
INTERNATIONAL, 108894. (2024) (IF: 9.61)
5. Chase Nelson, Leo L.M. Poon, Haogao Gu. Reply to: Population genetic considerations regarding the interpretation of
within-patient SARS-CoV-2 polymorphism data. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 15, 3239. (2024) (IF: 17.694)
6. Janice Jia*, Carolyn Cohen*, Haogao Gu*, Milla McLean, Raghavan Varadarajan, Nisha Bhandari, Malik Peiris,
Gabriel Leung, Leo Poon, Amy Chung, Benjamin Cowling , Nancy Leung , Tim Tsang, Sophie Valkenburg. Influenza
antibody breadth and effector functions are immune correlates from acquisition of pandemic infection of children. NATURE
COMMUNICATIONS, 15, 3210. (2024) (IF: 17.694)
7. Samuel M.S. Cheng, Chris K.P. Mok, John K.C. Li, Ken K.P. Chan, Kristine S. Luk, Ben H.W. Lee, Haogao Gu, Karl
C.K. Chan, Leo C.H. Tsang, Karen Y.S. Yiu, Ken K.C. Ling, Yun Sang Tang, Leo L.H. Luk, Jennifer K.M. Yu, Andrew
Pekosz, Richard J. Webby, Benjamin J. Cowling, David S.C. Hui, Malik Peiris. Cross-neutralizing antibody against
emerging Omicron subvariants of SARS-CoV-2 in infection-na ̈ıve individuals with homologous BNT162b2 or BNT162b2
(WT+ BA. 4/5) bivalent booster vaccination. VIROLOGY JOURNAL, 21(1), 1-7. (2024) (IF: 4.8)
8. Xiaoqing Xu, Yu Deng, Jiahui Ding, Xianghui Shi, Xiawan Zheng, Dou Wang, Yu Yang, Lei Liu, Chunxiao Wang,
Shuxian Li, Haogao Gu, Leo LM Poon, Tong Zhang. Refining detection methods for emerging SARS-CoV-2 mutants in
wastewater: A case study on the Omicron variants. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT, 904, 166215. (2023) (IF:
9.8)
9. Xiaoqing Xu, Yu Deng, Jiahui Ding, Xiawan Zheng, Chunxiao Wang, Dou Wang, Lei Liu, Haogao Gu, Malik Peiris,
Leo L.M. Poon, Tong Zhang. Wastewater genomic sequencing for SARS-CoV-2 variants surveillance in wastewater-based
epidemiology applications. WATER RESEARCH, 244, 120444. (2023) (IF: 12.8)
10. Ming Z. M. Zheng, Tiong Kit Tan, Fernando Villalon-Letelier, Hilda Lau, Yi-Mo Deng, Svenja Fritzlar, Sophie A.
Valkenburg, Haogao Gu, Leo L. M. Poon, Patrick C. Reading, Alain R. Townsend, Linda M. Wakim. Single-cycle
influenza virus vaccine generates lung CD8+ Trm that cross react against viral variants and subvert virus escape mutants.
SCIENCE ADVANCES, 9 (36), eadg3469. (2023) (IF: 13.6)
11. Ruopeng Xie, Kimberly M. Edwards, Dillon C. Adam, Kathy S.M. Leung, Tim K. Tsang, Shreya Gurung, Weijia
Xiong, Xiaoman Wei, Daisy Y.M. Ng, Gigi Y.Z. Liu, Pavithra Krishnan, Lydia D.J. Chang, Samuel M.S. Cheng,
Haogao Gu, Gilman K.H. Siu, Joseph T. Wu, Gabriel M. Leung, Malik Peiris, Benjamin J. Cowling, Leo L.M. Poon,
Vijaykrishna Dhanasekaran. Resurgence of Omicron BA.2 in SARS-CoV-2 infection-naive Hong Kong. NATURE COM-
MUNICATIONS, 14, 2422. (2023) (IF: 17.694)