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Prof. Benjamin Hon-kei YIP
葉漢基教授

Associate Professor
benyip@cuhk.edu.hk

Research Links

OCRID: 0000-0002-4749-7611

Scopus Author ID: 55589080100

Academic Appointments

  • Co-Director, Admission committee of Master of Public Health (MPH) Program
  • Capstone Coordinator, Master of Public Health (MPH) Program
  • College Coordinator, Chung Chi College (JCSPHPC)

Bio

Dr. Yip has pioneered the development and application of genetic epidemiological models to disentangle the genetic and environmental underpinnings of various diseases. His early works resolved a longstanding debate in psychiatry by demonstrating substantial genetic etiological overlap between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Building on this foundation, Dr. Yip led heritability estimations for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) across five nations, affirming the high heritability of ASD. He is participating in the SFARI Sex Differences Collaborations Project, aiming to unravel the reasons behind the higher incidence of ASD in males compared to females. He has critically examined the widely accepted female protective effect hypothesis and proposed an alternative genetic epidemiological model to account for the observed sex disparities in ASD prevalence. Dr. Yip’s contributions have been recognized through publication in prestigious journals, including The Lancet, JAMA Psychiatry, Biological Psychiatry, and Molecular Psychiatry, among others.

His secondary research focus lies in clinical epidemiology, where he actively engages in cross-disciplinary collaborations in clinical trials. As the principal biostatistician of 21 trials, he has directed trial designs, developed analytical plans, and executed effectiveness and cost-effectiveness analyses. Dr. Yip has a h-index of 31 (Mar 2024) and is among the top 2% most cited scientist. He is the Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) on 37 competitive grants, amassing a total of HK$120 million in research funding.

Dr. Yip has supervised numerous PhD students, with diverse research topics focusing on genetic epidemiology, health economics and other epidemiological topics.

Research Interest

  • Epidemiology and Genetic Epidemiology of Autism Spectrum Disorder:
    • My research delves into the epidemiological patterns of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), identifying prevalence and incidence rates across populations. I explore the genetic factors contributing to ASD, aiming to uncover the hereditary influences and potential genetic markers.By integrating epidemiological data with genetic insights, I seek to better understand the etiology and risk factors associated with ASD.
  • Real-World Data (RWD) Analysis:
    • My interest in RWD encompasses gathering extensive data from electronic health records, registries, and patient-generated sources. I employ various study designs, including prospective and retrospective cohort studies, case-control studies, and pragmatic clinical trials, to analyse RWD. The goal of my RWD research is to translate diverse data streams into actionable healthcare insights, ultimately improving patient care.
  • Economic Evaluation of Clinical Trials/RWD
    • I am engaged in the economic analysis of clinical trials, assessing the cost-effectiveness of medical interventions. My work involves modelling the financial impact of clinical outcomes, aiding in the allocation of healthcare resources. Through these evaluations, I contribute to the optimization of healthcare delivery by informing policy and investment decisions.

Recent Funded Research Projects

  • An Emulated Trial to Study the Impact of Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors on Dementia Risk in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Hong Kong
  • Lifestyle Modification Project for Middle-aged People

Selected Publications

  1. Zhang XJ, Zhang Y, Yip BHK, Kam KW, Tang F, Ling X, Ng MPH, Young AL, Wu PC, Tham CC, Chen LJ, Pang CP, Yam JC. Five-Year Clinical Trial of the Low-Concentration Atropine for Myopia Progression (LAMP) Study: Phase 4 Report. Ophthalmology. 2024 Sep;131(9):1011-1020. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2024.03.013.
  2. Sandin S, Yip BHK, Yin W, Weiss LA, Dougherty JD, Fass S, Constantino JN, Hailin Z, Turner TN, Marrus N, Gutmann DH, Sanders SJ, Christoffersson B. Examining Sex Differences in Autism Heritability. JAMA Psychiatry. 2024 Jul 1;81(7):673-680. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2024.0525.
  3. Agyekum S, Chan PP, Adjei PE, Zhang Y, Huo Z, Yip BHK, Ip P, Wong ICK, Zhang W, Tham CC, Chen LJ, Zhang XJ, Pang CP, Yam JC. Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Myopia Progression Interventions in Children. JAMA Netw Open. 2023 Nov 1;6(11):e2340986. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.40986.
  4. Wong SYS, Chan SKC, Yip BHK, Wang W, Lo HHM, Zhang D, Bögels SM. The Effects of Mindfulness for Youth (MYmind) versus Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Improving Attention and Reducing Behavioral Problems among Children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Their Parents: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Psychother Psychosom. 2023;92(6):379-390. doi: 10.1159/000534962.
  5. Bai D*, Marrus N, Yip BHK, Reichenberg A, Constantino JN, Sandin S. Inherited Risk for Autism Through Maternal and Paternal Lineage. Biol Psychiatry. 2020 Apr 2:S0006-3223(20)31384-6. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.03.013.
  6. Bai D*, Yip BHK, Windham GC, Sourander A, Francis R, Yoffe R, Glasson E, Mahjani B, Suominen A, Leonard H, Gissler M, Buxbaum JD, Wong K, Schendel D, Kodesh A, Breshnahan M, Levine SZ, Parner ET, Hansen SN, Hultman C, Reichenberg A, Sandin S. Association of Genetic and Environmental Factors With Autism in a 5-Country Cohort. JAMA Psychiatry. 2019 Jul 17;. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.1411.
  7. Yip BHK, Bai D, Mahjani B, Klei L, Pawitan Y, Hultman CM, Grice DE, Roeder K, Buxbaum JD, Devlin B, Reichenberg A, Sandin S. Heritable Variation, With Little or No Maternal Effect , Accounts for Recurrence Risk to Autism Spectrum Disorder in Sweden. Biological Psychiatry. 2018;83:589–97.
  8. Yip BHK, Leonard H, Stock S, Stoltenberg C, Francis RW, Gissler M, Gross R, Schendel D, Sandin S. Caesarean section and risk of autism across gestational age: a multi-national cohort study of 5 million births. International Journal of Epidemiology. 2017;46:429-439.
  9. Lichtenstein P, Yip BH, Björk C, Pawitan Y, Cannon TD, Sullivan PF, Hultman CM. Common genetic determinants of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in Swedish families: a population-based study. The Lancet. 2009;373:234-9.
  10. Yip BH, Pawitan Y, Czene K. Parental age and risk of childhood cancers: A population-based cohort study from Sweden. International Journal of Epidemiology. 2006;35:1495-503