Prof. Liz Lirong Cao
曹莉蓉教授
Research Links
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5793-3878
Bio
Prof. Liz Lirong Cao obtained her Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She received comprehensive training in clinical medicine, public health research, biostatistical methodologies, and epidemiological study design and analysis, providing her with a strong interdisciplinary foundation for health-related research. Her research interests include genetic epidemiology and bioinformatics, with a particular focus on in silico methods for real-time vaccine effectiveness assessment and the evolutionary dynamics of seasonal influenza and other respiratory pathogens. Her work has strong translational potential, with direct applications in industry, particularly for vaccine antigen design and optimization. Prof. Cao has received the Young Scholars Thesis Award, was selected as a Nominated Participant at the Global Young Scientists Summit (GYSS) 2025 and was awarded the Dr. Barbara Kwok Young Postdoctoral Researcher Travel Grant. Since 2025, she has served as a Research Assistant Professor at the JC School of Public Health and Primary Care.
Research Interest
- Bioinformatics and computational modeling of infectious diseases
- Vaccine effectiveness evaluation
- Viral evolution and genetic epidemiology
- Respiratory viruses: Influenza, COVID-19, RSV
- Arboviral diseases: Chikungunya
Recent Funded Research Projects
- PI, CUHK IdeaBooster Fund, Toward Next-Generation Influenza Vaccines: In Silico Design of Neuraminidase Immunogens for Broad Influenza Immunity.
- CO-I, CUHK Direct Grant. T-cell epitope prediction for developing broadly reactive influenza vaccine antigen.
Selected Publications
- Lou J*, Liang W*, Cao L*, Hu I, Zhao S, Chen Z, Chan RW, Cheung PPH, Zheng H, Liu C, Li Q, Chong MKC, Zhang Y, Yeoh EK, Chan PKY, Zee BCY, Mok CKP, Wang MH. Predictive evolutionary modelling for influenza virus by site-based dynamics of mutation. Nature Communications. 2024 Mar 21;15(1):2546. IF=16.6. Rank 7/134 in Multidisciplinary Sciences (*Co-first author)
- Cao L, Lou J, Chan SY, Zheng H, Liu C, Zhao S, Li Q, Mok KP, Chan SY, Chan RWY, Chong MKC, Wu WKK, Chen Z, Wong ELY, Chan PKY, Zee BCY, Yeoh EK, Wang MH. Rapid evaluation of COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic infection with SARS-CoV-2 variants by analysis of genetic distance. Nature Medicine. 2022 Jun 16:1-8. IF=87.244. Rank 1/139 in Medicine, Research and Experimental
- Wang MH*, Lou J*, Cao L*, Zhao S, Chan RW, Chan PK, Chan MC, Chong MK, Wu WK, Wei Y, Zhang H, Zee BC, Yeoh EK. Characterization of key amino acid substitutions and dynamics of the influenza virus H3N2 hemagglutinin. Journal of Infection. 2021 Dec 1;83(6):671-7. IF=38.637. Rank 4/95 in Infectious Diseases
- Cao L, Zhao S, Lou J, Zheng H, Chan RW, Chong MK, Chen Z, Chan PK, Zee BC, Wang MH. Differential Influence of Age on the Relationship between Genetic Mismatch and A (H1N1) pdm09 Vaccine Effectiveness. Viruses. 2021 Apr;13(4):619. IF=5.818. Rank 14/37 in Virology
- Cao L*, Lou J*, Zhao S*, Chan RW, Chan M, Wu WK, Chong MK, Zee BC, Yeoh EK, Wong SY, Chan PK, Wang MH. In silico prediction of influenza vaccine effectiveness by sequence analysis. Vaccine. 2021 Feb 12;39(7):1030-4. IF=4.169. Rank 73/139 in Medicine, Research and Experimental