Professor Lou is a Professor in the Department of Social Work and Social Administration at The University of Hong Kong, serving as the Director of the Sau Po Centre on Ageing and the Master of Social Sciences (Gerontology) program. Her extensive research covers family caregiving, active ageing, and their health impacts, notably pioneering studies on Chinese family caregivers’ mental health and financial effects. Recently, her work has extended to exploring positive aspects of Chinese family caregiving, encompassing secondary caregivers, social support, domestic helper roles, intervention strategies, and gerontechnology. She is now teaching social gerontology, comprehensive geriatric assessments, and human development for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. She is also a member of the Community Investment and Inclusion Fund, the Statistics Advisory Board, the Elderly Academy Development Foundation, the Investor and Financial Education Council Advisory Group, and the Senior Police Force Central Advisory Board.
Professor Lou’s scholarship and contribution to the gerontology field have been recognized by the following awards: AmCham Women of Influence Award (Woman Change Maker in STEM) (2023); The Healthy Ageing 50, The UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2022); Senior Fellowship of Advance HE (2022); Smart Ageing Gold Award – Social & Community Engagement, Golden Age Foundation (2021); AGESW Career Achievement Award (2019).
Project Title | PI/Co-I | Funding Source & Amount | Period / Status |
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Opening the black box of a multicomponent intervention for informal dementia caregivers: A randomized controlled trial using the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) |
Co-I (PI: Prof. K. L. Chou, Department of Asian and Policy Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong) |
Health and Medical Research Fund (Ref. no. 18191781) HK$1,470,200 |
Dec 1 2021 – Nov 30 2023 Ongoing |
Wearable closed-loop neural control ‘Remind-to-move’ treatment for hemiparetic upper extremity in people with hemiplegia after stroke |
Co-PI (PI: Prof. K. Fong, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University) |
Research Impact Fund (Ref. no. R5028-20) HK$9,190,000 (Allocated to VW Lou: HK$400,000) |
May 1 2021 – Apr 30 2025 Ongoing |
Hospital discharge support and transitional care project for older people | PI |
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust HK$6,060,000 |
Apr 1 2021 – Mar 31 2024 Ongoing |
Evaluation of JC-Carer Alliance Project | PI |
Hong Kong Association of Gerontology HK$16,000,000 (Allocated to VW Lou: HK$600,000) |
Feb 1 2021 – Jan 31 2023 Ongoing |
An exploratory study on the institutionalization of a case management model for community care services in Hong Kong |
Co-I (PI: Dr. W. S. Kan, Felizberta Lo Padilla Tong School of Social Sciences, Caritas Institute of Higher Education) |
University Grants Committee Faculty Development Scheme (Ref. no. UGC/FDS11/H06/20) HK$387,420 |
Jan 1 2021 – Dec 31 2022 Ongoing |
Intelligent Robotics for Elderly Assistance in Hong Kong |
Co-PI (PI: Prof. W. P. Wang, Department of Computer Science, The University of Hong Kong) |
Theme-based Research Scheme (Ref. no. T42-717/20-R) HK$43,333,000 (Allocated to VW Lou: HK$3,600,000) |
Nov 1 2020 – Oct 31 2025 Ongoing |
Ecological momentary intervention for stroke caregivers’ psychological support: a andomized controlled trial |
Co-I (PI: Dr. J. J. Lee, School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong) |
Research Grant Council of Hong Kong (GRF) (Ref. no. 17617620) HK$734,456 |
Jan 20 2020 – Jul 12 2021 Completed |
When Both Spouses Have Functional Decline: Spousal Collaboration Dynamics in Mastering Daily Stressors Using Ecological Momentary Assessment | PI |
Research Grant Council of Hong Kong (GRF) (Ref. no. 17605119) HK$1,163,688 |
Jan 1 2020 – Jun 30 2022 Ongoing |
Third age planning and productive ageing for young-olds | PI |
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust HK$12,950,000 |
Nov 1 2019 – Apr 30 2023 Ongoing |
Social capital and the health among older populations in China: From the perspective of active aging framework |
Co-I (PI: Dr. N. Lu, School of Sociology and Population Studies, Renmin University of China) |
National Social Science Foundation of China (Ref. no. 19ASH018) HK$419,090/RMB350,000 |
Jul 1 2019 – Jul 31 2022 Ongoing |
Meaning making in dementia caregiving among adult children in Hong Kong: testing a generation model | PI |
Research Grant Council of Hong Kong (GRF) (Ref. no. 17613218) HK$604,020 |
Jan 1 2019 –Dec 31 2021 Ongoing |
Resident to resident aggression in residential care homes in Hong Kong: the interrelationship among resident characteristics, caregiving context and the physical environment |
Co-I (PI: Prof. E. C. W. Yan, Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University) |
Research Grant Council of Hong Kong (GRF) (Ref. no. 15606018) HK$680,420 |
Jan 1 2019 – Dec 31 2021 Ongoing |
Quality of life of lung cancer patients and effective intervention through supported care approach |
Co-I (PI: Prof. Y. P. He, Shanghai Jiao Tong University) |
National Natural Science Foundation of China (Ref. no. 71874111) HK$670,476/RMB560,000 |
Jan 1 2019 – Dec 31 2022 Ongoing |
Defining Sonhood: the exploration of lived experience of the caregiving sons in their late adulthood in Hong Kong | PI |
Research Grant Council of Hong Kong (PPR) (Ref. no. 2017.A8.076.18B) HK$607,582 |
Oct 3 2018 – Oct 2 2019 Completed |
Preventing elder mistreatment: resilience and risk patterns of family caregivers |
Co-I (PI: Dr. E. C. W. Yan, Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University) |
Research Grant Council of Hong Kong (GRF) (Ref. no. 15603017) HK$667,220 |
Jan 1 2018 – Dec 31 2020 Completed |
A study on the health status and social support needs of the elderly who provide home care |
Co-I (PI: Dr. X. Zhao, Peking University) |
National Natural Science Fund of China (NNSFC) (Ref. no. 71704006) HK$239,480/RMB200,000 |
Jan 1 2018 – Dec 31 2020 Completed |
Promotion of volunteerism among Hong Kong retirees: an intervention study |
Co-I (PI: Prof. K. L. Chou, Department of Asian and Policy Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong) |
Research Grant Council of Hong Kong (PPR) (Ref. no. 2016.A5.023.16C) HK$712,307 |
Jan 1 2017 – May 30 2018 Completed |
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION / MEMBERSHIP | |
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2022 – date | Member, Advisory Committee for the School of Social Sciences of Caritas Institute of Higher Education (CIHE) |
2022 – date | date Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) |
2018 – date | Member, British Society of Gerontology |
2016 – date | Associate Fellow, interRAI (A collaborative network of reserchers and practitioners in over 35 countries committed to improving care for persons who are disabled and/or medically complex) |
2015 – date | Fellow, The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) |
2013 – date | Council Member, Hong Kong Association of Gerontology |
2006 – date | Member, Society for Social Work and Research |
2002 – date | Registered Social Worker, Hong Kong Social Workers Registration Board |
2001 – date | Member, Hong Kong Social Workers Association |
1999 – date | International Member, American Psychological Association |
HONORARY ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS (2015-date) | |
2021 – date | Adjunct Professor, International School of Social Work, East China University of Science and Technology, P.R.C. |
2020 – date | Expert Panel, Institute on Ageing Research, China National Committee on Ageing, ECNU, P.R.C. |
2019 – date | Associates, Centre for Ageing Research and Education, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore |
2019 – date | Honorary Professor, School of Social Development, ECNU, P.R.C. |
2019 – date | Expert panel, Centre for NPO Research & Evaluation, Shenzhen, P.R.C. |
2018 – 2019 | Visiting Fellow, Centre for Research on Ageing, Faculty of Social, Human and Mathematical Science, University of Southampton, U.K. |
2018 | Visiting Professor, Department of Global Health & Social Medicine (School of Global Affairs), Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy, King’s College London, U.K. |
2016 | Visiting Scholar, School of Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington, VA, U.S.A. |
2015 | date Honorary Research Fellow, Centre on Behavioral Health, HKU, H.K. |
HONORS & AWARDS | |
2023 | 19th Women of Influence – Woman Change Maker in STEM Award |
2022 | The Healthy Ageing 50 Leaders, the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing, Switzerland |
2022 | Senior Fellowship of Advance HE, U.K. |
2021 | Smart Ageing Gold Award – Social & Community Engagement, Golden Age Foundation |
2019 | Abstract prize, 9th International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health, International Network of Social Work in Health and Mental Health, York, U.K. |
2019 | Career Achievement Award, Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work, U.S.A. |
2018 | Textbook excellence award, Human Behaviour and the Social Environment, Jiangsu Province, P.R.C. |
2018 | Outstanding paper, 15th World Congress on Long Term Care in Chinese Communities, Hong Kong, P.R.C. |
2012 | Outstanding paper, 19th Annual Congress, Hong Kong Association of Gerontology (HKAG), Hong Kong, P.R.C. |
2011 | Outstanding paper, 8th World Congress on Long Term Care in Chinese Communities, Hong Kong, P.R.C. |
2011 | Sik Sik Yuen Outstanding Academic-Community Partnership Project |
2011 | Best paper, 1st National Young Scholars Forum on Gerontology and Geriatrics, P.R.C. |
2009 | Outstanding paper, 17th Annual Congress, HKAG, Hong Kong, P.R.C. |
2008 | Outstanding paper, 16th Annual Congress, HKAG, Hong Kong, P.R.C. |
2007 | Outstanding paper, 15th Annual Congress, HKAG, Hong Kong, P.R.C. |
Government Committee Member | |
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2020 – present | Investor and Financial Education Council Advisory Group – Financial Education for Retirees |
2020 – present | present Senior Police Force Central Advisory Board |
2020 – present | present Elderly Academy Development Foundation |
2019 – present | Community Investment and Inclusion Fund |
2018 – present | Statistics Advisory Board, Government of the Hong Kong SAR |
Editorial Board Membership | |
2021 – date |
Educational Gerontology Editorial board member |
2020 – date |
Asian Journal of Gerontology & Geriatrics Chief Editor |
2019 – date |
Aging & Mental Health Associate Editor |
2019 – date | Research on Aging Editorial board member |
2019 – date |
Journal of Gerontological Social Work Editorial board member |
Community Service | |
2021 – date | Council Member, Consortium of Institutes on Family in the Asian Region (CIFA) |
2020 – date | Investor and Financial Education Council (IFEC) Advisory Group – Financial Education for Retirees |
2020 – date | Consultant, Social Service Division, Caritas Hong Kong |
2020 – date | Senior Police Force Central Advisory Board |
2019 – date | Elderly Academy Development Foundation |
2019 – date | Community Investment and Inclusion Fund (CIIF) |
2018 – date | Statistics Advisory Board (SAB) |
2016 – date | Elderly Commission (EC) |
2013 – 2019 | Social Work Training Fund, Labour and Welfare Bureau |
2008 – date | Board of Director, Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian Association |
2002 – date | Consultant, Hong Kong Outlying Islands Women’s Association Ltd |
Organizational Leadership | |
2023 | present Social Service Consultant, Pok Oi Hospital |
2022 | present Member, Advisory Committee for the School of Social Sciences of Caritas Institute of Higher Education |