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Kris Yuet Wan LOK
Kris Yuet Wan LOK

BSc, MSc, PhD, SRD, FHEA, FRSPH

Assistant Professor

krislok@hku.hk
3917 6690

HKU SCHOLARS HUB
ORCID


Kris Lok is an Assistant Professor at the University of Hong Kong, School of Nursing and an Adjunct Visiting Scientist at the Harvard T.H. School of Public Health, Harvard University. She has a background in nutritional epidemiology and public health and is a state registered dietitian as well as a breastfeeding consultant. She is also an Academy Fellow at the World Cancer Research Fund International and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health. 

She specializes in maternal and child health, with a particular focus on infant feeding and breastfeeding. She has conducted several large randomized controlled trials of interventions aimed at improving maternal and child health outcomes. Her research goal aims are to enhance maternal and child outcomes, inform public health policies, and transform perinatal healthcare services. She has extensive experience in teaching, writing, research and health promotion programs and is an active member of several research groups in Hong Kong, the UK, the U.S, and internationally. 

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Maternal and Child health and nutrition, infant feeding, breastfeeding, human milk and gut microbiome, the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, development and use of digital technologies in healthcare and healthcare education, and maternal and childhood vaccinations. Study methodologies involve large longitudinal cohort studies, population-based cross-sectional studies, and randomized controlled trials. My research goal aims to improve maternal and child health outcomes, inform public health policies and transform perinatal healthcare services.

Funding Scheme Project Title Approved Amount (HK$)
General Research Fund (GRF) 2023/24 An ecological momentary intervention to improve breastfeeding outcomes: a randomised controlled trial 1,268,280
Knowledge Exchange Strategic Impact Fund 2022/23 Globalization improvement of maternal and child health: Transforming breastfeeding culture 500,000
Health and Medical Research Fund 2021/22 A mixed methods observational study of human milk sharing in Hong Kong 100,000
ECS-General Research Fund 2020/21 Effectiveness of a home-based peer support program for Chinese mothers with low breastfeeding self-efficacy to increase the exclusivity and duration of breastfeeding: a randomized controlled trial 1,000,000
Health and Medical Research Fund Commissioned Project 2018/19 Baby-friendly Community Initiative Program in Hong Kong 3,500,000
King’s College London – University of Hong Kong Global Partnerships Fund 2018/19 A feasibility randomized controlled study of an innovative postnatal home based breastfeeding peer counselling programme 200,000
Health and Medical Research Fund 2017/18 The effect of feeding methods on intestinal microbiota of healthy Chinese infants 1,011,232
Health and Medical Research Fund 2015/16 Impact of breastfeeding on postpartum glucose regulation in women with recent gestational diabetes 871,835
  1. Fong JYH, Lok KYW*, Yeung ML, Li WH, Woo PCY, Teng JLL. Impact of diet on the gut mycobiome of Hong Kong Chinese infants. Comput Struct Biotechnol J. 2025 Feb 14;27:661-671. Available from doi: 10.1016/j.csbj.2025.02.006.
  2. Fan YW, Fan HSL, Shing JSY, Ip HL, Fong DYT, Lok KYW*. Impact of baby-friendly hospital initiatives on breastfeeding outcomes: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Women and Birth. 2025 Mar;38(2):101881. Available from doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2025.101881.
  3. Fan HSL, Leung ETY, Lau KW, Wong JYH, Choi EPH, Lam C, Tarrant M, Ngan HYS, Ip P, Lin CC, Lok KYW*. A Mobile App for Promoting Breastfeeding-Friendly Communities in Hong Kong: Design and Development Study. JMIR Form Res. 2025 Jan 10;9:e64191. Available from doi: 10.2196/64191.
  4. Li J, Ip HL, Liao Q, Lee JJ, Lok KYW*. Peer-to-Peer Human Milk Sharing Through Social Media Groups: The Experiences of Women Donors and Recipients in Hong Kong. J Adv Nurs. 2024 Oct 7. Available from doi: 10.1111/jan.16518.
  5. Ho HMY, Fan HSL, Hu GH, Nagesh N, Ip HL, Leung ETY, Choi EPH, Lok KYW*. Effectiveness of layperson-based interventions in promoting exclusive breastfeeding: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Nurs Stud. 2024 Dec;160:104894. Available from doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2024.104894.
  6. Lok KYW*, Teng JL, Fong JY, Peng Y, Fan HS, Ma Y, Li TT, Lau SK, Chau PP, El-Nezami H, Ip P, Tarrant M, Tun HM, Woo PC. Influence of Feeding Practices on Intestinal Microbiota Composition in Healthy Chinese Infants: A Prospective Cohort Study. J Pediatr Health Care. 2025 Jan-Feb;39(1):14-21. Available from doi: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2024.06.015.
  7. Nagesh N, Ip CHL, Leung ETY, Wong JY, Fong DY, Lok KYW*. South Asian women's views on and experiences of maternity care services in Hong Kong: A qualitative study. Women and Birth. 2024 Nov;37(6):101806. Available from doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101806.
  8. Li J, Ip HL, Fan Y, Kwok JY, Fong DY, Lok KYW*. Unveiling the voices: Exploring perspectives and experiences of women, donors, recipient mothers and healthcare professionals in human milk donation: A systematic review of qualitative studies. Women and Birth. 2024 Sep;37(5):101644. Available from doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101644
  9. Lok KYW*, Fan HSL, Ip HL, Leung ETY, Lau KW, Wong JYH, Choi E, Lam CCO, Tarrant M, Ngan HYS, Ip P, Lin CC. Building a baby-friendly community: Development, strategy, implementation and evaluation of a BFCI program. J Adv Nurs. 2024 Jun 14. Available from doi: 10.1111/jan.16267.
  10. Andres EB, Du X, Pang SSL, Liang JN, Ye J, Lee MH, Tarrant M, Yung SS, Johnston JM, Lok KYW, Quan J. Extended Paid Maternity Leave Associated With Improved Maternal Mental Health In Hong Kong. Health Aff (Millwood). 2024 May;43(5):707-716. Available from doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2023.00742.
  11. Nagesh N, Ip CHL, Li J, Fan HSL, Chai HS, Fan Y, Wong JY, Fong DY, Lok KYW*. Exploring South Asian women's perspectives and experiences of maternity care services: A qualitative evidence synthesis. Women and Birth. 2024 Mar;37(2):259-277. Available from doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2023.12.002.
  12. Fan Y, Li J, Wong JYH, Fong DYT, Wang KMP, Lok KYW*. Text messaging interventions for breastfeeding outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Nurs Stud. 2024 Feb;150:104647. Available from doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2023.104647.
  13. Zhao S, Lok KYW*, Sin ZY, Peng Y, Fan HSL, Nagesh N, Choi MSL, Kwok JYY, Choi EPH, Zhang X, Wai HK, Tsang LCH, Cheng SSM, Wong MKL, Zhu J, Mok CKP, Ng SC, Chan FKL, Peiris M, Poon LLM, Tun HM. COVID-19 mRNA vaccine-mediated antibodies in human breast milk and their association with breast milk microbiota composition. NPJ Vaccines. 2023 Oct 5;8(1):151. Available from doi: 10.1038/s41541-023-00745-4.
  • Associate Editor – Women and Birth, Elsevier
  • Associate Editor – International Breastfeeding Journal, Springer Nature
  • International Advisory Board Member – Midwifery, ScienceDirect
  • 2022
 FHEA Fellowship in UK Professional Standards Framework for Teaching and Support 
Learning in Higher Education
  • 2021
 Faculty Knowledge Exchange Award – Baby Friendly Community Initiative – Development of a New Breastfeeding GPS App
  • 2015-2020
 World Cancer Research Fund HK, Ambassador
  • 2014
 International Fellowship World Cancer Research Fund International
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