ORCID iD: 0000-0002-6505-3504
Scopus Author ID: 58753081000
Google Scholar Profile: c0QjI5IAAAAJ

Metrics for Academic and Research Impact

Hung Chak (Derrick) Ho is an Assistant Professor (Thetos Young Scholar) at Department of Public and International Affairs, City University of Hong Kong.

Derrick is a spatial demographer and population health specialist with extensive experience in urban health. He received his PhD from Simon Fraser University in 2016 and trained as a research student in the Section of Environmental Health Services at the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) from 2015 to 2016. He co-developed the government-based Heat Exposure Integrated Deprivation Index (HEIDI) with BCCDC for public health surveillance.
Derrick’s expertise includes 1) spatial and environmental epidemiology and 2) community health. His research focuses on social and environmental determinants of health, with particular interests in interactions among neighborhood deprivation, the natural and built environment, healthy behaviors, and non-communicable diseases.

Derrick currently has two major lines of research:
1)    Climate change and health. This includes assessing environmental hazards (e.g., extreme heat) and urbanization effects on health outcomes and disaster risk using various techniques (e.g., spatiotemporal analysis, remote sensing applications, machine learning modeling), as well as developing location-based warning systems and innovative tools (e.g., smart technology, mobile apps) as interventions to mitigate environmental health risks.
2)    Population exposure and urban health assessment. This includes developing non-pharmacological community health interventions to improve pain management, livability and housing conditions, daily activities, and physicaland mental well-being among vulnerable subgroups. 

With his expertise, Derrick has published > 150 papers in prestigious journals, such as The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific, Social Science & Medicine, and Environmental Health Perspectives. Furthermore, Derrick served as an Associate Editor for Annals of Epidemiology (publisher: Elsevier) from 2022 to 2025. He is now an Associate Editor for Population Health Metrics (publisher: Springer), an Associate Editor for International Health (publisher: Oxford), and an early-career editorial board member for Environmental Research (publisher: Elsevier). He is also a Global Assessor for the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Award 

RGC Healthy Longevity Catalyst Award (Hong Kong) [健康長壽催化創新獎(香港)] - 2025
Thetos Young Scholar Award [賦勵青年學者獎] - 2026

Selected publications (* as corresponding author, # as co-first author)

Climate change and health
Lai, E. T. C., Ho, H. C.*, Wong, P. P. Y., Lau, K. K. L., & Woo, J. (2026). Building level heat-health risk assessment in a three-dimensional and deprived built environment in Hong Kong. npj Urban Sustainability, 6, 83.
Tao, J., Xu, Z., Ho, H. C.#, Zheng, H., Xing, X., Hu, J., ... & Cheng, J. (2025). Quantifying localized heatwave impact on mortality: a multi-country modeling study in the Asia–Pacific region. The Lancet Regional Health–Western Pacific, 61, 101653.
Ho, H. C., Tong, S., Zhou, Y., Hu, K., Yang, X., & Yang, Y. (2025). Mapping heat vulnerability and heat risk for neighborhood health risk management in urban environment? Challenges and opportunities. Current Environmental Health Reports, 12(1), 14.
Liu, S., & Ho, H. C.* (2024). Effects of socioeconomic status and greenspace on respiratory emergency department visits under short-term temperature variations: An age-stratified case time-series study. Social Science & Medicine, 343, 116613.
Ho, H. C., Wong, M. S., Yang, L., Shi, W., Yang, J., Bilal, M., & Chan, T. C. (2018). Spatiotemporal influence of temperature, air quality, and urban environment on cause-specific mortality during hazy days. Environment International, 112, 10-22.
Ho, H. C.*, Knudby, A., Walker, B. B., & Henderson, S. B. (2016). Delineation of spatial variability in the temperature–mortality relationship on extremely hot days in greater Vancouver, Canada. Environmental Health Perspectives, 125(1), 66.

Population exposure and urban health assessment
Bao, Y., Cheung, C. W., Bai, W., & Ho, H. C.* (2026). Towards a socio-ecological perspective of the “biopsychosocial model of pain”: Delineation of pathways between perceived pain intensity, community capital and mental distress among community-dwelling individuals. Health & Place, 98, 103614.
Guo, H., Wan, B., Li, J., Li, W., Yin, J., & Ho, H. C.* (2025). Visual 3D morphology of street-level urban trees and older adults’ emotional well-being: A nonlinear machine learning model incorporating temporal dynamics. Building and Environment, 113410.
Wang, P., Xiang, H., Guo, M., Shi, Y., Chong, K. C., Huang, J., & Ho, H. C.* (2023). Indoor and roadside exposures to traffic noise and cardiovascular mortality and the role of urban environmental stressors across a high-rise, high-density environment: A case study in Hong Kong. Building and Environment, 229, 109945.
Ho, H. C.*, et al. (2022). Spatial uncertainty and environment-health association: An empirical study of osteoporosis among “old residents” in public housing estates across a hilly environment. Social Science & Medicine, 306, 115155.
Ho, H. C.*, et al. (2022). “Planned greenspace” or “natural greenspace” in a high-density city with compact environment? An empirical study of osteoporosis among senior population. Building and Environment, 219, 109117.
Mok, K.K., Ho, H.C.*. (2021) Finding a home away from home: an explorative study on the use of social space with the voices of foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong. Annals of the American Association of Geographers, 111, 1403-1419.

Associate Editor, International Health [Publisher: Oxford] (2019 – present)
Associate Editor, Annals of Epidemiology [Publisher: Elsevier] (2022 – 2025)
Section Editor (Health Services Research), Archieves of Public Health [Publisher: Springer] (2024)
Associate Editor, Population Health Metrics [Publisher: Springer] (2024 – present)
Editorial Board member, BMC Public Health [Publisher: Springer] (2020 – 2024)
Early Career Advisory Board member, Environmental Research [Publisher: Elsevier] (2021 – present)
Associate Editor, BMC Public Health [Publisher: Springer] (2019 – 2020)

• Member (MHKIOEH) - Hong Kong Institute of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• Member (MRSTMH) - Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

RGC Healthy Longevity Catalyst Awards (Hong Kong), Development and Application of a real-time, location-based heat health warning system for older adults, 2025 -2026, Principal Investigator, HKD$376,000, On-Going
The Jockey Club, “Beat the Heat” Project, 2024-2026, Co-Investigator, HKD$11,690,000, On-Going
Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF), AI-driven Land Use Regression for Air Quality Impact Assessment: A Predictive Framework for Modelling Emissions in Hong Kong, 2026-2027, Co-Investigator, HKD$571,180, On-Going
Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF), The effects of a location-based health promotion mobile app on physical activities and chronic low back pain: A panel study with wearable devices, 2024-2026, Co-Investigator, HKD$1,256,000, On-Going
Greenpeace, Public Participation in Climate Budgeting: Engaging academics, professionals, practioners, and the public in clmate change discussion through a Deliverative Poll, 2024, Co-Investigator, Completed
Guangdong Natural Science Fund - General Programme, China, Relationship of PM1 related health effect, built environment, urban morphology and architectural design: A study of Pearl River Delta), 2021-2023, Principal Investigator, Completed
Public Policy Research Funding Scheme (PPR), Towards people-centric smart city development: Investigating the citizens’ preferences and perceptions about smart-city services in Hong Kong, 2022-2023, Co-Investigator, Completed
National Science Foundation China, Pricing urban design in the walking catchment of metro stations, 2021 – 2024, Co-Investigator, Completed
Kwun Tong Development and Renewal Task Force, Development and History of Public Housing Estates in Kwun Tong District, 2020 – 21, Principal Investigator, Completed
University Grants Committee’s Educational Fund, Hong Kong, Augmenting Physical Learning Spaces with Location-based Services Using iBeacon Technology for Engaging Learning Experiences, 2017 – 2020, Team Member, Completed
Civil Engineering and Development Department, Hong Kong, Service Contract for Identification of Rock Outcrops using Remote Sensing Techniques, 2017 – 2018, Team Member, Completed
Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS), Mapping and managing heat-related vulnerability and mortality in BC: A GVRD case study, 2014 – 2017, Principal Investigator, Completed
City of Victoria, Heat Health Planning, 2015, Co-Investigator, Completed

程序委員會副主任 [Associate Leader,  Procedure Committee], 第二十届国际应急管理论坛暨中国（双法）应急管理专业委员会第二十一届年会 [International Symposium on Emergency Management 2025] (2025)
Panelist, 第二十届国际应急管理论坛暨中国（双法）应急管理专业委员会第二十一届年会 [International Symposium on Emergency Management 2025] (2025)
Panelist, 5th World Health Forum (2025)
Judge, 第四届苏港澳高校遥感与环境专业联盟学术论坛 (2025)
Moderator, Urban Agriculture and Greenspaces II, 2025 International Association for Society and Natural Resources (IASNR) Conference (2025)
Panelist, 2025中国城市规划学会青年规划师年会(分論壇三,:跨領域數字賦能下的空間治理 (2025)
Panelist, 第十九届国际应急管理论坛暨中国（双法）应急管理专业委员会第二十届年会 [International Symposium on Emergency Management 2024] (2024)
Co-organizer, One Health Workshop: Environmental Effects on Antibiotics: Behaviours, Medicines, and Related Factors (2024)
Judge, 第三届苏港澳高校遥感与环境专业联盟学术论坛 (2024)
Panelist, United Nations World Data Forum - Macau Satellite Event (2023)
Panelist, International Round Table ‘Smart and Resilient Cities’, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan (2018)
Panelist, Research Roundtable on Risk Governance for Belt and Road Initiative, International Day for Disaster Reduction 2017 [supported by the United Nations General Assembly] (2017)

• South China Morning Post, Hong Kong. Jun 25, 2024. "Harmony in the Urban Jungle" (https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/education/topics/harmony-urban-jungle/article/3266907/harmony-urban-jungle)
• Ming Pao, Hong Kong. May 16, 2024. "香港步入高齡化社會城大學者研都市規劃提升長者健康". 
• South China Morning Post, Hong Kong. Dec 28, 2021. "Cold weather could shorten life expectancy among Hongkongers, especially those with cardiorespiratory diseases, study finds" (https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3161135/hong-kong-bundles-temperatures-plunge-99-degrees-celsius-coldest-day)
• South China Morning Post, Hong Kong. Jan 23, 2021. "Hong Kong maids need a break, but Covid-19 fears make it harder for them to gather on days off" (https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3118890/hong-kong-maids-need-break-covid-19-fears-make-it-harder)
• HKU Bulletin (Vol.21 No.2), Hong Kong. May 2020. Cover Story: No Place Like Home. (https://bulletin.hku.hk/cover-story-theme/no-place-like-home/)
• South China Morning Post, Hong Kong. January 29, 2020. “Single and unemployed? New study says you’re more likely to die when it gets cold in Hong Kong than anyone else” (https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3047936/single-and-unemployed-new-study-says-youre-more)
• South China Morning Post, Hong Kong (A3 Page). Jun 30, 2019. “Hongkongers with mental disorders – especially dementia – most at risk of death in extreme weather, study shows” (https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3016631/hongkongers-mental-disorders-especially-dementia)
• Forbes, United States. Jun 25, 2018. “Land developability and its impact on housing costs” (https://www.forbes.com/sites/petesaunders1/2018/06/25/land-developability-and-its-impact-on-housing-costs)
• The Guardian, Jan 26, 2018. “Air pollution linked to ‘extremely high mortality’ in people with mental disorders” (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jan/26/air-pollution-linked-to-extremely-high-mortality-in-people-with-mental-disorders)
• South China Morning Post, Hong Kong (A3 Page).Jan 1, 2018. “Hong Kong’s hazy days may have more deadly effect on those with mental illnesses, researchers find” (https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2126371/hong-kongs-hazy-days-may-have-more-deadly-effect)
• South China Morning Post, Hong Kong (A3 Page). Aug 6, 2017. “Hot summer nights could be bigger killers than daytime scorchers, Hong Kong researchers say” (https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2105568/hot-summer-nights-could-be-bigger-killers-daytime)
• Ming Pao, Hong Kong(A1 Page). Aug 6, 2017. “研究分析多年死亡個案與高溫關係 一周5熱日熱夜 死亡率增15%”. Ming Pao, Hong Kong (https://news.mingpao.com/pns/dailynews/web_tc/article/20170806/s00001/1501955076640)
• The Climate Examiner, Jul 27, 2016. “Unemployed people, not the elderly, at highest risk during heatwaves”. (http://theclimateexaminer.ca/2016/07/27/unemployed-people-not-elderly-highest-risk-heatwaves)
• News 1130, Jun 28, 2016. “People in hotter, poorer neighbourhoods at higher risk of death during extreme heat: study”. (https://www.citynews1130.com/2016/06/28/extreme-heat-poor-death-risk)
• Metro News,  Jun 28, 2016.  “Heat exposure deadly in areas of poverty and more concrete, fewer trees”. (http://www.metronews.ca/news/vancouver/2016/06/29/heat-waves-deadly-in-poorest-vancouver-areas-ubc-study.html)
• Vancouver Sun, Canada (Front Page). Jun 28, 2016. “Extreme heat a ‘silent killer’ in poorest Vancouver areas” (https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/heat-exposure-deadly-in-areas-of-poverty-and-more-concrete-fewer-trees-ubc-researchers)

• Spatial demography and population health in global urban context
• Social and environmental determinants of health
• Interactions between built environment, deprivation, healthy lifestyle and non-communicable diseases
• Public health surveillance and disaster risk management
• Urban and housing management for community health actions 

• Exploring Public Affairs in Globalized Cities
• Housing Management and Practice
• Urban Management Workshop: Exploring the Comtemporary City  
• Advanced Housing Practice
• Urban Development and Sustainable Cities
• Urbanization and Health Management

• Member - Appeal Tribunal Panel (Buildings) [Section 45 of the Buildings Ordinance, Chapter 123 of the Laws of Hong Kong], Hong Kong Development Bureau
• Global Assessor - Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
• Founding Committee Member (Invited Expert) - Atmospheric Environmental Remote Sensing Society [Working Group-8: Air Quality and Health]
• Founding Committee Member - Jiangsu-Hong Kong-Macao University Alliance [Environment and Remote Sensing] (苏港澳遥感与环境专业联盟)