• Advanced diagnostics of pleural effusion (tuberculosis, bacterial infection)
• Treatment of pleural infection and pneumothorax
• Prevention of respiratory viral infection

Ken Chan’s main research focuses on pleural diseases, with particular emphasis on advanced diagnostics of pleural effusion, especially tuberculous and bacterial pleural infection, as well as the treatment of pleural infection and pneumothorax. His work also extends to the prevention and clinical impact of respiratory viral infections, including influenza and RSV-related respiratory disease. He has led and collaborated on multiple grant-supported studies aimed at improving diagnostic accuracy, refining management pathways, and reducing the burden of pleural and respiratory infections in real-world practice. His research has contributed important scientific insights and high-impact publications in these areas, and has supported the development of improved approaches to the diagnosis and management of pleural and respiratory diseases.

Ken Chan is a respiratory specialist with subspecialty expertise in pleural medicine and interventional pulmonology. He received his general respiratory training at Prince of Wales Hospital and further advanced training in pleural medicine at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Australia. Since 2013, he has been practising respiratory medicine with extensive clinical and research experience in pleural diseases and respiratory infections.

Ken currently leads several grant-supported research projects centred on advanced diagnostics of pleural effusion, including tuberculous and bacterial pleural infection, and on the treatment of pleural infection and pneumothorax. His recent work also addresses the prevention and clinical burden of respiratory viral infections. These studies have been supported by competitive funding and have generated high-impact publications, advancing diagnostic innovation and improving management strategies for patients with pleural and respiratory diseases.

He has collaborated with local and overseas centres on prospective and retrospective studies, and is frequently involved in invited talks, review articles, and academic dissemination activities. Through his research and clinical work, Dr Chan aims to improve patient outcomes, optimise standards of care, and strengthen public understanding of pleural and respiratory diseases.

1. Outstanding Author, Journal of Thoracic Disease (2024)
2. Reviewer of the Month, AME Case Reports (2023)
3. Assembly Education Award, Respiratory Infection (Non-tuberculous) Assembly, APSR Congress 2021 (2021)
4. Professor Wah-kit Lam Young Investigator Award, Hong Kong Thoracic Society (2018)

1. Lam WKJ, Chan KKP, Wang G, Lai CKC, Kang G, Chan C, Leung ACY, Wong NHL, Tso CSN, Chow KM, Ramakrishnan S, Wong KT, Lau CHY, Ng JKC, Lo RLP, Yip WH, Ngai JCL, To KW, Tse IOL, Cheng SH, Shang H, Chan KW, Lai A, Chan CML, Lee VCT, Malki Y, Choy LYL, Ma MJL, Zhou Q, Yu SCY, Jiang P, Ko FWS, Chan KCA, Hui DSC, Lee YCG, Lo YMD. Sequencing of pleural fluid and plasma for tuberculous pleuritis. NEJM Evidence. 2026;5(4). doi:10.1056/evidoa2500237.
2. Chan KKP, Ng TCC, Sze CY, Ling KC, Chan C, Lau CHY, Ho SWT, Ng JKC, Lo RLP, Yip WH, Ngai JCL, To KW, Ko FWS, Hui DSC. Validation of diagnosis codes for pleural diseases and procedure codes for relevant respiratory procedures in a healthcare database in Hong Kong: A single tertiary centre study. Hong Kong Medical Journal. 2026;32(1):13-22. doi:10.12809/hkmj2412275.
3. Chan C, Liang Y, Yip TWH, Yip HC, Chan KKP. Endoscopic treatment of boerhaave syndrome related empyema. Respirology Case Reports. 2026;14(1):e70432. doi:10.1002/rcr2.70432. (Case Report)
4. Rowntree LC, Allen LF, Hagen RR, McQuilten HA, Quadeer AA, Chaurasia P, Kaewpreedee P, Lee KWK, Cohen CA, Petersen J, Littler DR, Habel JR, Zhang W, Cheng SMS, Chan KKP, Kwok JSY, Leung KSM, Wu JT, Lee CK, Davies J, Kedzierska K, et al. HLA-B*15:01-positive severe COVID-19 patients lack CD8+ T cell pools with highly expanded public clonotypes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2025;122(36):e2503145122. doi:10.1073/pnas.2503145122.
5. Yu WC, Ho MY, Yu ELM, Li C, Tse C, Chan KP, Cheung PS, Sin KM, Chan WMJ, Lam DCL, Choo KL, Chow CK, Chan YH, Chan MC, Kwong KK, Ip M. Aetiology of adult community-acquired lung abscess in Hong Kong. 2025;30(9):882-892. doi:10.1111/resp.70050.
6. Hui DSC, Chan KKP. Host immunomodulatory interventions in severe influenza. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2025;232:S262-S272. doi:10.1093/infdis/jiaf328.
7. Iacopetta BM, Lam DCL, Ngai JCL, Chan JWM, Chiang FKY, Lui MMS, Law WL, Chan KKP, McVeigh J, Peddle-McIntyre CJ, Lee YCG, Iacopetta BM, Lam DCL, Ngai JCL, Chan JWM, Chiang FKY, Lui MMS, Law WL, Chan KKP, McVeigh J, Peddle-McIntyre CJ, Lee YCG. Activity behaviours and quality of life in patients with malignant pleural effusion. ERJ Open Research. 2025;11(1). doi:10.1183/23120541.00399-2024.
8. Chan KKP, Lau EPM, Lee YCG. Pleural infection: controversies on the therapeutic strategies. Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. 2025;31(3):218-222. doi:10.1097/mcp.0000000000001157.
9. Chan JCK, Kwan MYW, Lam W, Lai CKC, Waterer G, Cheng A, Wong M, Sin KM, Chan KKP, Lo A, Lui MMS, Leung WS, Wong MCS. Importance of surveillance and vaccination in managing respiratory syncytial virus infections among older adults in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Medical Journal. 2025;31(4):256-261. doi:10.12809/hkmj255182. (Editorial)
10. Rowntree LC, Audsley J, Allen LF, McQuilten HA, Hagen RR, Chaurasia P, Petersen J, Littler DR, Tan HX, Murdiyarso L, Habel JR, Foo IJH, Zhang W, ten Berge ERV, Ganesh H, Kaewpreedee P, Lee KWK, Cheng SMS, Kwok JSY, Jayasinghe D, Gras S, Juno JA, Wheatley AK, Kent SJ, Rossjohn J, Cheng AC, Kotsimbos TC, Trubiano JA, Holmes NE, Chan KKP, Hui DSC, Peiris M, Poon LLM, Lewin SR, Doherty PC, Thevarajan I, Valkenburg SA, Kedzierska K, Nguyen THO. SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cells from people with long COVID establish and maintain effector phenotype and key TCR signatures over 2 years. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2024;121(39):e2411428121. doi:10.1073/pnas.2411428121.
11. Tang YS, Tan CW, Chong KC, Chen C, Sun Y, Yiu K, Ling KC, Chan KKP, Peiris M, Mok CKP, Hui DS. Determination of T cell response against XBB variants in adults who received either monovalent wild-type inactivated whole virus or mRNA vaccine or bivalent WT/BA.4-5 COVID-19 mRNA vaccine as the additional booster. International Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2024;149:107271. doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107271.
12. Chan KKP, Lee YCG. Tuberculous pleuritis: Clinical presentations and diagnostic challenges. Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. 2024;30(3):210-216. doi:10.1097/mcp.0000000000001052.
13. Chan C, Chan KKP. Pleural fluid biomarkers: A narrative review. Journal of Thoracic Disease. 2024;16(7):4764-4771. doi:10.21037/jtd-24-467. (Review)
14. Chan KKP, Wong JSH, Yip WH. Superimposed pleural infection in cirrhotic chylothorax. Respirology Case Reports. 2024;12(11):e70065. doi:10.1002/rcr2.70065. (Case Report)
15. Mok CKP, Chen C, Zhao S, Sun Y, Yiu K, Chan TO, Lai HL, Lai KC, Lau KM, Ling KC, Chan KKP, Ng SS, Ko FW, Peiris M, Hui DS. Omicron BA.1-specific T-cell responses in adults vaccinated with CoronaVac or BNT162b2 in Hong Kong: An observational cohort study. The Lancet Microbe. 2023;4(6):e418-e430. doi:10.1016/s2666-5247(23)00006-x.
16. Chan KKP, Hui DSC. Antiviral therapies for influenza. Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases. 2023;36(2):124-131. doi:10.1097/qco.0000000000000910. (Review)
17. Chan KP, Ng SSS, Ling KC, Ng KC, Lo LP, Yip WH, Ngai JCL, To KW, Ko FWS, Lee YCG, Hui DSC. Phenotyping empyema by pleural fluid culture results and macroscopic appearance: An 8-year retrospective study. ERJ Open Research. 2023;9(2). doi:10.1183/23120541.00534-2022.
18. Chan KKP, Ng SSS, Lui GCY, Leung HS, Wong KT, Chu WCW, Chan TO, Yiu KYS, Tso EYK, To KW, Ngai JCL, Yip TWH, Lo RLP, Ng JKC, Ko FWS, Hui DSC. Comparison of the 12-month impact of COVID-19 and SARS on physiological capacity and health-related quality of life. BMC Pulmonary Medicine. 2023;23(1):441-. doi:10.1186/s12890-023-02750-8.
19. Cheng SMS, Mok CKP, Leung YWY, Ng SS, Chan KCK, Ko FW, Chen C, Yiu K, Lam BHS, Lau EHY, Chan KKP, Luk LLH, Li JKC, Tsang LCH, Poon LLM, Hui DSC, Peiris M. Neutralizing antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant BA.1 following homologous and heterologous CoronaVac or BNT162b2 vaccination. Nature Medicine. 2022;28(3):486-489. doi:10.1038/s41591-022-01704-7.
20. Lui MMS, Yeung YC, Ngai JCL, Sin KM, Lo YT, Cheung APS, Chiang KY, Chan YH, Chan KKP, Lam CHK, Law WL, Fung SL, Lam WK, Lam DCL, Shek LH, Wong IWY, Yau APY, Lee YCG, Chan JWM. Implementation of evidence on management of pleural diseases: Insights from a territory-wide survey of clinicians in Hong Kong. BMC Pulmonary Medicine. 2022;22(1):386. doi:10.1186/s12890-022-02196-4.