Peter Cheung has interdisciplinary expertise at the interface of structural biology, computational biology, virology, and clinical/public health research:

• Structural biology and computational modeling of viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases and host nucleases
• Molecular mechanisms of RNA virus replication, transcription fidelity, and antiviral drug resistance
• Evolution and antigenic drift of influenza viruses and coronaviruses using integrated genomic and structural approaches
• Computational prediction of viral evolution and antigenic properties through deep learning and site-specific mutation dynamics
• Vaccine effectiveness and optimal vaccination strategies evaluated via large-scale epidemiology, network meta-analysis, and real-world clinical data
• Impact of polymerase fidelity on viral mutation rates, host adaptation, and pandemic potential
• Development of novel molecular diagnostics, sequencing platforms, and antiviral therapeutics targeting viral polymerases
• Integration of multi-omics data (genomics, fragmentomics, and structural biology) for translational research in infectious diseases and cancer diagnostics

Peter Cheung specializes in the structural and computational biology of RNA viruses, with a particular focus on the molecular mechanisms governing viral replication and transcription. His research integrates cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM), advanced computational modeling, high-throughput genomics, and deep learning to elucidate the structure-function relationships of viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases and host nucleases.

Key areas include the mechanisms of polymerase fidelity, mutation dynamics, antiviral drug resistance, and host adaptation in influenza viruses and coronaviruses (including SARS-CoV-2). He has pioneered the use of integrated multi-scale approaches, such as combining structural biology, biochemical assays, and large-scale clinical/epidemiological data to predict viral evolution and antigenic changes, and to evaluate optimal vaccine strategies.

His work bridges fundamental mechanistic insights with translational applications in antiviral development, pandemic preparedness, and precision diagnostics, establishing him as a leader in integrative virology and computational infectious disease research.

Present Employment:

2022 – Present: Assistant Dean (Research), Faculty of Medicine, CUHK

2021 – Present: Assistant Professor at Department of Chemical Pathology, CUHK

Previous Employment:

• Research Assistant Professor at Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)
• Research Assistant Professor at Division of Biomedical Engineering, HKUST
• Postdoctoral Fellow at Division of Biomedical Engineering, HKUST
• Research Associate at School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong

Academic Qualifications:

• Doctor of Philosophy: The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
• Master of Science in Pathology: Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
• Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Life Sciences: Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada (first class honor)

Key Achievements (since joining CUHK in 2021)

Rapid rise in research output and impact:

• Published 20 journal articles (10 as corresponding/senior author) in less than 4 years, including papers in British Medical Journal, Lancet Microbe, Nature Communications, Nucleic Acids Research, JACS Au, etc.
• Multiple patents (granted and filed) on antiviral molecules and novel diagnostic/sequencing technologies.

High-impact contributions:

• Led the largest-scale living systematic review and network meta-analysis on heterologous/homologous COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (BMJ, 2022), which influenced public health policy globally.
• Solved the first Cryo-EM structure of the nuclease DNASE1L3 (2.9 Å resolution) in collaboration with Professor Dennis Lo and Professor Allen Chan.
• Advanced understanding of viral polymerase fidelity, drug resistance, and transcription mechanisms through integrated structural, biochemical, and genomic approaches.
• Major funding success: Secured >HKD 20.68 million in competitive external RGC grants as Principal Investigator/Coordinator (including 2 CRF, 1 NSFC/RGC JRS, 1 ECS, and multiple GRF), plus substantial internal funding.
• Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2026: Lead author of a 4 impact case* selected by CUHK Faculty of Medicine on revolutionizing vaccine strategies through integrated clinical and computational research.

Leadership roles:

• Assistant Dean (Research), Faculty of Medicine; Director, Center of Clinical Laboratory; Fellow, Morningside College.

Teaching and Mentorship excellence:

• Recognized with the Faculty Education Award (Early Career Faculty) for teaching excellence and pedagogical innovation.
• Supervised multiple award-winning PhD students (including RGC Hong Kong PhD Fellows) who have published in top journals and won major thesis awards.

Public Recognition

• Peter has established a strong public profile as a trusted science communicator and expert on infectious diseases in Hong Kong and beyond.
• Regular media contributor with appearances on Sidewalk Scientist (學是學非), Scope (東張西望) on TVB, as well as other TV stations such as RTHK, NowTV, and i-Cable, reaching over 10 million viewers. He designed and performed numerous live experiments on topics such as mask efficacy, aerosol transmission, and diagnostics during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Invited keynote and plenary speaker at international conferences and CUHK events.
• Active in STEM outreach through public lectures (Hong Kong SciFest, school visits) and educational initiatives, including innovative metaverse and AI-enhanced teaching projects.

1. Faculty Education Award, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (2023)
2. Silver Award, HKUST – Sino One Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Competition, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (2019)
3. Finalist, Young Scientist Awards, Hong Kong Institute of Science (2015)
4. Graduate Student Travel Scholarship, Tech Dragon Limited (2012)
5. Best Poster Presentation Award, The University of Hong Kong (2010)
6. Croucher-Butterfield Studentship, Croucher Foundation (2010)
7. Best student in HKU-Pasteur Virology Course, HKU-Pasteur Research Center (2009)
8. Western Graduate Research Scholarship, Western University (2007)
9. Ontario Graduate Scholarship, The Ministry of Training, Canada (2007)
10. Translational Breast Cancer Research Traineeship, Western University (2006)

1. Xu T, Yang L, Xu X, Zhang BY, Gao X, Ishbashi T, Gong P, Cheung PPH, Zhang L. Microsecond dynamics of the pyrophosphate ion release in SARS-CoV-2 RNA polymerase. JACS Au. 2026;6(3):1503-1516. doi:10.1021/jacsau.5c00995.
2. Chow NKN, Tsang CYW, Chan YH, Telaga SA, Ng LYA, Chung CM, Yip YM, Cheung PPH. The effect of pre-COVID and post-COVID vaccination on long COVID: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Infection. 2024;89(6):106358. doi:10.1016/j.jinf.2024.106358. (Review)
3. Han W, Chen N, Xu X, Sahil A, Zhou J, Li Z, Zhong H, Gao E, Zhang R, Wang Y, Sun S, Cheung PPH, Gao X. Predicting the antigenic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 with deep learning. Nature Communications. 2023;14(1):3478-. doi:10.1038/s41467-023-39199-6.
4. Suarez GD, Bayer S, Tang YYK, Suarez DA, Cheung PPH, Nagl S. Rapid microfluidics prototyping through variotherm desktop injection molding for multiplex diagnostics. Lab on a Chip. 2023;23(17):3850-3861. doi:10.1039/d3lc00391d.
5. Au WY, Cheung PPH. Effectiveness of heterologous and homologous COVID-19 vaccine regimens: Living systematic review with network meta-analysis. BMJ. 2022;377. doi:10.1136/bmj-2022-069989.
6. Au WY, Ye C, Briner SL, Suarez GD, Han J, Xu X, Park JG, Brindley MA, Martinez-Sobrido L, Cheung PPH. Systematic comparison between BNT162b2 and CoronaVac in the seroprotection against SARS-CoV-2 Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta variants. Journal of Infection. 2022;84(5):e55-e57. doi:10.1016/j.jinf.2022.02.030. (Letter)
7. Suarez GD, Suarez DA, Kiu Tang YY, Zhang JX, Li J, Nagl S, Cheung PPH. Uncovering mechanisms of RT-LAMP colorimetric SARS-CoV-2 detection to improve assay reliability. Analytical Methods. 2022;14(4):378-382. doi:10.1039/d1ay01395e.
8. Au WY, Cheung PPH. Diagnostic performances of common nucleic acid tests for SARS-CoV-2 in hospitals and clinics: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Microbe. 2021;2(12):e704-e714. doi:10.1016/s2666-5247(21)00214-7.
9. Xu X, Zhang L, Chu JTS, Wang Y, Chin AWH, Chong TH, Dai Z, Poon LLM, Cheung PPH, Huang X. A novel mechanism of enhanced transcription activity and fidelity for influenza A viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Nucleic Acids Research. 2021;49(15):8796-8810. doi:10.1093/nar/gkab660.
10. Zhang L, Zhang D, Wang X, Yuan C, Li Y, Jia X, Gao X, Yen HL, Cheung PPH, Huang X. 1′-Ribose cyano substitution allows Remdesivir to effectively inhibit nucleotide addition and proofreading during SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA replication. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. 2021;23(10):5852-5863. doi:10.1039/d0cp05948j.
11. Wang Y, Yuan C, Xu X, Chong TH, Zhang L, Cheung PPH, Huang X. The mechanism of action of T-705 as a unique delayed chain terminator on influenza viral polymerase transcription. Biophysical Chemistry. 2021;277:106652. doi:10.1016/j.bpc.2021.106652.
12. Wang Y, Chong TH, Unarta IC, Xu X, Suarez GD, Wang J, Lis JT, Huang X, Cheung PPH. EmPC-seq: Accurate RNA-sequencing and bioinformatics platform to map RNA polymerases and remove background error. Bio-protocol. 2021;11(4). doi:10.21769/bioprotoc.3921.
13. Cheung PPH, Jiang B, Booth GT, Chong TH, Unarta IC, Wang Y, Suarez GD, Wang J, Lis JT, Huang X. Identifying transcription error-enriched genomic loci using nuclear run-on circular-sequencing coupled with background error modeling. Journal of Molecular Biology. 2020;432(13):3933-3949. doi:10.1016/j.jmb.2020.04.011.
14. Tse CKM, Xu J, Xu L, Sheong FK, Wang S, Chow HY, Gao X, Li X, Cheung PPH, Wang D, Zhang Y, Huang X. Intrinsic cleavage of RNA polymerase II adopts a nucleobase-independent mechanism assisted by transcript phosphate. Nature Catalysis. 2019;2(3):228-235. doi:10.1038/s41929-019-0227-5.
15. Cheung PPH, Rogozin IB, Choy KT, Ng HY, Peiris JSM, Yen HL. Comparative mutational analyses of influenza A viruses. RNA. 2015;21(1):36-47. doi:10.1261/rna.045369.114.
16. Cheung PPH, Watson SJ, Choy KT, Sia SF, Wong DDY, Poon LLM, Kellam P, Guan Y, Malik Peiris JS, Yen HL. Generation and characterization of influenza A viruses with altered polymerase fidelity. Nature Communications. 2014;5. doi:10.1038/ncomms5794.
17. Cheung PP, Leung YHC, Chow CK, Ng CF, Tsang CL, Wu YO, Ma SK, Sia SF, Guan Y, Peiris JSM. Identifying the species-origin of faecal droppings used for avian influenza virus surveillance in wild-birds. Journal of Clinical Virology. 2009;46(1):90-93. doi:10.1016/j.jcv.2009.06.016.