Dr. Zhou obtained his Ph.D. degree from Wuhan University in the end of 2017. During his studies, he conducted research on the genetic evolution of viruses and the mechanisms of natural immunity and viral infection at the China CDC and Temple University in the United States. In 2018, he joined the team of Professor Zhiwei Chen at the AIDS Institute of the University of Hong Kong as a postdoctoral researcher, focusing on the molecular mechanisms of dendritic cells in regulating immune function during HIV infection and optimizing the strategy of dendritic cell-based HIV functional cure vaccines. After the outbreak of COVID-19, Dr. Zhou revealed the role of the host immune system in the acute stage of COVID-19 infection and explained the mechanism by which a DNA muscle injection primary immune/virus carrier mucosal booster vaccine can effectively prevent viral infections. He has also participated in the development of multiple broad-spectrum neutralizing antibodies against COVID-19. Dr. Zhou has published 16 articles as the first or co-first author in high impact journals such as Immunity, Cell Host & Microbe, and Nature Communications, and has served as the principal investigator for two Hong Kong HMRF grants and a co-principal investigator for Hong Kong CRF and GRF grants.

1. Host immune response against SARS-CoV-2.
2. Vaccines and broadly neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.
3. Novel drugs for HIV therapy.
4. Dendritic cell-based immunotherapy.

1. Zhou H, Na Liu, Xin Li, Qiaoli Peng, Cheukkwan Yiu, Haode Huang, Dawei Yang, Zhenglong Du, Hau-Yee Kwok, Ka-Kit Au, Jian-Piao Cai, Ivan Fan-Ngai Hung, Kelvin Kai-Wang To, Xiaoning Xu, Kwok-Yung Yuen, Zhiwei Chen. Three-dose vaccination-induced immune responses protect against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron-BA.2. Lancet Regional Health-WPC 2022; (IF: 8.6) (Co-first and corresponding author)
2. Zhou RH, Pui Wang, Yik-Chun Wong, Haoran Xu, Siu-Ying Lau, Li Liu, Bobo Wing-Yee Mok, Qiaoli Peng, Na Liu, Kin-Fai Woo, Shaofeng Deng, Rachel Chun-Yee Tam, Haode Huang, Anna Jinxia Zhang, Dongyan Zhou, Biao Zhou, Chun-Yin Chan, Zhenglong Du, Dawei Yang, Ka-Kit Au, Kwok-Yung Yuen, Honglin Chen, Zhiwei Chen. Nasal prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection by intranasal influenza-based boost vaccination in mouse models. EBioMedicine 2022; (IF: 11.2)
3. Zhou RH, Kelvin Kai-Wang To, Qiaoli Peng, Jacky Man-Chun Chan, Haode Huang, Dawei Yang, Bosco Hoi-Shiu Lam, Vivien Wai-Man Chuang, Jian-Piao Cai, Na Liu, Ka-Kit Au, Owen Tak-Yin Tsang, Kwok-Yung Yuen, Zhiwei Chen. Vaccine-breakthrough infection by the SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant elicits broadly cross-reactive immune responses. Clin Transl Med. 2022; (IF: 8.6)
4. Zhou RH, Kelvin Kai-Wang To, Yik-Chun Wong, Li Liu, Biao Zhou, Xin Li, Haode Huang, Yufei Mo, Tsz-Yat Luk, Thomas Tsz-Kan Lau, Pauline Yeung, Wai-Ming Chan, Alan Ka-Lun Wu, Kwok-Cheung Lung, Owen Tak-Yin Tsang, Wai-Shing Leung, Ivan Fan-Ngai Hung, Kwok-Yung Yuen, Zhiwei Chen. Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection Impairs Dendritic Cell and T Cell Responses. Immunity 2020; (IF:43.5)
5. Biao Zhou, Zhou RH, Bingjie Tang, Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan, Mengxiao Luo, Qiaoli Peng, Shuofeng Yuan, Hang Liu, Bobo Wing-Yee Mok, Bohao Chen, Pui Wang, Vincent Kwok-Man Poon, Hin Chu, Chris Chung-Sing Chan, Jessica Oi-Ling Tsang, Chris Chun-Yiu Chan, Ka-Kit Au, Hiu-On Man, Lu Lu, Kelvin Kai-Wang To, Honglin Chen, Kwok-Yung Yuen, Shangyu Dang and Zhiwei Chen. A broadly neutralizing antibody protects Syrian hamsters against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron challenge. Nat Commun. 2022 (IF: 17.7) (Co-first author)
6. Zhou B, Zhou RH, Chan JF, Zeng J, Zhang Q, Yuan S, Liu L, Robinot R, Shan S, Liu N, Ge J, Kwong HY, Zhou D, Xu H, Chan CC, Poon VK, Chu H, Yue M, Kwan KY, Chan CY, Chan CC, Chik KK, Du Z, Au KK, Huang H, Man HO, Cao J, Li C, Wang Z, Zhou J, Song Y, Yeung ML, To KK, Ho DD, Chakrabarti LA, Wang X, Zhang L, Yuen KY, Chen Z. SARS-CoV-2 hijacks neutralizing dimeric IgA for nasal infection and injury in Syrian hamsters. Emerg Microbes Infect. 2023 (IF: 15.89) (Co-first author)
7. Dongyan Zhou, Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan, Biao Zhou, Zhou RH, Shuang Li, Sisi Shan, Li Liu…Kwok-Yung Yuen, Zhiwei Chen. Robust SARS-CoV-2 infection in nasal turbinates after treatment with systemic neutralizing antibodies. Cell Host Microbe 2021. (IF: 31.3) (Co-first author)
8. Peng Q, Zhou RH, Liu N, Wang H, Xu H, Zhao M, Yang D, Au KK, Huang H, Liu L, Chen Z. Naturally occurring spike mutations influence the infectivity and immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2. Cell Mol Immunol. 2022 (IF: 22.09) (Co-first author)
9. Qiaoli Peng, Zhou RH, Yuewen Wang, Meiqing Zhao, Na Liu, Shuang Li, Haode Huang, Dawei Yang, Ka-Kit Au, Hui Wang, Kwan Man, Kwok-Yung Yuen, Zhiwei Chen. Waning immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern among vaccinees in Hong Kong. EBioMedicine 2022; (IF: 11.2) (Co-first author)
10. Luo M, Zhou B, Reddem ER, Tang B, Chen B, Zhou R, Liu H, Liu L, Katsamba PS, Au KK, Man HO, To KK, Yuen KY, Shapiro L, Dang S, Ho DD, Chen Z. Structural insights into broadly neutralizing antibodies elicited by hybrid immunity against SARS-CoV-2. Emerg Microbes Infect. 2022 (IF: 15.89) (Co-first author)
11. Yufei Mo, Kelvin Kai-Wang To, Zhou RH, Li Liu, Ivan Fan-Ngai Hung, Kwok-Yung Yuen and Zhiwei Chen. Mitochondrial Dysfunction Associates with Acute T Lymphocytopenia and Impaired Functionality in COVID-19 Patients. Front. Immunol 2021 (IF: 8.8) (Co-first author)
12. Tianyu Cao, Li Liu, Kelvin Kai-Wang To, Chun-Yu Lim, Zhou RH, Yue Ming, Ka-Yi Kwan, Sulan Yu, Chun-Yin Chan, Biao Zhou, Haode Huang, Yufei Mo, Zhenglong Du, Ruomei Gong, Luk-Tsz Yat, Ivan Fan-Ngai Hung, Anthony Raymond Tam, Wing-Kin To, Wai-Shing Leung, Thomas Shiu-Hong Chik, Owen Tak-Yin Tsang, Xiang Lin, You-qiang Song, Kwok-Yung Yuen, Zhiwei Chen. Mitochondrial regulation of acute extrafollicular B-cell responses to COVID-19 severity. Clin Transl Med 2022; (IF: 8.6) (Co-first author)
13. Mingxi Li, Jingao Guo, Shuaiyao Lu, Zhou RH, Hongyang Shi…Zhiwei Chen, Xiaozhong Peng and Linqi Zhang. Single-Dose Immunization with a Chimpanzee Adenovirus-Based Vaccine Induces Sustained and Protective Immunity Against SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Immunol 2021 (IF: 8.8) (Co-first author)
14. Zhou RH, Wang X, Liu H, Guo L, Su QJ, Wang H, Vasiliadis T, Persidsky Y, Ho WZ and Li JL. GalNAc-specific soybean lectin inhibits HIV infection of macrophages through indunction of antiviral factors. J Virol 2018; 92(6). Pii: e01720-17. (IF:6.5)
15. Zhou RH, Guo L, Liu JB, Liu H, Hou W, Ma TC, Wang X, Wu JG, Ye L, Ho WZ, Li JL. Epigallocatechin Gallate Inhibits Macaque SEVI-Mediated Enhancement of SIV or SHIV Infection. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2017; 75:232-240. (IF:3.8)
16. Lin XD, Zhou RH, Fan FN, Ying XH, Sun XY, Wang W, Holmes EC, Zhang YZ. Biodiversity and evolution of Imjin virus and Thottapalayam virus in Crocidurinae shrews in Zhejiang Province, China. Virus Res 2014; 189:114-120. (co-first author) (IF:6.3)
17.