Faculty Profile
LAO, Xiangqian

LAO, Xiangqian (勞向前)

Associate Professor

Postdoc (Duke)

PhD (HKU)

MD (SYSU)

  • 1A-210, 2/F, Block 1, To Yuen Building
  • +852 3442-4828
  • +852 3442-0549
  • CityUHK Scholars
  • Lab Website
  • Environmental Health (with a focus on Environmental Epidemiology) • Population Health • Air pollution and Health • Cohort study

Professor Lao obtained his medical degree from Sun Yat-sen University and served as a Public Health Physician for many years at Guangzhou No. 12 Renmin Hospital (aka Guangzhou Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment Hospital). He subsequently earned a Master of Medical Science from Peking Union Medical College and a Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the University of Hong Kong. He then pursued postdoctoral training at the Duke Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy, Duke University Medical Centre, USA. Before joining City University of Hong Kong, Professor Lao held progressive academic appointments at the JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, advancing from Research Assistant Professor to tenured Associate Professor.

Professor Lao’s research centres on the health impacts of air pollution, climate change, and built environment factors, with particular emphasis on their interactions with lifestyle behaviours such as physical activity. Over the past two decades, he has leveraged and led large-scale longitudinal cohort studies—often involving hundreds of thousands of participants—to generate robust evidence on how these exposures drive chronic diseases, including cardiovascular conditions, respiratory disorders, diabetes, kidney disease, and mortality. His work informs public health policies and interventions, especially in densely populated urban settings across Hong Kong, Taiwan, mainland China, and broader Asia, where air pollution remains a critical challenge.

Professor Lao has been consistently ranked in Stanford University’s top 2% of most-cited scientists worldwide (2021–2025). His research has been widely covered by outlets such as Reuters, Associated Press, The Times (London), Newsweek, and the South China Morning Post, amplifying awareness of air pollution’s health effects and the benefits of regular physical activity. He has served as a consultant for Hong Kong’s Air Quality Objectives reviews and the Greater Bay Area Air Quality Health Index construction. His findings have directly shaped policy, including tightened PM2.5 standards under Hong Kong’s Air Quality Objectives. He is a member of the Air Science and Health Task Force for the Review of the Air Quality Objectives of HKSAR and the Air Pollution Control Appeal Board Panel (HKSAR Government).

Selected Media Coverage and Public Lectures

(More media reports can be found by searching for “Xiang-Qian Lao” or “勞向前”.)

Position Availability

Postgraduate Students are welcome to join Prof. Lao’s research team. Scholarships are awarded to all successful applicants, including Hong Kong PhD Fellowship and University Scholarship. Interested candidates with a background of public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, data science, exposure assessment and health science are encouraged to send your CV and/or a summary of your past research experience to Prof. Lao at xq.lao@cityu.edu.hk.

Selected Publication List

(* corresponding author and ___ students/postdoctoral fellows)

  1. Lao XQ*, Bo Y, Chen D, Zhang K, Szeto CC. Environmental pollution to kidney disease: an updated review of current knowledge and future directions. Kidney International 2024; 106(2): 214-225. (Invited review)
  2. Martinez-Gomez D, Luo MY, Huang Y, Rodríguez-Artalejo F, Ekelund U, Sotos-Prieto M, Ding D, Lao XQ, Cabanas-Sánchez V. Physical activity and all-cause mortality by age in 4 multinational mega cohorts. JAMA Network Open November 2024; 7(11): e246802. (With commentary)
  3. Guo C, Zeng Y, Chang LY, Yu Z, Bo Y, Lin C, Lau AKH, Tam T, Lao XQ*. Independent and opposing associations of habitual exercise and chronic PM2.5 exposures on hypertension incidence. Circulation August 2020; 142(7): 645-656. (Selected for AHA press release)
  4. Guo C, Zhang Z, Lau AKH, Lin C, Chuang YC, Chan WMJ, Jiang WK, Tam T, Yeoh EK, Chan TC, Chang LY, Lao XQ*. Effect of long-term exposure to fine particulate matter on lung function decline and risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Taiwan: a longitudinal, cohort study. The Lancet Planetary Health 2018; 2(3): e114-e125. (With commentary)
  5. Bo Y, Guo C, Lin C, Zeng Y, Li HB, Zhang Y, Hossain MS, Chan JWM, Yeung D, Kwok KO, Wong SYS, Lau AKH*, Lao XQ*. Effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions on COVID-19 transmission in 190 countries from 23 January to 13 April 2020. International Journal of Infectious Disease January 2021; 102: 247-253.
  6. Liu X, Lao XQ*, Wong CCY, Tan L, Zhang Z, Wong TW, Tse LA, Lau APS, Yu ITS. Frequent use of household cleaning products is associated with rhinitis in Chinese children. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology September 2016; 138: 754-760. (Selected for university press release)
  7. Guo C, Yu T, Chang LY, Lin C, Yang HT, Bo Y, Zeng Y, Tam T, Lau AKH, Lao XQ*. Effects of air pollution and habitual exercise on the risk of death: a longitudinal cohort study. Canadian Medical Association Journal August 2021; 193(32): E1240-E1249. (With commentary; selected for press release)
  8. Zeng Y, Rudge G, Yu T, Chen W, Chong KC, Huang Y, Thomas GN*, Lao XQ*. Pavements to longevity: the influence of neighborhood walkability on mortality in Taiwan. Environmental Health Perspectives 2025; 133(5): 057018.
  9. Zeng YQ, Chong KC, Chang LY, Liang X, Guo LH, Dong G, Tam T, Lao XQ*. Exposure to Neighborhood Greenness and Hypertension Incidence in Adults: A Longitudinal Cohort Study in Taiwan. Environmental Health Perspectives March 2024; 132(3): 37001. (With commentary)
  10. Guo C, Hoek G, Chang LY, Bo Y, Lin C, Huang B, Chan TC, Tam T, Lau AKH, Lao XQ*. Long-Term Exposure to Ambient Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) and Lung Function in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults: A Longitudinal Cohort Study. Environmental Health Perspectives December 2019; 127(12): 127008.
  11. Zhang Z, Guo C, Lau AKH, Chan TC, Chuang YC, Lin C, Jiang WK, Yeoh EK, Tam T, Woo KS, Yan BP, Chang LY, Wong MCS, Lao XQ*. Long-term Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter, Blood Pressure, and Incident Hypertension in Taiwanese Adults. Environmental Health Perspectives January 2018; 126(1): 017008.
  12. Chan TC, Zhang Z, Lin BC, Lin C, Deng HB, Chuang YC, Chan WMJ, Jiang WK, Tam T, Chang LY, Hoek G, Lau AKH, Lao XQ*. Long-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter and chronic kidney disease: a cohort study. Environmental Health Perspectives 2018; 126(10): 107002.
  13. Guo C, Tam T, Bo Y, Chang LY, Lao XQ*, Thomas GN. Habitual physical activity, renal function and chronic kidney disease: A cohort study of nearly 200,000 adults. British Journal of Sports Medicine October 2020; 54(20): 1225-1230.
  14. Lao XQ*, Deng HB, Liu X, Chan TC, Zhang Z, Chang LY, Yeoh EK, Tam T, Wong MCS, Thomas GN. Increased leisure-time physical activity associated with lower onset of diabetes in 44,828 adults with impaired fasting glucose. British Journal of Sports Medicine January 2019; 53(14): 895-900.
  15. Bo Y, Yu T, Chang LY, Guo C, Lin C, Zeng Y, Huang B, Tam T, Lau AKH, Wong SYS, Lao XQ*. Combined effects of chronic PM2.5 exposure and habitual exercise on cancer mortality: a longitudinal cohort study. International Journal of Epidemiology February 2022; 51(1): 225-236.
  16. Zhang Z, Chang LY, Lau AKH, Chan TC, Chuang Jackie, Chan Jimmy, Lin C, Jiang Kelvin, Dear K, Zee BCY, Yeoh EK, Hoek G, Tam THW, Lao XQ*. Satellite-Based Estimates of Long-Term Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter are associated with C-reactive protein in 30,034 Taiwanese Adults. International Journal of Epidemiology August 2017; 46: 1126-1136.
  17. Chen D, Yin Y, Yu D, Zhang L, Chen W, Xu J, Xiao T, Ho HC, Thomas GN, Huang Y, Lao XQ*. Reducing PM2.5 Exposure Lowers Dyslipidemia Risk: A Longitudinal Quasi-Experimental Study. American Journal of Epidemiology August 2025. Accepted.
  18. Bo Y, Chang LY, Guo C, Lin C, Lau AKH, Tam T, Yeoh EK, Lao XQ*. Reduced ambient PM2.5, better plasma glucose level, and decreased risk of type 2 diabetes in adults: a longitudinal cohort study. American Journal of Epidemiology 2021; 190(10): 2148-2157.
  19. Guo C, Yu T, Lin C, Chang L, Bo Y, Wong MCS, Tam T, Lau AKH, Lao XQ*. Habitual exercise, air pollution and pneumonia mortality: A longitudinal cohort study of approximately 0.4 million adults. American Journal of Epidemiology October 2022; 191(10): 1732-1741.
  20. Guo C, Yang HT, Chang LY, Bo Y, Lin C, Zeng Y, Tam T, Lau AKH, Hoek G, Lao XQ*. Habitual exercise is associated with reduced risk of diabetes regardless of air pollution: a longitudinal cohort study. Diabetologia June 2021; 64(6): 1298-1308. (Selected for press release)
  21. Lao XQ*, Guo C, Chang LY, Bo Y, Zhang Z, Chuang YC, Jiang WK, Lin C, Tam T, Lau AKH, CY Lin, Chan TC. Long-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and incident type 2 diabetes: A longitudinal cohort study. Diabetologia 2019; 62: 759-769. (Cover page article)
  22. Bo Y, Yu T, Guo C, Lin C, Yang HT, Chang LY, Thomas GN, Tam T, Lau AKH, Lao XQ*. Cardiovascular Mortality, Habitual Exercise, and Particulate Matter 2.5 Exposure: A Longitudinal Cohort Study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2023; 64: 250-258.
  23. Lao XQ*, Zhang Z, Chan TC, Chuang YC, Chan J, Lin C, Guo C, Jiang WK, Tam T, Hoek G, Kan H, Yeoh E, Chang LY. Exposure to Ambient Fine Particulate Matter and Semen Quality in Taiwan. Occupational and Environmental Medicine October 2018; 75: 148-154. (Selected for BMJ press release)
  24. Bo Y, Brook JR, Lin C, Chang LY, Guo C, Zeng Y, Yu Z, Tam T, Lau AKH, Lao XQ*. Reduced ambient PM2.5 was associated with decreased risk of chronic kidney disease: a longitudinal cohort study. Environmental Science & Technology 2021; 55(10): 6876-6883.
  25. Bo Y, Guo C, Lin C, Chang LY, Chan TC, Huang B, Lee KP, Tam T, Lau AKH, Lao XQ*, Yeoh EK. Dynamic changes in long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 and incidence of hypertension in adults: A natural experiment. Hypertension 2019; 74(3): 669-677. (Selected as High Impact Paper in Hypertension)
  26. Zhang Z, Tan L, Huss A, Guo C, Brook JR, Tse TA*, Lao XQ*. Household incense burning and children’s respiratory health: a cohort study in Hong Kong. Pediatric Pulmonology 2019 Apr; 54: 399-404. (Cover page article)

20 April 2026

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