Department of Medicine

Biography

Prof Philip Li is a Specialist in Immunology & Allergy and Clinical Assistant Professor of the University of Hong Kong, serving as Chief of the Division of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology. He is also Vice President of the Hong Kong Institute of Allergy and a Board Director of the Asia Pacific Association of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology (APAAACI).

Prof Li established Hong Kong’s first specialist Immunology & Allergy training centre and leads the territory-wide Hong Kong Drug Allergy Delabelling Initiative (HK-DADI). Prof Li also heads the Immunology & Allergy services of the Hospital Authority Hong Kong West Cluster, which has been accredited as both an Urticaria and Angioedema Centre of Reference and Excellence (UCARE and ACARE). For his outstanding clinical contributions, he received the Chief Executive’s Commendation for Public Service and HKUMed Clinical Service Excellence Award.

Prof Li has special interests in urticaria, drug allergy and immunodeficiency; having received the Sir Patrick Manson Gold Medal award for best MD thesis. He has led and authored numerous local and international guidelines, including the clinical pathway on penicillin allergy testing in the Asia Pacific. He has published over 120 peer-reviewed articles in the fields of allergy, immunology and autoimmunity; and serves on the Editorial Boards of Frontiers in Immunology, Frontiers in Allergy, Immune System, Asia Pacific Allergy and Journal of Clinical Rheumatology and Immunology.

Selected publications

Chiang V, Kan AKC, Saha C, Au EYL, Li PH (Corresponding Author). Identifying longitudinal and region-specific patterns in drug allergy labels by analysis of 7.3 million individuals in Hong Kong. BMC Med 2024 22, 30. doi: 10.1186/s12916-024-03250-0.
Li X, Chan VSF, Smith KGC, Ming C, Or CS, Tsui FTW, Gao B, Cook MC, Liu P, Lau CS, Li PH (Corresponding Author). Recapitulating primary immunodeficiencies with expanded potential stem cells: Proof of concept with STAT1 gain of function. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2023 Dec 9:S0091-6749(23)02411-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2023.11.914.
Wong JCY, Li PH (Corresponding Author). Large-Bowel Obstruction from Hereditary Angioedema. N Engl J Med. 2023 Nov 16;389(20):e41. doi: 10.1056/NEJMicm2303943.
Li PH (Corresponding Author), Pawankar R, Thong BYH, Mak HWF, Chan G, Chung W, Juan M, Kang H, Kim B, Lobo RCM, Lucas M, Pham DL, Ranasinghe T, Rengganis I, Rerkpattanapipat T, Sonomjamts M, Tsai Y, Wang JY, Yamaguchi M, Yun J. Disparities and inequalities of penicillin allergy in the Asia-Pacific region. Allergy. 2023 Mar 23. doi: 10.1111/all.15725.
Li PH (Corresponding Author), Pawankar R, Thong BYH, Fok JS, Chantaphakul H, Hide M, Jindal AK, Kang H, Latiff AHA, Lobo RC, Sonomjamts M, Nguyen VD, Shyur S, Zhi Y, Maurer M. Epidemiology, management and treatment access of hereditary angioedema in the Asia Pacific Region: outcomes from an international survey. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2023 Apr;11(4):1253-1260. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2022.12.021.
Kan AKC, Hui HKS, Li TS, Chiang V, Wong JCY, Chan TS, Kwan IYK, Shum WZ, Yeung MSC, Au EYL, Ho CTK, Lau CS, Li PH (Corresponding Author). Comparative effectiveness, safety and real-world outcomes of a nurse-led, protocol-driven penicillin allergy evaluation from the Hong Kong Drug Allergy Delabelling Initiative (HK-DADI). J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2022 Sep 17 doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2022.08.052.
Wong JCY, Chiang V, Lam K, Tung E, Au EYL, Lau CS, Li PH (Corresponding Author). Prospective study on the efficacy and impact of Cascade Screening and Evaluation of HAE (CaSE-HAE). J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2022 Aug 11 doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2022.07.035.
Li PH (Corresponding Author), Yeung HHF, Lau CS, Au EYL. Prevalence, Incidence, and Sensitization Profile of β-lactam Antibiotic Allergy in Hong Kong. JAMA Netw Open. 2020 May 1;3(5):e204199. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.4199.
Li PH (Corresponding Author), Thomas I, Watts TJ, Wagner A, Rutkowski R, Rutkowski K. Steroid allergy: Clinical features and the importance of excipient testing in a diagnostic algorithm. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2018 Sep - Oct;6(5):1655-1661. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2018.01.007.
Li PH, KL Ue, Wagner A, Rutkowski R, Rutkowski K. Opioid hypersensitivity: predictors of allergy and role of drug provocation testing. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2017 Nov - Dec;5(6):1601-1606. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2017.03.035.

Selected awards

Sir Patrick Manson Gold Medal (LKS Faculty of Medicine, HKU) 2024
Best Abstract in Basic Science & Translational Research (Medical Research Conference, Hong Kong) 2024
Best Abstract Award (World Allergy Organization) 2023
APAAACI Centre of Excellence (Head)(Asia Pacific Association of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology) 2023
Research Team Award (Hong Kong College of Physicians) 2023
Best Presentation Award in Oral Presentation (Japanese Society of Allergology) 2023
Top Downloaded Article (Contact Dermatitis) 2023
Outstanding Team Award – Vaccine Allergy Safety Team (Hospital Authority) 2022
Clinical Service Excellence Award (LKS Faculty of Medicine, HKU) 2022
Chief Executive’s Commendation for Public Service (Government of Hong Kong SAR) 2022
Best Abstract in Clinical Research (Medical Research Conference, Hong Kong) 2021
Award for Highest Score in Advanced Internal Medicine (Hong Kong College of Physicians) 2020
Best Abstract in Clinical Medicine (Medical Research Conference, Hong Kong) 2020
Best Thesis Award (Hong Kong College of Physicians) 2019
Outstanding Team Award – Clinical Immunology and Allergy (Hospital Authority) 2019
Best Abstract in Clinical Medicine (Medical Research Conference, Hong Kong) 2018
HKIA Scholarship (Hong Kong Institute of Allergy) 2017
HKARF/HKSR Scholarship (Hong Kong Society of Rheumatology) 2016

Grants as Principal Investigator

Croucher Summer Course (Croucher Foundation)
Project: Translational Immunology
Amount: HK$1,800,000 2023
Hong Kong Society of Rheumatology Project Fund (Hong Kong Society of Rheumatology)
Project: PULSE – Personalizing and Understanding Lupus with Subphenotype Exploration
Amount: HK$200,000 2022
Health and Medical Research Fund (Food and Health Bureau) - COVID1903011
Project: HKU Optimizing Protection and Effectiveness (HOPE) of COVID19 Vaccines
Amount: HK$12,511,372 2021
Knowledge Exchange Fund (Knowledge Exchange, HKU)
Project: A Book to Empower Allergy Patients in Hong Kong – “Living with Allergies”
Amount: HK$150,000 2020
Love Can Help Fund (LKS Foundation)
Project: A study of feasibility and cost-effectiveness of subcutaneous immunoglobulin replacement for antibody deficiency patients in Hong Kong
Amount: HK$700,000 2020
Enhanced New Staff Start-up Research Grant (LKS Faculty of Medicine, HKU)
Project: Impact of delabelling false penicillin allergy in Hong Kong
Amount: HK$380,000 2020
Seed Fund for Basic Research (University of Hong Kong)
Project: Delabelling false penicillin allergy in Hong Kong
Amount: HK$150,000 2020
Young Investigator Research Grant (Hong Kong College of Physicians)
Project: Impact of penicillin allergy testing in Hong Kong
Amount: HK$50,000 2019
HKIA Research Grant (Hong Kong Institute of Allergy)
Project: Impact of NSAID Allergy Testing in Hong Kong
Amount: HK$40,000 2019

Key Offices

Member of the Sri Lanka Expert Committee to Investigate Recent Incidence of Drug Allergies and their After Effects (since 2023)
Chairperson of the Asia Pacific Association of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology Drug Allergy Committee (since 2023)
Vice President of the Hong Kong Institute of Allergy (since 2022)
Board of Directors, Asia Pacific Association of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology (since 2022)
Member of the Department of Health Expert Committee on Clinical Events Following COVID-19 Immunization (since 2021)
Regional Medical Advisor of Hereditary Angioedema International (HAEi) (since 2020)
Convener of Hong Kong Society of Rheumatology Immunology Special Interest Group (since 2020)
Executive Committee Member and Advisor of Hong Kong Allergy Association (since 2019)