Agnes Sui-Yin Chan is a psychologist and academic. She is chair and professor at The Chinese University of Hong Kong as well as the director of the Research Centre for Neuropsychological Well-Being. She is also the director of the Pro-Talent Association. Additionally, she is the recipient of the Early Career Award in Clinical Neuropsychology from the American Psychological Association.
Education and career Chan completed her B.A. from the University of Michigan in 1987, followed by a Master of Social Work and an M.A. in Psychology from the University of Michigan in 1989. She completed her Ph.D. from the University of California in 1995.
Chan began working at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, initially as an assistant professor, then as an associate professor, and later as a professor. Since 2026, she has been working as the chair and professor in the Department of Psychology at the same institution. Additionally, she has also developed the Chanwuyi Lifestyle Medicine Program, an integrative approach incorporating diet, exercise, stress management, and psychosocial well-being principles. The program was also certified by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Moreover, she has been the director of the Pro-Talent Association since 2016.
Research Chan's research focuses on understanding cognitive impairment associated with brain disorders and developing methods for early detection and intervention. She has studied cognitive deficits in conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia, and has employed techniques including hemodynamic measures to investigate neural processing underlying cognitive function. Her work has also focused on improving cognitive health across the lifespan.
A significant part of Chan's research is the development of culturally relevant neuropsychological assessment tools and intervention programs such as Hong Kong List Learning Test (HKLLT), a verbal learning and memory measure used in clinical and research settings. In addition to traditional assessments, her work has explored non-invasive biomarkers for early detection of cognitive decline. Moreover, her work has also explored cognitive modulation techniques such as transcranial photobiomodulation.
Awards and honors 2003 – Past HK TOYP Awardees, Hong Kong Junior Chamber 2004 – Early Career Award in Clinical Neuropsychology, American Psychological Association 2011 – Research Excellence Award, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Selected articles Chan, A. S., Butters, N., Paulsen, J. S., Salmon, D. P., Swenson, M. R., & Maloney, L. T. (1993). An assessment of the semantic network in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 5(2), 254-261. Chan, A. S., Ho, Y. C., & Cheung, M. C. (1998). Music training improves verbal memory. Nature, 396(6707), 128-128. Chan, A. S., Ho, Y. C., & Cheung, M. C. (1998). Music training improves verbal memory. Nature, 396(6707), 128 Lee, T. L., Guo, L. & Chan, A. S. (2024) fNIRS as a biomarker for individuals with subjective memory complaints and MCI Alzheimer's & Dementia, 20(8), 5170-5182. Chan, A. S., Leung, P. Y., Pang, T. W. Y., & Sze, S. L. (2024). Eye‐tracking training improves visuospatial working memory of children with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder. Autism Research, 17(11), 2244-2260. Lee, T. L. and Chan, A.S. (2023). Photobiomodulation may enhance cognitive efficiency in older adults: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study. Frontiers in Aging Neurosciences Jul 20;15:1096361.
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