A conversation with: Stanley Hung, PhD student

Stanley is a physiotherapist and PhD student at the Florey in the Clinical Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory. Before starting his PhD, he completed a thesis-based Master of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences and clinical Master of Physical Therapy at the University of British Columbia in Canada. Stanley has been awarded the Melbourne Research Scholarship and The Yulgilbar Foundation Top-Up Scholarship for his doctoral studies. He wishes to combine his research and clinical training to investigate the benefits of physical activity and exercise for people who have had a stroke.

PhD student Stanley Hung

What is your research about?

My research investigates how physical activity and exercise can help people before and
after a stroke. Studies suggest that physical activity may protect people from having severe strokes. Physical activity is thought to help build stronger blood vessel networks in the brain, which is especially important when a clot blocks blood flow during a stroke. 

My first study will investigate if pre-stroke physical activity levels are related to stronger blood vessels systems in the brains of stroke patients. My second study focuses on how exercise training affects the peculiar bright spots that can be seen in brain MRIs in stroke. These bright spots are linked to poor blood flow in the brain, negative changes in thinking and memory skills, and increased risk of dementia. Since stroke patients are at higher risk of dementia, we want to investigate if structured exercise can help prevent or reduce the amount of bright spots in the brain.

What would you like to do in the future?

In the future, I would like to continue building my career as a clinician-scientist, helping stroke survivors adopt a more active lifestyle. While the benefits of physical activity and exercise are well documented, many stroke survivors remain inactive. By building a strong evidence base and collaborating with patients, scientists and clinicians, we can encourage an active lifestyle for stroke survivors. This will be key in preventing known consequences of stroke, such as post-stroke dementia.

"Exercise is the only robust way to build stronger muscles, hearts, brains and overall fitness. What intrigued me was how we can use exercise to help people with health conditions."

What inspired you to pursue stroke research? 

As an exercise science undergraduate, I saw how exercise training builds stronger and faster athletes. Exercise is the only robust way to build stronger muscles, hearts, brains and overall fitness. What intrigued me was how we can use exercise to help people with health conditions.

In order to do this well, I learnt how to safely and effectively prescribe exercise to
people with chronic conditions, and am learning how to conduct high-quality research to demonstrate these benefits. With a strong focus on clinical rehabilitation research, the Florey was the best place for me to pursue my research goals! I am very grateful for the opportunity to learn from the best to help people most in need.

Stanley Hung's PhD looks at how exercise can help before and after stroke.

More on Stanley Hung's Research Projects:

The Post Ischaemic Stroke Cardiovascular Exercise Study (PISCES)
PISCES is an on-going Phase 2b clinical trial investigating the effects of fitness training (aerobic and resistance exercise program) on brain volume and cognition after stroke.

The Effect of Pre-Stroke Physical Activity and Muscle Mass on Stroke Outcomes: an
Observational Study (PrSMA) 
PrSMA aims to recruit stroke patients from the hospital wards to investigate (1) the relationship between pre-stroke physical activity on collateral circulation in the brain and (2) the relationship between pre-stroke muscle mass and stroke severity.