Dr Mei Li Khong (SFHEA) is a Lecturer / Digital Education Consultant at School of Clinical Medicine and School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Hong Kong (HKU). She specialises in teaching molecular biology, genetics, experimental and medical biotechnology in Regenerative Medicine and Biotechnology programmes. She completed her doctoral studies in Biomedical Sciences at HKU, focusing on the role of a prebiotic molecule (polyphosphate) in human health and disease. Her involvement at HKU has since broadened to medical education more generally, ranging from transdisciplinary projects to incorporating blended learning into the medical curriculum through modified flipped classrooms, redesigned online learning environments, and optimised educational technology.

Dr Khong is involved in multiple teaching development projects and received the Early Career Teaching Award 2022, Teaching Innovation Award 2023, Faculty Teaching Medal 2024 & U21 Teaching Excellence Awards 2025. She is especially passionate about exploring the possibilities of student-educator partnership in teaching and learning, where students and faculty collaborate to co-design curriculum and pedagogy. She advocates using the transformative potential of student-educator partnership in shifting learning perspectives and bringing about student-centred improvements to a curriculum. Her team’s initiative on formalising student-educator partnerships in curriculum/pedagogy co-creation and cross-disciplinary learning received Global Awards in QS Reimagine Education Awards 2023 & 2024.

• Student-educator partnerships in curriculum and pedagogy co-creation
• Blended learning / Technology-enhanced learning
• Active learning strategies
• Near-peer teaching strategies
• Teaching and learning in biochemistry, human nutrition in health and disease, biomedical technology
• Polyphosphate biology

• Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), Advance HE, United Kingdom (2024)
• Essential Skills in Medical Education (ESME) Certificate, Association for Medical Education in Europe (2022)
• Fellow of Higher Education Academy (FHEA), Advance HE, United Kingdom (2020)
• PhD in Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong (2018)
• BSc (Hons) in Biotechnology, UCSI University (2012)

Biomedical Education (Book Chapters):

1. Luk, P., Khong, M.L., Wu, L.Y., and Ng, H.Y. (In press) Lesson to learn about designing educational game – Cultivating Empathy and Understanding in Health Equity through HealthSeekers. In Kalmpourtzis, G. Educational Game Design Fundamentals: A Journey to Creating Intrinsically Motivating Learning Experiences 2nd Edition. A K Peters/CRC Press.

Biomedical Education (Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles):

1. Luk, P. L. P., Lam, M. C. Y., Lim, Y. C., & Khong, M. L. (2025). Fostering empathy: Gamified approach to address health care disparities. Medical Education. https://doi.org/10.1111/medu.15755
2. Ngai, C.S.B., Singh, R.G., Huang, Y., Ho, J.W.Y., Khong, M.L., Chan, E., Lau, T.C.K., Chan, H.Y.E., Wong, W.T., Law, M.S.M., Koon, A.C. (2025). Development of a systematic humor pedagogical framework to enhance student learning outcomes across different disciplines in Hong Kong. International Journal of Educational Research Open 8, 100438.
3. Khong, M.L.*, and Tanner, J.A. (2024). Surface and deep learning: A blended learning approach in preclinical years of medical school. BMC Medical Education. 24, 1029. (* = Corresponding author)
4. Chan, E., Khong, M.L., Torda, A.J., Tanner, J.A., Velan, G.M., Wong, G.T.C. (2022). Medical Teachers’ lived experience of online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-institutional study. BMC Medical Education. 22(303).
5. Khong, M.L., and Tanner, J.A. (2021). A collaborative two-stage examination in biomedical sciences. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education. 49:69-79.
6. Khong, M.L., Chan, E., Tanner, J.A., Lee, P.P.W., and Wong, G. (2020). COVID-19 – A Covert Catalyst for Pedagogical Stocktake and Transformation: Perspectives of a Global Hub. MedEdPublish. https://doi.org/10.15694/mep.2020.000212.1

Biomedical Education (Others):

1. Chan, H.M.W., Ng, K.Y.J., Lee, K.C. & Khong, M.L.* (2024). Students as Co-Designers – Formalising Student-Educator Partnerships in Curriculum and Pedagogy Co-Creation, Redesigning Student Learning Experience in Higher Education, HERDSA. (* = Corresponding author)
2. Lim, Y.C., Chan, Y.K., Ng, H.Y.H., Khong, M.L.* & Luk, P.L.P.* (2024). EQUAL: A Game-Based Approach to Understanding Healthcare Inequality, Redesigning Student Learning Experience in Higher Education, HERDSA. (* = Corresponding author)
3. Khong, M.L., and Tanner, J.A. (2019). Developing the research-teaching nexus within a transdisciplinary open platform Common Core course. Teaching and Learning Connections, 10. https://www.cetl.hku.hk/teaching-learning-cop/developing-the-research-teaching-nexus/
4. Li, H., Yau, A., Kung, K., Ng, J., Lam, M. & Khong, M.L. (2019). Promoting Service Learning in Higher Education by Implementing the Eczema Eradication Project (TEEP), In Kwan, A., Chan, K., Chu, B., Lam, P., Lau, P., Kwong, T., & Wong, C. (Eds.), Redesigning Student Learning Experience in Higher Education, HERDSA (Hong Kong Branch).

Biomedical Sciences (Peer-Reviewed):

1. Solesio, M.E., Costa, R.T.D., Urquiza, P., Perez, M.M., Du, Y.G., Khong, M.L., Zheng, H.Y., Guitart-Mampel, M., Elustondo, P.A., Scoma, E.R., Hambardikar, V., Ueberheide, B., Tanner, J.A., Cohen, A.,Pavlov, E.V., and Haynes, C.M. (2024). Mitochondrial inorganic polyphosphate is required to maintain proteostasis within the organelle. Front Cell Dev Biol. 12:1423208.
2. Khong, M.L., Li, L., Solesio, M.E., Pavlov, E.V., and Tanner, J.A. (2020). Inorganic Polyphosphate Controls Cyclophilin B-Mediated Collagen Folding in Osteoblasts. FEBS Journal. 287(20): 4500-4524.
3. Li, L., Khong, M.L., Lui, E.L.H., Mebarek, S., Magne, D., Buchet, R., and Tanner, J.A. (2019). Long-Chain Polyphosphate in Osteoblast Matrix Vesicles: Enrichment and Inhibition of Mineralization. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) – General Subjects. 1863(1): 199-209.
4. Khong, M.L. and Hwang, J.S. (2017). Identification of venom-filled organelles in Aurelia aurita. Malaysian Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 2 & 3:15-23.
5. Lui, E.L.H., Ao, C.K.L., Li, L., Khong, M.L., and Tanner, J.A. (2016). Inorganic polyphosphate triggers upregulation of interleukin 11 in human osteoblast-like SaOS-2 cells. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 479(4): 766-771.

Biomedical Education (selected list):

• Universitas 21 (U21) Teaching Excellence Award 2025
• UGC Teaching Award (Collaborative Teams) HKU Nominee (Team Leader) (2025)
• Asia-Pacific Medical Education Conference (APMEC) Young Scholar Award (2025)
• Global Silver Winner for Sustainability Literacy Award in the QS Reimagine Education Award 2024 (Link: https://www.hku.hk/press/news_detail_28123.html)
• Faculty Teaching Medal 2024
• Silver Winner for ‘Exemplary Teaching and Learning Award’ in E-learning Forum Asia 2024
• Champion (Project Advisor), Redesigning Student Learning Experience in Higher Education, HERDSA, Hong Kong (2024)
• Asia-Pacific Medical Education Conference Young Scholar Merit Awards (2023 and 2024)
• Teaching Innovation Award 2023 (Team Leader), HKU Teaching Excellence Award (2023)
• Global Bronze Winner for The Power of Partnerships Award, QS Reimagine Education Awards 2023 (2023) (Link: https://www.hku.hk/press/press-releases/detail/27059.html)
• First Place in Poster Showcase, 5th HKU Teaching and Learning Festival (2023)
• Early Career Teaching Award 2022, HKU Teaching Excellence Awards (2022)
• Asia-Pacific Medical Education Conference Short Communications Merit Awards (2020 and 2021)
• Champion (Project Advisor), Redesigning Student Learning Experience in Higher Education, HERDSA, Hong Kong (2019)

Biomedical Sciences (selected list):

• Champion for HKU Visualise Your Thesis 2018 (2018)
• TOP 10 in Asia-Pacific 3 Minute Thesis (2018)
• HKU 3 Minute Thesis Champion and People’s Choice Award (2018)
• Young Investigator Award, Malaysian Society in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2017)
• Runner-Up for Best Oral Presentation in 22nd Research Postgraduate Symposium (2017)
• Best Poster Presentation Prize in Hong Kong Interuniversity Postgraduate Symposium 2017 (2017)
• Runner-Up for Best Oral Presentation in 21st Research Postgraduate Symposium (2016)
• Best Oral Presenter Award of 23rd Intervarsity Biochemistry Seminar 2012 (2012)

• Member, Pedagogy and Training, Bau Institute of Medical and Health Sciences Education (BIMHSE) (2025 - present)
• Judge, QS Reimagine Education Awards (2024 – present)
• Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy, Advance HE, United Kingdom (2024–present)
• Coordinator of SIMHSE (Students in Medical and Health Sciences Education) in EdTech & Active Learning Pedagogy, LKS Faculty of Medicine (2023–present)
• Member, Board of LKS Faculty of Medicine, HKU (2023–present)
• Mentor, Professional Certificate of Academic Practice (PCAP), HKU (2023–present)
• Member, Task Force on LMS Functionality, HKU (2021–2022)
• Academic Advisor/Counsellor, LKS Faculty of Medicine (2021–present)
• Mentor and Reviewer, HKU Advance HE (2020–present)
• Fellow of Higher Education Academy, Advance HE, United Kingdom (2020–present)
• Resident Tutor, Chi Sun College, HKU (2014–2019)