Hong Kong

A small molecule could hold the key to tackling the protein build-up in nerve cells that occurs in several devastating neurological disorders.

Four young researchers from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) have been awarded China's Excellent Young Scientists Fund 2019. Each of them will receive a funding of RMB1.3 million to directly support their scientific research projects in Hong Kong to a maximum period of three years.

A research team led by Professor Wei-Hsin Liao from the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has developed a lightweight smart materials-based energy harvester for scavenging energy from human motion, generating inexhaustible and sustainable power supply just from walking. Specifically, the device can capture biomechanical energy from the motion of the human knee and then convert it to electricity which can be used to power wearable electronics such as pedometers, health monitors, and GPS. This work has been published in Applied Physics Letters and recommended as a featured article by editors.

A team of researchers from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) and Karolinska Institutet has recently developed a new protein which can help increase the targeting accuracy in the genome editing process. It is believed that it would be useful for future gene therapies in human which require high precision.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the University of Surrey (Surrey) have forged a partnership to offer Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes that will allow doctoral students from various disciplines to attain a dual PhD from both institutions. The first programme will be launched in the research fields of hospitality and tourism, with further programmes to follow in other disciplines.

A recent research led by a scientist at City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has discovered an easily transmitted DNA piece that can make a new type of hyper-resistant and deadly superbug become hyper-virulent quickly, posing an unprecedented threat to human health.

A research team from the School of Chinese Medicine at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has successfully developed a novel aptamer, i.e. a single-stranded piece of DNA, for the treatment of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) with the aid of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. It is the first time a drug in Hong Kong has been granted orphan drug designation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the Faculty of Medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has successfully introduced a new genome sequencing technique for prenatal invasive genetic diagnosis. It offers enhanced sensitivity and accuracy of diagnosing lethal and severe congenital disorders through precise detection of pathogenic microdeletion or microduplication in the fetus, compared with the current practice karyotyping analysis and chromosomal microarray analysis (as known as fetal DNA chip testing). The team conducted a study on the innovation and the findings were recently published on the international journal Genetics in Medicine.

Two teams of Occupational Therapy students from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) won awards at the 13th International Convention on Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology (i-CREATe 2019) held in Canberra, Australia. The teams won Gold and Bronze awards in the Design Category of the Global Student Innovation Challenge of i-CREATe.

Professor Liming BIAN, Associate Professor of the Department of Biomedical Engineering of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and his research team have recently developed a novel method for preparing single chain nano material which significantly improves the efficiency by a factor of 20 over that of conventional methods. The research team further investigated the impact of the dynamic molecular conformational change in such material on cellular interactions in different biomedical applications at varying scales. This paves the way for the large scale production and translation of single chain nano materials in daily life. The study has been published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature Communications.

A group of biologists from Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) have discovered a new fireworm species in Hong Kong waters and named it Chloeia bimaculata. It is the fourth named species to be added to the fireworm genus Chloeia during the last century. The team also identified Chloeia parva as the fireworm species that caused the outbreak in Hong Kong last year. The discovery shows how little people know about the biodiversity of this group of animals.

Biologists from HKBU have led a study to sequence and analyse the genomes of four apple snail species in the family Ampullariidae and discovered that the apple snails have evolved to become highly sensitive to environmental stimuli, digest cellulose (a major component of the plant cell wall), form hard calcareous eggshells and pack neurotoxins in eggs.

A team of students from the Department of Mechanical Engineering of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) won the Gold Award for its ingenious robot design at the ASM Technology Award 2019.

A 50-day entrepreneurship programme organised by the Greater Bay Area International Institute for Innovations (GBA I3) concluded successfully last week.

The Faculty of Engineering (FENG) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) signed a Statement of Intent today with the Hong Kong Electronic Industries Association (HKEIA).

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) garnered four prizes with two outstanding innovations at the Silicon Valley International Invention Festival (SVIIF) 2019.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) held its dynamic MA Graduation Fashion Show “CHAOS” yesterday. Over 400 guests, including representatives from the fashion industry, family, friends, and supporters were in the audience.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) organised, in collaboration with The Mills Fabrica, the Grand Finals of “Techstyle for Social Good International Competition 2019” in late June.

The new President of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, takes office today.

The Institute of Textiles and Clothing (ITC) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) held today the “Designing Future Techstyle” International Symposium and “Techstyle for Social Good International Competition 2019” at The Mills.

A breakthrough nanostructure for neural stem cell cultivation developed by HKBU has won the TechConnect Global Innovation Award.

Researchers from the School of Chinese Medicine at Hong Kong Baptist University have found that the abnormal rise of a soluble protein called Nerve Growth Factor is a key factor linking early life stress to the development of irritable bowel syndrome.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) won two "Global Innovation Awards" at TechConnect World Innovation Conference and Expo 2019 (TechConnect) staged in the United States.

An international and multidisciplinary research team led by Prof. Charles NG Wang-Wai will deliver an extreme weather and landslide warning system, which will increase the forecast lead time of heavy rainfall from three to six hours, giving the general public and responders more time to prepare for potential disasters.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today launched a leadership programme for 100 Tanzania’s young professionals from various sectors.

Twenty-two graduating students from Institute of Textiles and Clothing (ITC) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) showcased their design flair and talent at the PolyU Fashion Show 2019 held on 13 June at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today announced the signing of a collaborative framework agreement with Wuyi University (WYU). The two universities will join hands for research on the development of green and healthy textile materials over a span of three years.

Researchers at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have developed a highly flexible, high-energy Textile Lithium Battery.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) (PolyU) developed a novel curvature-adaptive multi-jet polishing (MJP) technology for different kinds of freeform surfaces

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) (PolyU) today shared that more youngsters can have their scoliosis conditions detected early and monitored frequently, thanks to the portable imaging system developed by PolyU’s experts in scoliosis research.