PolyU collaborates with Axis Therapeutics to establish joint laboratory for immunotherapy

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has entered into a formal collaboration with Axis Therapeutics (Axis) to foster cancer immunotherapy research and development, with the aim of improving cancer treatment for patients in Hong Kong. This collaboration will facilitate clinical trials of new T-cell receptor therapy using the newly established clinical Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) facility at PolyU, which is compliant with the GMP Guide for the Advanced Therapy Products (ATPs), and the development of at least 30 new targeting agents against novel T-cell targets in cancer immunotherapy. An agreement signing ceremony for the establishment of the PolyU-Axis Therapeutics Joint Laboratory for Immunotherapy was held on 18 April. Witnessed by Prof. Wing-tak WONG, PolyU’s Deputy President and Provost; Mr Yonghui WANG, Chairman/President of Xiangxue Pharmaceutical Co Ltd (XPH) and President of Axis; Mr Kejian ZHANG, Chairman of the Strategic Development Committee of XLifeSc; and Dr Johnson Yiu Nam LAU, co-founder of Axis and Adjunct Professor of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology of PolyU, the agreement was signed by Prof. Larry Ming Cheung CHOW, Head of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology; and Dr Lun ZENG, CEO of Axis and CEO of XLifeSc. Prof. Wing-tak Wong said that this collaboration would strengthen PolyU’s ongoing efforts in conducting cutting-edge research in life science, especially in the area of translational medicine in cell therapy for treating various diseases including cancers, making contribution to the development of the Greater Bay Area into an innovation hub for cell therapy. Over the years, PolyU researchers have been engaged in the development of three new drugs that have obtained the status of Investigational New Drug (IND) approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical trials, all involved in cancer drug treatment. Both small molecules like flavonoids and biologics (arginase enzymes) have been developed at PolyU by the State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery and the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology. Immunotherapy and cell therapy are two of the most important discoveries for treating cancer of the past decade. The 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to the discovery of the importance in cancer treatment of T-lymphocyte proteins CTLA-4 and PD-1. This opened a new area of “immune checkpoint therapy” whereby the cancer patient’s own immune system can be reactivated to kill the cancer cells. Another type of immunotherapy is the “adoptive cell therapy” where cancer patient’s own T-cells are collected, genetically modified to give them new function to kill cancers and then expanded in large numbers before being administered back to patients. One example of this therapy is T-cell receptor-engineered T cells (TCR-T), where XPH and its subsidiaries XLifeSc and Axis are the global leaders in this field. Mr Yonghui Wang emphasised that XPH had been committed to the cell therapy programme since 2012. In 2018, Axis entered into an MOU with PolyU to bring cell therapy to cancer patients in Hong Kong. Axis/XLifeSc focuses on utilising the T-cell adoptive immunotherapy technology (TAEST technology) to treat cancers and has engaged in the research into and development of a new generation of anti-tumor TCR-T with a high specificity and affinity for a wide range of malignant solid tumors. Importantly, Axis already has two products with IND approvals in China for soft tissue sarcoma and primary liver cancer. The collaboration with PolyU will further enable Axis to conduct clinical trials in Hong Kong and benefits patients in the city. Moving forward, Axis will collaborate with PolyU in the development of up to 30 further targeting biologics, which could be adapted into novel cell therapy of the future. With the funding support from the University Grants Committee, PolyU established a new clinical cGMP facility on campus which is compliant with the Pharmaceutical Inspection Convention and Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S)’s GMP Guide for the clinical research and development in the ATPs. This cGMP facility will use an isolator for aseptic handling of human stem cells or immune cells for regenerative medicine or immunotherapy clinical trials. It will be also equipped with a training production facility to provide professional training. PolyU researchers will work closely with Axis to unveil new tumour targeting biologics, including TCR-like antibodies, and to explore and develop them for cancer treatment based on cell therapy approach. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) aspires to be an innovative world-class university with a strong sense of social responsibility, driven by its motto, “To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind”. The University provides the best holistic education to nurture socially responsible “leaders of tomorrow” who possess a strong sense of national identity and a global perspective and pursues impactful innovation and interdisciplinary research to address the world’s most pressing challenges. A robust culture of knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship is a cornerstone of the University, ensuring PolyU’s technologies are transformed into practical real-world applications. The University's unwavering commitment to excellence has earned it international recognition, with PolyU consistently ranking among the top 100 universities worldwide. Based on this solid foundation, the University will continue to make positive contributions in collaboration with its strategic partners for the betterment of Hong Kong, the Nation, and the world. For more information, please visit: www.polyu.edu.hk Guangzhou Xiangxue Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd (XPH) and Axis Therapeutics (Axis) Founded in 1997 and located in Guangzhou Science City, Guangzhou Economic and Technical Development District, XPH is a high-tech enterprise integrating manufacturing, operation and R&D of products including pharmaceuticals, biological medicine, functional food, Chinese medicines and medical devices. XPH is recognised as one of the pharmaceutical enterprises with most development potential in China and has been listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange since 2010 (stock code: 300147). XLifeSc, a subsidiary of Xiangxue Pharmaceutical, specializes in high affinity specific T cell adoptive immunotherapy technology (TAEST technology) for researching new generation anti-tumor high specificity and high affinity TCR-T cell products for malignant solid tumors. With a rich pipeline of targets in development and two IND clinical approvals in China and the United States, XLifeSc is positioned as the leading TCR-T cell therapy enterprise in China. In 2018, XLifeSc established Axis Therapeutics in Hong Kong to serve as a platform for overseas expansion with rights for all products and a focus on Hong Kong and international opportunities. For more information, please visit www.xphcn.com and http://www.xlifesc.com/m/about/about.aspx   Media contacts Miss Edith Ma Executive Officer       Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology Tel: +852 3400 8606 Email: ho-yin-edith.ma@polyu.edu.hk Ms Jess Fung Manager, Public Affairs Communications and Public Affairs Office Tel: +852 2766 5197 Email: sf-jess.fung@polyu.edu.hk     理大與免疫鍵有限公司合作成立免疫治療聯合實驗室 香港理工大學（理大）與免疫鍵有限公司（Axis）正式合作，共同促進癌症免疫治療研發，改善香港癌症患者的治療成效。是次合作將利用理大新建立、符合現行藥品生產管理規範（cGMP）的先進療法製品（ATP）實驗室和設施進行多種新型「T細胞受體工程T細胞」（TCR-T細胞）療法的臨床試驗。雙方亦將合作開發至少 30 種針對癌症免疫治療中新型 T 細胞標靶的新型抗體等生物製劑。 理大與免疫鍵合作成立「香港理工大學 - 免疫鍵有限公司免疫治療聯合實驗室」的協議簽署儀式於4月18日舉行。 在理大常務及學務副校長黃永德教授、免疫鍵有限公司董事長及香雪製藥董事長王永輝先生、香雪生命科學戰略委員會主任張克堅先生、免疫鍵有限公司聯合創始人及理大應用生物及化學科技學系客座教授劉耀南醫生的見證下，由理大應用生物及化學科技學系系主任周銘祥教授，以及免疫鍵有限公司執行長兼香雪生命科學執行長曾侖醫生代表簽署。 黃永德教授致辭時表示，是次合作將加強理大在生命科學領域的前沿研究，特別是細胞療法轉化醫學方面的努力，以治療包括癌症在內的多種疾病，為促進大灣區發展成為細胞治療創新中心作出貢獻。多年來，理大研究人員已參與三種取得美國食品及藥物管理局（FDA）批准進行臨床試驗（IND）的癌症治療新藥物研究工作。藥物中的黃酮類化合物和生物製劑（精氨酸酶）等小分子是由理大化學生物學及藥物研發國家重點實驗室和應用生物與化學科技學系開發。 免疫療法和細胞療法是過去十年在治療癌症方面的兩大重要發現。2018年諾貝爾生理學或醫學獎得獎項目便是突破性發現 T 淋巴細胞蛋白CTLA-4 和 PD-1在癌症治療中的重要性。這開啟了「免疫檢查點療法」的新領域，透過此療法可重新激活癌症患者自身免疫系統以殺死癌細胞。另一種免疫療法是「過繼性細胞療法」，透過收集癌症患者自身的T細胞進行基因改造，賦予它們殺死癌症的新功能，然後在實驗室內進行大量擴增，再回輸予病人。此療法的其一例子是TCR-T療法，而香雪和子公司香雪生命科學及免疫鍵是此領域的全球領導者之一。 王永輝先生致辭時表示，香雪製藥有限公司自2012年起致力於細胞治療計劃，2018年在港成立免疫鍵，並與理大簽署合作備忘錄，期望為香港癌症患者提供細胞療法。免疫鍵專注利用T細胞過繼免疫治療技術（TAEST技術）來治療癌症，致力於對多種惡性實體腫瘤具高特異性和親和力的新一代抗腫瘤TCR-T研發。目前，免疫鍵有兩款產品於中國獲得臨床試驗批准，分別用於軟組織肉瘤和原發性肝癌的治療。是次與理大的正式合作將進一步加速免疫鍵在香港進行臨床試驗，讓更多本地病人受惠，亦將與理大合作開發多達30種標靶的抗體生物製劑，應用於未來的新型細胞療法。 在大學教育資助委員會資助下，理大於校園設立cGMP設施，其符合國際醫藥品稽查協約組織（PIC/S）就先進療法製品臨床研究和開發指南。該設施將使用隔離器對人類幹細胞或免疫細胞進行無菌處理，用於再生醫學或免疫療法的臨床試驗，並配備專業培訓設施。理大研究人員將與免疫鍵合作，研發更多新型腫瘤標靶生物製劑，包括TCR樣抗體，研究和開發它們用於基於細胞治療方法的癌症治療。 有關香港理工大學 香港理工大學（理大）秉承校訓「開物成務 勵學利民」的精神，矢志成為一所創新型世界一流大學，並以肩負社會重任為宗旨。理大為學生提供優質的全面教育，致力培育具良好國民意識、全球視野與社會責任感的「明日領袖」；同時推動具影響力的創新與跨學科研究，以應對全球最迫切的挑戰。知識轉移與創業文化亦是理大的基石，大學著重研以致用——將所研發的科技轉化為實際應用。理大追求卓越，努力不懈，深得國際認可，持續位居全球百強學府之列。理大將繼續以其雄厚根基，與各界策略夥伴合作，力求造福香港、國家乃至全球。 更多資料，請瀏覽：www.polyu.edu.hk。 有關廣州香雪製藥有限公司、免疫鍵有限公司 廣州市香雪製藥股份有限公司（香雪製藥）成立於1997年，位於廣州黃埔區科學城，擁有自主智慧財產權、自主品牌、自主創新能力的中藥現代化領軍企業和國家級高新技術企業，在中藥資源、智慧中醫、高效能新藥創制、中藥先進製造、生命科學研究、醫療器械等領域的大健康產業形成了全產業鏈集成創新體系。被業界認為是最具發展潛力的製藥企業之一，中國醫藥行業百強企業。香雪製藥於2010年在中國深圳證券交易所首次公開發行股票（IPO）掛牌上市（股票代碼：300147）。 香雪生命科學技術（廣東）有限公司（香雪生命科學XLifeSc）是香雪製藥的子公司，主要利用高親和性特異性T細胞過繼免疫治療技術（TAEST技術），開展針對惡性腫瘤實體瘤進行新一代抗腫瘤高強特異性和高親和性T細胞免疫治療TCR-T細胞產品的研究，香雪生命科學靶點豐富的在研管線，在中國和美國擁有兩個IND臨床批件，是中國TCRT細胞治療頭部企業。 2018年，香雪生命科學在香港成立子公司「免疫鍵有限公司」，作為海外拓展平台，擁有所有產品的海外權利，並專注於香港和國際機會。 更多資料，請瀏覽﹕ www.xphcn.com 及 http://www.xlifesc.com/m/about/about.aspx。   傳媒查詢 馬浩然女士 行政主任 電話﹕+852 3400 8606 電郵：ho-yin-edith.ma@polyu.edu.hk 馮秀芳女士 公共事務經理 電話﹕+852 2766 5197 電郵﹕sf-jess.fung@polyu.edu.hk  

PolyU wins record-breaking number of awards at International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva

Impactful innovations from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) won a record-breaking number of accolades at the 49th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva (Geneva Inventions Expo), a widely recognised annual event devoted exclusively to invention. 43 PolyU innovations seized 45 accolades, including two Special Prizes, five Gold Medals with Congratulations of the Jury, 18 Gold Medals, 13 Silver Medals and seven Bronze Medals. Among them, 19 were developed under the InnoHK research centres led by PolyU in collaboration with top research institutions around the world. This achievement underscores the commitment of the PolyU community, encompassing scholars, students and alumni, to embracing research breakthroughs. Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation), extended his congratulations to the University’s winning teams and stated, “I am thrilled about the exceptional accomplishments of PolyU’s research teams at the Geneva Inventions Expo this year. The results are truly encouraging and serve as a testament to the outstanding research capabilities of our scholars and experts. The international recognition will inspire them to continue pursuing excellence, not only in basic research but also in translating their research outcomes into positive impacts for the benefit of Hong Kong, our Nation, and the world.” This year, PolyU’s award-winning projects span the fields of life sciences and healthcare, renewable energy, new energy vehicles, materials and sensing technology, civil engineering, food science, and vision and eye health. These projects demonstrate the University’s dedication to improving human health and lives and contributing to sustainable development. PolyU is at the forefront globally of driving innovation and entrepreneurship. Among the PolyU award-winning teams, 10 are PolyU-nurtured startups, some of which were founded by the University’s scholars. To-date, the University has trained over 7,600 entrepreneurs, including researchers, alumni and students, and nurtured nearly 500 active startups PolyU innovations and research projects have also garnered close to 400 international and local awards. The 49th Geneva Inventions Expo attracted 1,035 entries from 38 countries and regions. The award-winning projects of PolyU ABCT are listed below.  To learn more about these impactful projects, please refer to the Appendix or visit the website of the PolyU Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office. Project Principal Investigator(s) Award(s) MicroFish: A Lab-on-a-chip for On-site Detection of Microbial Contamination and Pollutants Dr CHUA Song Lin Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology; Co-founder, Microfish Limited (a PolyU academic-led startup) Dr LIU Yang Sylvia GBA Startup Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology; Co-founder, Microfish Limited (a PolyU academic-led startup) Gold Medal 3D Printed Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) Bone Scaffolds Dr ZHAO Xin Associate Professor, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology; Founder, ReNew Biotechnology Limited (a PolyU academic-led startup) Gold Medal Autophagy-targeting Peptidomimetics as Novel Cancer Therapeutics Prof. ZHAO Yanxiang Associate Head, Departmental Learning and Teaching Committee Chair, and Professor, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology Gold Medal Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) Hat to Limit Dementia Progression Dr SETO Sai-wang Associate Director, Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation; Assistant Professor, Department of Food Science and Nutrition Prof. Samuel LO Honorary Professor, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology Bronze Medal     理大於日內瓦發明展再創佳績 歷年獲獎數量最多 香港理工大學（理大）於全球享負盛名的第49屆瑞士日內瓦「國際發明展」（發明展）突破歷年成績，勇奪多項殊榮。43個參賽項目成功奪得45個獎項，包括兩個特別大獎、五個評審團嘉許金獎、18個金獎、13個銀獎，以及七個銅獎，當中19個獲獎項目為理大於InnoHK創新香港研發平台研究中心與其他國際頂尖院校共同開發的研究成果。是次佳績充分肯定理大學者、學生及校友在探索、開創和追求科研突破的努力。 理大副校長（研究及創新）趙汝恒教授恭賀理大得獎團隊，並說﹕「理大今年於日內瓦國際發明展奪得多個獎項，成績令人鼓舞。理大學者專家擁有卓越的科研實力，是次獲獎將激勵他們在科研成果轉化和基礎研究上精益求精，推動大學繼續以創新科研，為香港、國家，以至全球帶來正面的影響。」 今年理大獲獎項目涵蓋生物科學與醫療保健、可再生能源、新能源汽車、材料與傳感技術、土木工程、食品科學、視力健康等不同範疇，以卓越科研改善人類的健康和生活，為可持續發展作出貢獻。理大是推動創新創業的先驅，獲獎團隊中，包括10間理大初創公司，其中部分由理大學者創立。理大透過不同創業支援計劃，至今培育了逾7,600位創業家，包括理大學者、研究人員、校友和學生等；活躍的理大初創企業亦近500間，並獲得近400項國際和本地奬項。 今屆發明展吸引1,035個來自38個國家及地區的項目參展，香港理工大學應用生物及化學科技學系的獲獎項目如下所列。，詳情載於附件或可瀏覽理大知識轉移及創業處網頁。   得獎項目 發明者 獎項 漁芯：即時檢測微生物和污染物的芯片實驗室 蔡松霖博士 理大應用生物及化學科技學系助理教授、理大學者領導初創「漁芯有限公司」聯合創始人 劉揚博士 理大應用生物及化學科技學系創新應用博士後、理大學者領導初創「漁芯有限公司」聯合創始人 金獎 維打印三週期極小曲面（TPMS）骨支架 趙昕博士 理大應用生物及化學科技學系副教授、理大學者領導初創「瑞新生物科技有限公司」創始人 金獎 癌症突破性新療法：靶向自噬的多肽模擬物 趙燕湘教授 理大應用生物及化學科技學系副系主任、系教學委員會主席兼教授 金獎 頭戴式經皮神經電刺激（TENS）裝置改善認知障礙症患者的認知功能 司徒世宏博士 理大中醫藥創新研究中心副主任、食品科學及營養學系助理教授 盧俊立教授 理大應用生物及化學科技學系名譽教授 銅獎    

The 2nd Carbon-Strategic Catalysis International Conference Successfully Complete with Frontier Scientists Gathered at PolyU

The 2nd Carbon-Strategic Catalysis International Conference was successfully completed on 30th-31st March 2024 at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). During the conference, frontier scientists from Australia, Mainland China, and Hong Kong gathered at the PolyU to give inspiring talks and sharings. This two-day conference brought together more than 400 attendees and had active communications and discussions with all the invited speakers. During the two-day meeting, all the invited speakers shared their cutting-edge research in the fields of energy and catalysis under the Carbon-Strategic framework. They have also proposed novel strategies to further promote the goal of carbon neutrality, providing many valuable insights and suggestions for the development of carbon neutrality in the future.  This conference was hosted by Dr. Huang Bolong, Director of the Research Center for Carbon-Strategic Catalysis (RC-CSC) and Associate Professor of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology of PolyU. The conference has invited nearly 30 plenary/keynote speakers including Prof. Li Yuliang (Member of CAS), Prof. Yan Chun-Hua (Member of CAS), Prof. Chen Xiao-Ming (Member of CAS), Prof. Wang Zhonglin (Foreign Member of CAS), Prof.  Cheng Huiming (Member of CAS) and Prof. Guo Zaiping (Australian Laureate Fellow). Mr. Chen Yulin, Director of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, and Mr. Chen Youlin, General of the Science and Technology Innovation Department of the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre were also invited to attend the opening ceremony. The conference topics have covered cutting-edge research fields including energy, catalysis, and materials, which received enthusiastic responses from the on-site and online audiences. This international conference not only provided the most cutting-edge scientific research progress but also supplied valuable suggestions and support to guide the further development of RC-CSC. In addition, through this meeting, a comprehensive cross-disciplinary research platform has been established, supplying new opportunities and possibilities for achieving the goal of carbon neutrality in Hong Kong in the near future. As the first research center among Hong Kong academic institutions focusing on carbon-strategic catalysis research, RC-CSC will seize this opportunity to further improve our research level and practical application prospects. This will also enhance communications and collaborations between PolyU and frontier international scientists. This conference will make unremitting efforts to achieve sustainable energy development under the Carbon-Strategic framework, contributing to the carbon neutrality goal of Hong Kong.   第二屆碳策略催化國際會議於2024年3月30日至31日在理大主校園圓滿舉辦。 會議期間，來自澳大利亞，內地及香港本地的頂尖學者齊聚理大校園，進行了精彩的報告與分享。延續去年第一屆會議的成功，本次為期兩天的會議匯集了超過400名聽眾和學者參與，並與主講嘉賓們進行了熱烈的交流和探討。在兩天會議過程中，主講嘉賓們基於碳戰略框架分享了他們各自在能源催化相關領域的前沿成果，並且共同暢談進一步推動實現碳中和目標的策略，為未來碳中和的發展提供了許多寶貴的建議與暢想。 本次會議由理大的碳戰略催化研究中心（RC-CSC）主任、應用生物及化學科技學系副教授黃勃龍博士主辦，邀請了包括李玉良院士、嚴純華院士、陳小明院士、王中林院士、成會明院士、 郭再萍院士在內的近30位主講嘉賓，並邀請到了中聯辦教科部創高處的陳玉林處長與自京港交流中心科技創新部的陳宥霖副經理參與會議開幕式。本次會議內容涵蓋了能源、催化與材料等前沿領域，現場和線上的大量聽眾反應熱烈。 這次國際會議不僅提供了最前沿的科學進展，也為指導RC-CSC的進一步發展和未來工作提供了重要的建議和支持。此外，透過這次會議也建立起一個複合型多學科交叉的研究平台，為早日在香港實現碳中和目標提供了更多的契機與可能性。 RC-CSC作為香港大專院校中首個專注於碳戰略催化研究的中心，也會抓住這樣的契機，進一步提升自身研究水平和實際應用前景，增強理大與國際頂尖學者間的交流與合作，為實現碳戰略框架下的可持續能源發展和香港碳中和的發展做出不懈努力。  

PolyU Outstanding Student Award and Presidential Student Leadership Award 2023

We are thrilled to announce that two of our exceptional students from the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology at PolyU have been honoured with prestigious awards in recognition of their remarkable accomplishments. Zhu Yunxin has been honoured with the Outstanding Student Award of the Department 2023, and Ge Yufei has received the esteemed Presidential Student Leadership Award of the Department 2023.   The PolyU Outstanding Student Award Scheme is an annual celebration of excellence, acknowledging full-time final-year students who have demonstrated superior performance in both academic and extracurricular activities.   The Presidential Student Leadership Award, introduced in the 2022/23 academic year, is designed to recognize students who have shown exceptional leadership qualities and have made significant contributions to the community. The award not only celebrates these leaders but also supports them in their ongoing efforts to make a positive impact on society and the world at large.   The award ceremony took place on March 26, 2024, at the Jockey Club Auditorium. PolyU President Professor Jin-Guang TENG presented the awards to the distinguished students, commending them for their dedication and hard work.   We are incredibly proud of Zhu Yunxin and Ge Yufei for their achievements. Their awards are a testament to their commitment, leadership, and the bright future that lies ahead for them.   Please join us in congratulating Zhu Yunxin and Ge Yufei on their well-deserved accolades.

Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award 2024 for the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology

The nomination period for the Outstanding Alumni Award of the PolyU Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology 2024 has commenced. This prestigious award seeks to acknowledge exceptional graduates for their noteworthy professional accomplishments and substantial contributions to the community and their alma mater.   Eligibility The nominated candidate must be a graduate who has successfully completed a full-time or part-time program offered by PolyU (or its forerunners: Hong Kong Government Trade School, Hong Kong Technical College, and Hong Kong Polytechnic) that led to an academic award accredited by the respective institution. The proposer can be a PolyU graduate, Honorary Graduate, University Fellow, PolyU staff, current PolyU Council and Court member, or current Advisory Committee member. There is no limit to the number of nominations that each proposer can submit. However, the proposer cannot be the candidate themselves or a direct relative of the candidate.   Award Categories and Selection Criteria In addition to honoring distinguished graduates for their excellence in their chosen fields, the Award recognizes the active support of the alumni towards their alma mater. Support and Contribution to PolyU are key selection criteria at all levels. Four specific areas of achievement will be recognized: Professional Achievement, Entrepreneurial Achievement, Scholarly Achievement, and Community Service Achievement. Alumni who are aged at or under 40 will be eligible for the Outstanding Young Alumni Award.   Award Category Professional Achievement: This category recognizes alumni who have attained distinguished achievements, demonstrated exemplary leadership, and made a strong impact on their profession, industry, or society. Entrepreneurial Achievement: This category recognizes alumni who have demonstrated outstanding innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as founded or advanced business or technology ventures with impact. Scholarly Achievement: This category recognizes alumni scholars who have made notable scholarly or research contributions in their disciplines, with a proven track record and excellent reputation in the field. Community Service Achievement: This category recognizes alumni who have made impactful contributions to communities or demonstrated an extraordinary level of commitment, volunteerism, and/or philanthropy for promoting the well-being of communities.   Deadline The proposer can submit their nomination(s) to the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology via email at ho-yin-edith.ma@polyu.edu.hk, along with their nomination form by 22nd April 2024.   Download Nomination Form   We are excitedly awaiting your nomination to honor our esteemed alumni.  

Congratulations to Prof. Thomas Leung for Receiving the Faculty Awards for Outstanding Achievement 2023

We are thrilled to announce that Prof. Thomas Leung, Professor at Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has been honoured with the Faculty Awards for Outstanding Achievement 2023 – Knowledge Transfer: Industry. His dedication and commitment to advancing knowledge and making a positive impact have truly set him apart.   To recognise and reward staff members’ KT endeavours which are underpinned by research and innovation and have created significant impact on industry and society, the Faculty Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Knowledge Transfer (KT) has been set up. The “Faculty Awards for Outstanding Achievement in KT: Industry” recognises KT impact cases which can demonstrate contributions in advancing the technological or industry standards, addressing the needs of the industry, or enhancing its competitiveness through application of PolyU’s research and innovations in the form of products, methodologies, systems and/or solutions.   Prof. Thomas Leung is a renowned researcher in the field of anti-cancer drug development and cancer prevention. His work focuses on the development of amino acid-depleting enzymes for the treatment of difficult-to-treat diseases such as cancer and metabolic diseases. His research includes studying the molecular mechanisms underlying amino acid depletion in cancer treatment and prevention, preclinical drug development projects, and the rational design of ultra-sensitive rapid biosensors for antibiotics, amino acids, and metabolites. Prof. Leung has received numerous awards and achievements for his groundbreaking work, including the PolyU Distinguished Knowledge Transfer Award, the Lo Ka Chung Charitable Foundation Endowed Professorship in Pharmaceutical Sciences, and the Second Class Prize in Natural Science Award of the Higher Education Outstanding Scientific Research Output Awards. His pioneering work has led to the invention of three different drugs currently in clinical trial stages, and he continues to make significant contributions to the field of cancer research.   We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Prof. Thomas Leung for this well-deserved honour, and we look forward to seeing his continued success and impact in the years to come.

Professor Zijian Zheng Honoured with The President's Award for Outstanding Achievement 2023 - Research and Scholarly Activities (Outstanding Young Researcher)

We would like to extend our congratulations to Prof. Zheng, Chair Professor of Soft Materials and Devices at the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) for receiving The President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement 2023 – Research and Scholarly Activities (Outstanding Young Researcher). PolyU acknowledges the exceptional accomplishments and contributions of staff members through the awards. After a thorough evaluation process, Prof. Zheng, along with three other staff members, was chosen for the Individual Award.   Prof. Zheng joined PolyU as Assistant Professor in 2009, and was promoted to tenured Associate Professor in 2013, Professor in 2017 and Chair Professor in 2023. He has published around 240 papers in journals including Science, Nat. Mater., Nat. Commun., Adv. Mater., JACS, Angew. Chem. Prof. Zheng has also filed over 40 patents and is the recipient of more than 15 academic awards. Prof. Zheng serves as Guest Editor of Advanced Materials and Small, and Editor-in-Chief of EcoMat, a flagship open-access journal in green energy and environment published by Wiley. He was elected Founding Member of The Young Academy of Sciences of Hong Kong (2018), Chang Jiang Chair Professor by the Ministry of Education of China (2020), Senior Research Fellow of the University Grant Committee of Hong Kong (2021), and Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2022).   We offer our warmest congratulations to Prof. Zheng for this outstanding accomplishment.

Dr Zhao Xin Honored with Prestigious 2024 Biomaterials Award for Young Investigator

We are thrilled to announce that Dr Zhao Xin, Associate Professor at the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), has been honored with the prestigious 2024 Biomaterials Award for Young Investigator.   The award ceremony will be held during the 12th World Biomaterials Congress, scheduled from 26-31 May, 2024 in Daegu, Korea. Dr. Zhao is invited to attend the event in person to receive the award and share insights from her recent research.   Dr. Zhao's groundbreaking work integrates multi-disciplinary approaches, including material science, cell biology, engineering, and medicine, to modulate cell microenvironments, control cell behaviors, and generate tissue-engineered organs. Her research aims to address pressing clinical issues.   With over 100 articles published in prestigious journals, Dr. Zhao's significant research impact has been recognized globally. She has been listed as a "Highly Cited Researcher 2022" by Clarivate Analytics and among "The World’s Top 2% Scientists 2023" by Stanford University.   Dr. Zhao's research product, "Biomimicking Photocrosslinkable Nanocomposite Bone Grafts," has won multiple awards, including the Silver Medal at the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva 2021, the 2023 TechConnect Global Innovation Award, and the Gold Medal at the 6th China (Shanghai) International Exhibition of Inventions 2023.

PolYneer, the iGEM team 2023 from our department, will be featured in the biannual Intouch magazine of the Hong Kong Cancer Fund (HKCF)

Our iGEM team, PolYneer, is thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with the Hong Kong Cancer Fund (HKCF) as part of their human practices component for their research project on developing a novel bispecific antibody to overcome osimertinib resistance in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). The team has designed and launched a T-shirt selling campaign, which raised over 20,000 HKD and was donated to HKCF on January 10, 2024. Because of their outstanding performance in terms of both scientific merit and social contribution, a team from the HKCF visited our department to interview our IGEM team on January 16, 2024. The team’s efforts were recognized as a feature in the biannual Intouch magazine of the HKCF in mid-2024. The department is proud of the team's achievements and looks forward to continuing to collaborate with the HKCF in the future.

Prof. Wong Wai-yeung, Raymond, Elected as the Foreign Member of the European Academy of Sciences

We are thrilled to announce that Prof. Wong Wai-yeung, Raymond, Dean of Faculty of Science, ADoRISE & Chair Professor of Chemical Technology has recently been elected as the Foreign Member of the European Academy of Sciences (EurASc) in the Chemistry Division. This distinguished honor serves as a powerful acknowledgment of Prof. Wong's substantial contributions to the realm of Chemistry and his unwavering dedication to the progression of scientific understanding.   The European Academy of Sciences (EurASc) is a fully independent international association of distinguished scholars. Its mission is to recognise and elect the best European scientists with a vision for Europe as a whole, transcending national borders both in elections and in actions. The Academy aims to strengthen European science and scientific cooperation and to utilise the expertise of its members in advising other European bodies in the betterment of European research, technological application, and social development.   Being elected as a Foreign Member of EurASc is a significant achievement that underscores Prof. Wong's exceptional scientific acumen and his dedication to fostering international scientific collaboration. This recognition also highlights his role as a leading figure in the global scientific community.   We extend our heartiest congratulations to Prof. Wong on this remarkable achievement.