Dr Huang Bolong Honored as Highly Cited Researcher 2023 in the field of Chemistry by Clarivate

PolyU's Inaugural iGEM Team Makes History with First Silver Medal Win

Thirteen undergraduate students from the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology formed the first team in Hong Kong Polytechnic University called PolYneer made history by winning a prestigious silver medal alongside top universities at the 2023 International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition held in Paris, France from November 2-5 .   iGEM is a prestigious international synthetic biology event that attracts over 6,000 participants worldwide, including undergraduate college students, graduates, and high school students from 40 countries. The team "PolYneer" combines “PolyU” and "Pioneer", representing the team as the first ever team from PolyU and their mission to pioneer new solutions. While the capital Y illustrates their research topic of developing novel bispecific antibody to address a critical issue in the treatment of osimertinib-resistant non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Osimertinib is the first-line targeted therapy for NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations, yet it is often accompanied by likelihood of resistance development.   To overcome this resistance, the team created an award-winning peptide-based bispecific antibody called Polyneerab, which simultaneously binds to both EGFR and c-MET on cell surface. Polyneerab demonstrated a profound effect on the suppression of cell growth in osimertinib-refractory NSCLC cells in combination with osimertinib treatment. Our novel approach also overcomes the shortcomings of traditional bispecific antibodies, including the complex production process and high production costs. The innovative potential of Polyneerab was evidenced by the team's prior acquisition of a Team Impact Grant in July during the same competition. In the Hackathon competition in the same event, two members of the PolYneer team showcased their exceptional skills in computer coding design, and were subsequently chosen as one of the top three finalists.   The ambition of PolYneer is to discover a cost-effective solution that can help combat the therapeutic resistance of NSCLC patients in the hope of improving their treatment outcomes. Throughout the competition, PolYneer actively participated in several outreach initiatives, including online surveys to raise awareness of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in Hong Kong and a T-shirt sales campaign to support the Hong Kong Cancer Fund. The PolYneer team exemplified PolyU's ethos of "Opening Minds, Shaping the Future", making breakthroughs for NSCLC treatment and elevating cancer knowledge in their local community. Their receipt of a silver medal at the prestigious iGEM competition highlights Hong Kong's growing stature as a leader in biotechnology innovation and underscores the tremendous potential of the next generation of researchers to develop solutions that can benefit public health worldwide.     香港理工大學首支iGem團隊創歷史 榮獲銀牌   由應用生物及化學科技學系的十三名本科生組成的香港理工大學首支團隊PolYneer，於2023年11月2日至5日在法國巴黎舉辦的國際基因工程機器International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM)競賽中比賽中與耶魯大學、牛津大學、麻省理工學院等頂尖大學一起奪得銀牌，創下歷史。   iGEM是一項聲譽卓著的國際合成生物學賽事，吸引了來自全球40多個國家的超過6,000名參賽者，包括本科生、研究生和高中生。團隊"PolYneer"結合了“PolyU”和“Pioneer”的概念，代表著理大的首支隊伍，及其開創新解決方案的使命。大寫的Y展示了他們的研究主題，即開發新型雙特異性抗體，以解決治療奧希替尼(osimertinib)耐藥性非小細胞肺癌(NSCLC)。奧希替尼是帶有EGFR突變的NSCLC患者的一線靶向治療藥物，但很容易產生耐藥性。   為了克服這種耐藥性，團隊創造了一種獲獎的基於多肽的雙特異性抗體Polyneerab，能同時與細胞表面的EGFR和c-MET結合。Polyneerab在與奧希替尼治療結合使用時，對抑制奧希替尼耐藥性NSCLC細胞的生長表現出深刻的效果。我們的新方法還克服了傳統雙特異性抗體的缺點，包括複雜的生產過程和高昂的生產成本。Polyneerab的創新潛力在同一賽事7月份獲得Team Impact Grant。在同一賽事的Hackathon競賽中，PolYneer團隊的兩名成員展示了他們在計算機編碼設計方面的卓越技能，隨後被選為前三強的得奬者。   PolYneer的抱負是用他們的高成本效益解決方案合成多肽雙特異性抗體，幫助對抗NSCLC患者的治療耐藥性，希望改善他們的治療結果。在整個比賽過程中，PolYneer積極參與了多項外展活動，包括在香港進行線上調查，提高對非小細胞肺癌(NSCLC)的認識，以及銷售T恤衫以支持香港癌症基金會。PolYneer團隊體現了理工大學“啟迪思維• 成就未來”的精神，為NSCLC治療取得突破，提升了本地社區對癌症的認識。他們在聲譽卓著的iGEM比賽中獲得銀牌，凸顯了香港在生物技術創新領域日益增長的地位，並突顯了下一代研究人員開發對全球公共衛生有益解決方案的巨大潛力。  

PolyU ABCT Scholars ranked The World’s Top 2 Percent Scientists by Stanford University

PolyU Scientist Achieves Breakthrough Recognition from Falling Walls Science for New Catalyst Materials Developed in 2023

Dr Bolong HUANG, an Associate Professor of Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), has been chosen as a finalist for the Falling Walls Science Breakthroughs of the Year 2023 in the Engineering and Technology category. This recognition is for his research in nanocatalysts that have applications in sustainable energy. Dr Huang is one of the three Hong Kong awardees in this category.    Dr Huang's research interests encompass theoretical calculations of electronic structures in various materials, including energy materials and rare earth materials. His focus is on developing catalyst materials that support sustainable energy supply and conversion technologies, in line with global environmental protection goals.    Using his expertise in theoretical calculations and machine learning techniques, Dr Huang is dedicated to creating new catalysts for important chemical reactions in sustainable development. This includes generating hydrogen through water-splitting, improving fuel cells and metal-air batteries through oxygen reduction and evolution, and reducing carbon dioxide emissions.    Dr Huang explained, “My theoretical calculations not only accelerate the discovery of novel catalysts but also gain crucial insights into fundamental reaction mechanisms. I am driven to pursue catalysis research to identify more novel functional materials that can be applied in sustainable developments.”   The Award aims to promote research and innovation across all disciplines by recognizing groundbreaking discoveries. The award, established by the Falling Walls Foundation in Berlin, celebrates the most recent advancements in science and society worldwide.     理大科學家研發新型催化劑 入圍德國Falling Walls科學突破獎2023    香港理工大學（理大）應用生物及化學科技學系副教授黃勃龍博士，憑藉研發納米催化劑，研究成果為可持續能源的碳戰略實現廣泛應用，入圍德國Falling Walls科學突破獎2023-工程技術類別。該類別有三名來自香港的學者入圍，黃勃龍博士是其中一位。   黃勃龍博士的研究專長包括︰納米材料、能源材料、固體功能材料、稀土材料等的電子結構理論計算，及其在多規模能源轉換和供應系統中的應用。他致力於催化方面的研究，以開發支持可持續能源供應和轉換技術的新型催化劑材料，為保護環境的全球願景作出貢獻。    發揮在理論計算和機器學習技術方面的專業知識和經驗，黃勃龍博士為可持續發展開發新型催化劑，包括水分解產生的氫氣（H2）、用於燃料電池和金屬空氣電池的氧氣還原和進化，以及降低二氧化碳控制碳排放。   黃博士表示︰「透過理論計算除了加快研發新型催化劑，更能從中增進及洞悉基本反應機制的重要見解。我將繼續專注催化研究，發掘更多可應用於可持續發展的新型功能材料。」   德國跨界創新基金會（The Falling Walls Foundation）設於德國柏林，其頒發的Falling Walls科學突破獎旨在表彰取得傑出成就和突破的科學家，對研究領域產生了長遠重大的影響，並為解決全球性挑戰作出貢獻。

ABCT PhD Graduate Achieved the FS Outstanding PhD Thesis Award 2022-23

We are delighted to announce that Dr. CHEN Tianxiang, ABCT PhD graduate under the supervision of Dr. Benedict Lo, has received the FS Outstanding PhD Thesis Award 2022/23. The FS Outstanding PhD Thesis Awards Scheme aims to recognize the outstanding PhD students in the Faculty of Science for the high quality of their theses produced during their studies at PolyU.   Dr. CHEN’s research focuses on the rational design and characterisation of atomically precise 3d metal clusters in zeolites. And he is greatly interested in the structure‐activity correlations of supported metal clusters in reactions by exploiting a combination of state-of-art characterisation techniques. His winning thesis is entitled “Precise synthesis of Cu-based metal nanoclusters in zeolites and the structure-catalysis investigations”.   Supported single-atoms (SAs) and metal nanoclusters (NCs) are well-known as next-generation nanomaterials. Great efforts have been made to engineer the electronic and geometric properties of the metal moiety(ies) in SAs and NCs, for instance, the coordination environment, metal compositions, and host materials. Contributing to the development of advanced characterisation techniques, a comprehensive comprehension of the electronic and geometric properties of SAs and NCs can be achieved.   Dr. CHEN’s thesis focuses on the precise synthesis of supported NCs with high accuracy. Capitalizing on the fundamental principles of coordination chemistry and solid-state chemistry, a stepwise assembly strategy has been proposed for the synthesis of multinuclear copper-based NCs within zeolite supports. By utilizing cutting-edge structural elucidation techniques, the electronic and geometric structures of the NCs have been unravelled, and their atomic-level structure-activity relationships have been extensively discussed. This thesis demonstrates the remarkable ability to manipulate the geometric and electronic structure of metal clusters at an atomic level.   Let’s us take this chance to congratulate Dr. CHEN and honor his incredible achievement.

PolyU researchers unveil liquid metal microelectrodes with soft, stretchable and permeable properties to be used for implantable bioelectronic devices

PolyU chemistry scholar received Higher Education Outstanding Scientific Research Output Award from the Ministry of Education

PolyU start-up in antibiotic drug discovery excels at Falling Walls Venture 2023

Ynno Med Limited, a drug research start-up company of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and co-founded by Dr Cong MA, Associate Professor of Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, has been honoured as one of the 25 Winners out of 113 finalists of Falling Walls Venture 2023. Congratulations to Dr MA and his start-up for the great achievement. Ynno Med focuses on the discovery and development of first-in-class antimicrobial drugs using the in-house developed AI-assisted technology, striving to combat the ever-present situation of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.  “Being the only winner from Hong Kong for this Science Start-ups award, we consider this is an encouragement and recognition of Hong Kong’s prowess on the international platform. Through this opportunity, we aim to demonstrate our dedication to knowledge transfer from the university and make impactful contribution to the society.”, said by Dr MA. Dr MA is dedicated to medicinal chemistry and drug discovery. He leads a team to design and discover a series of first-in-class antimicrobial agents targeting protein-protein interactions in bacterial transcription.  On 7 November at the 2023 Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin, Dr MA and his team will pitch their projects for the main title of the Science Breakthrough of the Year 2023 in the category Science Start-Ups. Wish Dr MA a great success at the Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin!   About Falling Walls Venture Falling Walls Venture is a global platform to showcase the entrepreneurial potential in science. The format provides a stage for pioneering science-based start-ups who have successfully turned science into business, proving how entrepreneurial solutions can help solve today’s most pressing challenges. The winning topics in the category Science Start-Ups (Falling Walls Venture) included AI-powered precision diagnostics, AI technologies for sustainable crop protection, antibiotics against multi-drug resistant bacteria, novel one-blood-drop cancer tests, sustainable concrete production, sustainable electricity, robotic whole-arm exoskeleton for people with arm motor impairment and robotic surgery.

Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award of Department of ABCT 2023

The Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology (ABCT) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University is delighted to announce the recipients of the Department of ABCT for the Outstanding PolyU Alumni Awards 2023. These awards aim to acknowledge exceptional graduates of PolyU who have excelled in their respective fields, demonstrated active support for their alma mater, and made significant contributions to the broader community.   We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the following individuals for receiving the Department's Outstanding Alumni Award:   Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award of Department of ABCT 2023 - Entrepreneurial Achievement Dr HO Kam-piu Chief Scientific Officer & Founder, GRST Holdings Limited Doctor of Philosophy (2006) Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Chemical Technology (2001) Dr Ho Kam-piu co-founded GRST in 2015. Since then, the company has achieved success in developing a commercially viable water-based green technology for producing and recycling lithium-ion batteries at lower cost, while reducing carbon footprint and pollution emissions. With a mission to improve the efficiency, sustainability, and recyclability of the battery industry leveraging innovative materials and processing, the company has contributed to the establishment of the world’s first green Gigafactory in China.  As the head of the technical team, Dr Ho is responsible for developing innovative materials and processing solutions for environmentally-friendly batteries. GRST, with its headquarters in Hong Kong, has established a worldwide patent portfolio with over 50 sets of patents and over 235 granted patents. That helps vertical integration of the entire battery value chain, from production to recycling. The company has earned numerous awards and accolades from respected bodies such as Deloitte (Hong Kong), the Environmental Campaign Committee (Hong Kong), the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva (Switzerland), and Bluetech Clean Air Alliance (China). Dr Ho has been keen on supporting PolyU researchers by helping them with their grant applications and sharing his research experiences with postgraduate students.   Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award of Department of ABCT 2023 - Scholarly Achievement Dr Franco LEUNG King-chi Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Master of Philosophy (2014) Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Chemical Technology (2011) Higher Diploma in Chemical Technology (2009) Dr Franco Leung King-Chi attained a BSc degree in Chemical Technology and an MPhil degree from PolyU in 2011 and 2013 respectively. As a PhD candidate, he expanded his research scope on supramolecular chemistry and material science under the guidance of Prof. Takanori Fukushima at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan. In 2017, he had the golden opportunity to work under the 2016 Nobel Laureate Prof. Ben L. Feringa at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands, as a postdoctoral fellow. He was also awarded the Croucher Postdoctoral Fellowship at that point, for the development of photoresponsive soft materials of molecular motors and switches. In 2019, Dr Leung joined PolyU as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, with a research focus to exploit the full intrinsic potential of synthetic organic chemistry, so as to build new supramolecular structures, functions and hierarchical systems.

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟏𝟑𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚-𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐄 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑) 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐥, 𝐊𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐚

The 13th Asia-Pacific Primary Liver Cancer Expert Meeting (APPLE 2023) is an international liver cancer conference held on 6-8 July 2023 in Seoul, Korea, with the goal of fostering and promoting intellectual collaboration and exchange between physicians, scientists, and industry leaders that will lead to common discussions pertaining to the latest advanced innovations in Liver Cancer Treatment. Miss Martina Mang Leng LEI (Ph.D. student of Professor Terence LEE) won the Young Investigator Award and Best Presentation Award entitled “Wild-type Kirsten rat Sarcoma (Kras) Promotes Immune Escape via Suppression of Interferon-mediated Immunity in Hepatocellular Carcinoma” in the 13th Asia-Pacific Primary Liver Cancer Expert Meeting (APPLE 2023) in Seoul, Korea. Miss LEI received 1500 USD for these two awards. The Young Investigator Awards are offered to applicants whose abstracts are considered scientifically of merit, while Best Presentation Awards are given to selected presenters who gave the best presentation in oral poster session. Before attending this conference, Miss LEI has also received the Best Presentation Award in PolyU Research Student Conference (PRSC) 2023 on 8-9 May 2023. Our warmest congratulations to Miss Martina Mang Leng LEI for her achievements.   More information about the APPLE 2023: https://www.apple2023.org/index.php   More information about the PolyU Research Student Conference (PRSC) 2023: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/gs/prsc2023/