Media Releases

PolyU develops portable nucleic acid testing device for COVID-19 to enable fast and accurate results on-site

Over the past two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has imposed a tremendous impact on society as well as on the daily lives of individuals. In the “post-pandemic” era, it is important to strengthen efforts in research and development of drug and vaccine, while also continuing to uphold high standards of personal and environmental hygiene management. Therefore, an accurate and convenient COVID-19 testing method could certainly help ease the stress of post-pandemic life.

PolyU's Department of Applied Social Sciences launches an online platform to encourage continuous learning in the midst of the pandemic

To encourage continuous learning during the fight against COVID-19, the Department of Applied Social Sciences of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has set up the One Stop Shop (OSS), an online platform for information sharing in the era of pandemic. OSS is a co-created and co-owned information platform that marks the latest joint endeavour of departmental staff, students and alumni, in collaboration with various social welfare organisations and professional associations. A series of professional talks, workshops and patient sharing sessions have been arranged via the platform since the end of March. Other services offered by OSS are: online workshops by professional facilitators (with topics including play therapy, expressive arts therapy, healing for wellness and community arts); and a "Learn from Home" video series leveraging multimedia to navigate topics related to the pandemic, which comprises short films produced by the faculty of the Department that focus on areas that include Sociology, Social Work, Social Policy, Psychology and Ageing Studies. Staff, students and alumni who have recovered from COVID-19 are also invited to share their experiences of recovery and emotional transformation. The Department has furthermore joined hands with three internationally renowned universities: the University of Amsterdam (Netherlands), Durham University (UK) and The University of Toronto (Canada) to organise an online professional seminar series titled "Riding Out the Pandemic" to help people cope with anxiety that arise from the pandemic. Prof. Eric Chui Wing-hong, Professor and Head of Department of Applied Social Sciences, stated, “despite the impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic may have on us (for instance, being stuck at home), so long as one recognizes the communities of support that exists, and discovers your own hidden potential, we will weather the storm and look forward to brighter days with hope and confidence. With an atmosphere of co-creation, co-production and co-learning, I am sure we will be able to get through the pandemic together. “ To learn more about the One Stop Shop (OSS) platform, please visit the website: https://oss.apss.polyu.edu.hk

PolyU and ASTRI join hands to foster research collaboration and nurture R&D talent

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration on research and technology transfer as well as to nurture future R&D talent, leveraging the research expertise of both parties. PolyU and ASTRI will kick-start research projects, capitalising on their respective research experience and strengths to develop impactful innovations. The relevant intellectual properties will then be translated into viable solutions for meeting industrial and societal needs. The two parties are committed to encouraging more interdisciplinary research discussions and strengthening cross-sector technology transfer. With cultivating young talent as a core mission of the collaboration, PolyU and ASTRI are dedicated to building a strong talent base for the long-term and sustainable development of R&D in Hong Kong. The ASTRI Day @ PolyU scheduled on 13 April will foster exchange and cooperation between academia and industry. Experts from ASTRI will share insights on various hot technology topics such as Trust and AI Technologies, Communications Technologies, IoT Sensing and AI Technologies, Integrated Circuits and Systems, etc. PolyU students will gain a comprehensive understanding of technology trends as well as career prospects in different research fields. Professor Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, said, “We are thrilled to partner with ASTRI to cultivate research talent in Hong Kong by leveraging our unique strengths to empower our students and graduates with forward-looking technologies through various exchange activities. We will also provide career opportunities for those who are enthusiastic about technology advancement. This MoU will deepen PolyU’s ongoing collaboration with industry and our commitment to transforming research excellence into societal impact for the long-term sustainable development of the city.” Ir Sunny LEE, JP, Chairman of ASTRI, said, “We are eagerly looking forward to the strengthening of collaboration with PolyU in the areas of research and talent nurturing. This will further promote cross-disciplinary research and the integration of basic and applied research, while expanding Hong Kong’s I&T talent pool. I assure you that ASTRI’s researchers, who are experts in cutting-edge technologies, will do their utmost to impart their knowledge and experience to PolyU’s students. I am also sure that these students will in turn inject new impetus into ASTRI.” Under this MoU, PolyU’s Department of Applied Physics and ASTRI will jointly design a brand-new Master’s programme focusing on microelectronics technologies. Professor Wing-tak WONG, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU, remarked that this new MSc programme in Microeleclectronics Technology and Materials, to be launched in the 2023/24 academic year, will enable students to cope with emerging technology and industry needs. ASTRI’s experts will co-teach three highly industry-relevant subjects, namely Integrated Circuits Design, Microelectronics Packaging and Reliability, and Machine Vision for Semiconductor Manufacturing and Inspections. Committed to driving translational research and technology innovation as well as talent cultivation, PolyU and ASTRI will continue to collaborate closely on a wide range of initiatives to address real-world challenges for the benefit of Hong Kong, the Nation and the world.   ***END***

PolyU takes leading position in six disciplines and one broad subject area in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject 2022; Four disciplines ranked No. 1 in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has attained remarkable results in the latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject 2022, with four disciplines ranked first in Hong Kong, and six disciplines and one broad subject area ranked among the top 50 in the world. Various Engineering-related disciplines also demonstrated a significant leap from last year.

PolyU’s School of Nursing strongly supports the Caroline Hill Road Pop-up Community Vaccination Centre; Chief Executive and Secretary for the Civil Service visit the Centre today

Vaccination is paramount to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to the community demand for vaccination, the Hong Kong SAR Government has established the Caroline Hill Road Pop-up Community Vaccination Centre (PCVC) in Causeway Bay, which commenced operation today (29 March). Located at the site provided by Hysan Development and the Chinachem Group, the PCVC is fully supported by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). The University is operating the PCVC in a non-profit-making mode to help the community battle the pandemic.

PolyU wins six prizes at 2022 Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has once again excelled in this year’s online special edition of the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva (Geneva Inventions Expo) - Special Edition 2022 Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days – Virtual Event. The Exhibition is regarded as one of the most important annual global events devoted exclusively to inventions. This year, PolyU has garnered a total of six awards, including one Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury, one Gold Medal, three Silver Medals and one Bronze Medal. PolyU researchers commit to the motto of the University, " To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind”, by transferring their research into impactful real-life applications that benefit society. Four of the six participating projects are operated by PolyU supported start-ups which has already commercialised its research outputs. As the only university in Hong Kong taking part in the Nation’s space missions, the PolyU team is also actively developing instruments for the national space mission by leveraging its expertise in precision engineering. In addition, PolyU is also striving to leverage its research to improve people’s quality of life. The participating projects this year, which incorporate research in the areas of cooling coatings, eco-friendly building materials, smart fabrics, nutritional supplements and AI music learning platform, are just a few examples of this effort. The awards received by the PolyU teams are testament to their determination and unique capabilities in their areas of expertise, which have earned them international recognition. The teams will continue their good work by developing more innovative solutions that will eventually benefit Hong Kong, the Nation and the world. The six projects are (project details in Appendix and on the website of the Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office https://www.polyu.edu.hk/kteo/polyu-innovations/award/geneva2022/ ):   Project Principal Investigator Awards Camera Pointing System for China’s Lunar Exploration Missions (Chang'e 3 and 4) Prof. Kai-leung YUNG Sir Sze-yuen Chung Professor in Precision Engineering, Director of Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations, Chair Professor of Precision Engineering and Associate Head, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury UmiCool: an Eco-friendly Smart Sub-ambient Radiative Cooling (SSRC) Coating Prof. Jianguo DAI Professor and Associate Head, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Founder of Pro-Infra Science & Technology Limited (a PolyU Academic-led start-up) Gold Medal Carbon-negative Climate-smart Biochar Partition Block Prof. Daniel Chiu-Wa TSANG Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Founder of NeutralCrete Limited (a PolyU Academic-led start-up) Silver Medal Omni-Cool-Dry: a Desert Beetle Inspired Skin-like Fabric for Dymanic Thermal and Moisture Management Dr Dahua SHOU Assistant Professor, Institute of Textiles and Clothing Silver Medal AkkMore™: a Fungus and Plant Based Supplement Against Obesity or Prediabetes Dr. Gail Jinhui CHANG Research Assistant Professor, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Co-founder of Bo InnoHealth Biotechnology Company Limited (a PolyU GBA Start-up PostDoc and PolyU Academic-led startup) Silver Medal Algorithmic Music Composition Software for Popularising AI Education Dr Gong CHEN PhD alumni of the Department of Computing, Founder of RhySoul Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited (a PolyU GBA Start-up PostDoc) Bronze Medal   The Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days – Virtual Event this year attracted about 800 inventions from 25 countries/regions. For details, please visit the event organiser’s official website: www.inventions-geneva.ch   ***END***

PolyU startup iMeddy provides free video medical consultation to COVID-19 patients to help fight the pandemic leveraging innovative technology

Amid the severity of the fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, a startup nurtured by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), known as iMeddy, is providing a free video medical consultation service on its pioneering online healthcare platform to a quota of 3,000 COVID-19 patients. The service is supported by an aggregate donation of HK$800,000 from The Y.Elites Association and the Hong Kong Youth Development Alliance, to help fight the pandemic leveraging innovative technology. The service is being carried out in two phases. The first phase, which is now complete, targeted low-income families, while the upcoming second phase will help the singleton elderly and those living in nursing homes. The initiative aims to provide necessary medical support through video consultation for free to those COVID-19 patients who already have symptoms. This will help share the burden currently faced by the medical system as well as promote the use of innovative technology in the medical field. An online platform for medical and healthcare services, iMeddy collaborates with more than 300 private medical practitioners in Hong Kong. Users can select a doctor, make an appointment and receive a video medical consultation, all conveniently from home. Medicines will also be sent to the users’ homes by delivery service. iMeddy’s platform ensures a more efficient and safer consultation system for private medical practitioners. This can reduce the risk of doctors getting infected during face-to-face consultations and treatment as well as the possibility of spreading the virus while patients are making their way to clinics. iMeddy was founded in 2021 by two PolyU alumni, namely Mr Alex Cheuk Ka-hou (graduate of the Department of Mechanical Engineering in 2019) and Mr Stephen Tsoi Kwok-chun (graduate of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering in 2018). PolyU is committed to nurturing innovation and technology talents who embrace entrepreneurship to create positive impact on industry and society underpinned by the research excellence of the University. The entrepreneurial and caring spirit of the two alumni is highly encouraging. The PolyU Launchpad Fund is a scheme to support the acceleration of technology startups founded by PolyU students, alumni and professors. As one of the startups receiving funding from the scheme this year, iMeddy will further increase the efficiency of its online consultation platform and expand its development in the Greater Bay Area.   ***END***

Research reveals over 40% of COVID-19 survivors still suffer from fatigue syndrome after one year; PolyU develops “Rehab 8 Forms” programme to aid post-COVID recovery

After two years of battling the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) has suggested that while most people who have developed COVID-19 will fully recover, some may experience a variety of post-COVID symptoms months after their recovery, including breathlessness, fatigue, cognitive dysfunction and more, with these mid- to long-term effects being collectively known as “long COVID.” Funded by the Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) of the Food and Health Bureau, HKSAR Government in 2020, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s (PolyU) research team from the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences conducted prospective research to assess the physical fitness, psychosocial functions and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in COVID-19 patients after recovery, as well as assessing their changes in the “3Rs”, namely “Rebuild fitness”, “Regain confidence” and “Resume normal life”. Commencing their research in October 2020, the research team followed up with the recovery status of COVID-19 patients referred from five local hospitals in the 6th and 12th months after diagnosis. Researchers evaluated their cardiorespiratory function, physical fitness, fatigue level and quality of life by leveraging face-to-face meetings and online means, making use of specific assessment tests. The research team found that more than 40% of the 118 COVID-19 survivors who participated in the research were still suffering from the symptoms of “long COVID” including fatigue and lower limb muscle weakness, 6 and 12 months after diagnosis from COVID-19, posing a negative impact to their daily life. Below are the key findings: 6 months after diagnosis: about 42% experienced fatigue syndrome; 12 months after diagnosis: about 43% still experienced fatigue syndrome; No significant changes in Fatigue Score in the 6th and 12th months post COVID diagnosis (i.e. no improvement over time); The fatigue level of the assessed subjects was related to lung capacity and lower limb strength; Fatigue syndrome exists in adults, as well as in elderlies; 50% of the female assessed subjects experienced fatigue syndrome, while only 30% of the male assessed subjects had the same syndrome. Professor Amy Fu, Peter Hung Professor in Pain Management, Associate Head of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences of PolyU, who led the research, said, “Most COVID-19 survivors think they have recovered from the illness and do not pay attention to the fatigue symptoms, or think the symptoms will be alleviated over time. It is only after conducting various assessments that they realised that their fatigue symptoms were related to insufficient cardiopulmonary function and weak lower limb muscles. With appropriate rehabilitation programmes in place, their condition can be reversed.” 3R Rehabilitation Programme To help COVID-19 survivors regain their health, a PolyU research team has developed a 6-week physical training programme. Under the guidance of PolyU physiotherapists, survivors will undergo two training sessions (60 mins each) and three home exercise sessions (30 mins each) to improve their lung capacity and muscle strength through different forms of fitness exercise. Upon completion of the 6-week training, the study indicates that the lung capacity and lower limb strength of the majority of the 24 participants improved, and their fatigue level also improved. Below are the key findings: About 70% of the survivors showed improvement in their lung capacity; More than 60% of the survivors showed improvement in their lower limb strength; Among those who were suffering from fatigue syndrome, three quarters have returned to normal The physical training programme features “Rehab 8 Forms” designed by a PolyU research team. It consists of eight different movements to train various muscle groups and improve cardiorespiratory and muscle performance. Dr Arnold Wong, Associate Professor of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences of PolyU, said, “the ‘Rehab 8 Forms’ is an easy-to-follow exercise; each set will take about 8 to 10 minutes to complete. One can make adjustments to the pace and progress according to their own physical condition, in order to gradually improve their fitness, so as to achieve the 3R objectives – Rebuild fitness, Regain confidence and Resume normal life.” Dr Wong added that both COVID-19 survivors and those who are spending more time at home due to the pandemic can practice “Rehab 8 Forms” to maintain their wellbeing. To watch the video of “Rehab 8 Forms”, please visit: https://youtu.be/oXJ2PLA926k To find out more about the research project, please contact the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at (852) 4623 3790 / 5598 4562.   ***END***

Secretary for Food and Health visits PolyU’s new support centre for the Hospital Authority’s COVID-19 hotline

PolyU admits sports talents through the Student-Athlete Learning Support and Admission Scheme

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is committed to promoting a sporting culture on campus, and providing full support to elite student-athletes to achieve both sports and academic aspirations. From the academic year 2022/23 onwards, PolyU will support the Student-Athlete Learning Support and Admission Scheme (SALSA) to provide opportunities for student-athletes who are eligible to represent Hong Kong in significant international competitions with remarkable achievements in sports to pursue their undergraduate studies at PolyU.