PolyU Science in the News

PolyU and CUHK academics develop new drug to treat multiple obesity-related metabolic diseases

Prof. Thomas Leung Yun-chung, Professor of PolyU’s Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology and Prof. Alisa Shum Sau-wun, Associate Professor of the School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), have developed a first-in-class drug, ABarginase, for treatment of multiple obesity-related metabolic diseases. The drug is an albumin-binding recombinant human arginase that is engineered using an advanced fusion protein strategy. This allows for an inexpensive and highly efficient fabrication process, making ABarginase affordable and widely adoptable for clinical applications. (Oriental Daily News A04, Hong Kong Economic Journal A08, Hong Kong Economic Times A14, Sky Post P05, Ta Kung Pao A08, Wen Wei Po A06, Lion Rock Daily P01)   Press release: English | Chinese   Online coverage: TVB https://polyu.me/3BME1oI Now TV https://polyu.me/3ITxVa7 i-Cable   https://polyu.me/43ipRY5  RTHK https://polyu.me/45gniHX Metro Radio   https://polyu.me/3WnA3wd  AM730 https://polyu.me/45lSpSk  Ming Pao Daily News   https://polyu.me/3OyojoF  Oriental Daily News  https://polyu.me/3MLmSSp Hong Kong Economic Journal  https://polyu.me/3OvqIR9 (subscription required) Sky Post  https://polyu.me/3od1FHS Ta Kung Pao  https://polyu.me/42TyY1u Wen Wei Po  https://polyu.me/3MMrCr2 China Daily (Hong Kong Edition)  https://polyu.me/3q38coY Bastille Post  https://polyu.me/3pZAqkn Dot Dot News https://polyu.me/3OumXLy Line Today  https://polyu.me/43dtcYo Medical Express   https://polyu.me/3IyHH11  Mirage News   https://polyu.me/3pRYh5p  Yahoo HK  https://polyu.me/3pWbUR7 

PolyU expert on microplastic impacts

Dr Fang Kar-hei, James, Assistant Professor of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition, gave an interview with Now TV programme "Now Report" to explain the impact of microplastics on our body.   Now TV 經緯線：海洋塑化 (10:55 - 11:50) 10 April 2023  

PolyU scholar appointed food hygiene advisor

Congratulations to Dr Wong Ka-hing, Associate Professor of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition (FSN) cum Director of Research Institute for Future Food, on being appointed as a member to the Advisory Council on Food and Environmental Hygiene for a two-year term with effect from 1 April.   中聯社 政府委任食物及環境衛生諮詢委員會成員 31 March 2023  

PolyU helps develop modernised and sustainable mariculture practices

Mr John Kwok, a PhD student of Department of Food Science and Nutrition, and three students of a project on promoting modernised and sustainable mariculture run by PolyU shared the hands-on training provided in the project, with a view to helping the local trade to develop modernised and sustainable mariculture practices in an interview with Ta Kung Pao.   大公報 「三個門外漢」的養魚路 14 March 2023  

Prof. Zheng Zijian and Prof. Yan Feng are promoted to Chair Professors

Congratulations to Prof. Zheng Zijian (ABCT) and Prof. Yan Feng (AP) on their promotions to Chair Professors! Prof. Zheng is now the Chair Professor of Soft Materials and Devices, and Prof. Yan is the Chair Professor of Organic Electronics. Prof. Zheng Zijian's research focuses on the development of fibrous metallic materials, permeable electronics for stretchable and wearable applications, high-performance flexible optoelectronic electrodes and devices. He has published over 200 impactful research papers in Chemical Society Reviews, Joule, Advanced Materials and Advanced Energy Materials. Prof. Yan Feng has research interests in organic electronics, 2D materials, solar cells, thin-film transistors, biosensors and smart materials. He has published more than 300 papers in high-calibre journals, including Advanced Materials, Nature Communication, Nano Letters, and the Journal of the American Chemical Society. He has also delivered more than 70 invited talks at international conferences.

PolyU research discovers nanoscale ferroelectric new materials exhibiting potential for making computer memory with low cost and low energy consumption

New research from a team led by Prof. Daniel Lau, Chair Professor of Nanomaterials and Head of Department of Applied Physics of PolyU, achieves a sought-after type of electrical behaviour in nano-sized materials. Electronics manufacturers are expected to show a keen interest, as the valuable ferroelectric characteristics can be reproduced at large scales with unprecedented ease. Prof. Daniel Lau said, “High-tech industries, such as the computer memory sector, will benefit from this new class of nano-scale ferroelectrics. When manufacture is scaled up, the low cost, low energy demand and faithful reproducibility of these atomically thin bilayers promises to advance the frontier of modern electronics.”  Press release: English | Chinese   文匯報 理大研發納米級鐵電體 助製超薄數據儲存器 19 January 2023  香港商報 理大研究發現納米級鐵電新材料 具多項優點可應用於計算機記憶體  18 January 2023

RTHK programme “Our Scientists” featuring Prof. Raymond Wong - "Superpowers of an ordinary person"

Prof. Raymond Wong is the Dean of the Faculty of Science at PolyU, he is internationally renowned for his research achievements in organometallics compounds for energy conversion. Recently, he has made special emphasis on developing metallated graphyne for optoelectronic and energy applications. In recognition of his remarkable research contributions, Prof. Wong received numerous local and international awards, including the RGC Senior Research Fellow Award, the Croucher Senior Research Fellowship Award by the Croucher Foundation, the State Natural Science Award (Second Class) and was the first Chinese scientist to be presented with the Chemistry of the Transition Metals Award by the Royal Society of Chemistry.    Prof. Wong is featured on the fifth episode of the RTHK TV programme “Our Scientists” to share his aspiration, research ideas and achievements. In the programme, he shared the reminiscences of his youth and childhood, and how the University of Hong Kong, his secondary schools and the place he lived before had helped foster the distinguished scientist he has become today. In addition, interviews with Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, President of PolyU, Prof. Wing-Tak Wong, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU and Prof. Rick Wong, Interim Provost of HKBU are featured to show their lifelong friendships.    Prof. Wong’s documentary will be broadcasted on January 21, 2023 (Sat) at 8pm on RTHK TV 31. Stay tuned!   The eight-episode documentary “Our Scientist” brings audience to the exciting world of science. It interviews a number of outstanding scientists to understand their intellectual and continuous pursuit of scientific exploration and knowledge, as well as the challenges, joy and success along the scientific journey. RTHK programme “Our Scientists”: https://www.rthk.hk/tv/dtt31/programme/ourscientists2022/episode/857745    

Two awardees of the RGC Senior Research Fellow Scheme talked about their winning projects on media

Prof. Sun Defeng, Chair Professor of Applied Optimization and Operations Research and Head of the Department of Applied Mathematics, and Prof. Yang Tong, Chair Professor of Mathematical Science of the Department of Applied Mathematics were featured in am730.  The two awardees of the RGC Senior Research Fellow Scheme (SRFS) shed some light on their winning research projects and progress, they also shared their views on the prospects and opportunities of conducting research in Hong Kong.    am730 理大應用數學系講座教授獲頒高級研究學者 經費有助專注研究工作 培育年輕人才 6 January 2023

The establishment of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition

The Faculty of Science is pleased to announce the inauguration of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition (FSN) established on 1 January 2023. Based on the key pillars in Food Safety, Food Technology, Human Nutrition, and Chinese Medicine, FSN aims to meet the requirements of the growing public awareness of food sustainability and safety. To know more about FSN: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/fsn/

Dr Albert Choy shared tips on layering beds in winter on Mingpao News

Dr Albert Choy Siu-hong of PolyU Department of Applied Physics shared tips on creating a cosy, layered bed for winter comfort on Mingpao News. Dr Choy explained in the interview that the "sandwich cover method” can enhance warmth by sleeping in between the quilt and duvet / thermal blanket while using air as a thermal insulator to reduce heat conduction.   明報 三文治蓋被法更保暖？物理系導師：「上被下氈」減熱量流失　加被留意次序先蓋羽絨被 15 December 2022