News and Events

Now TV Programme - Medicine Online: Tips for Healthy Breakfasts by Dr Kenneth LO

Now TV Programme - Medicine Online: Tips for Healthy Breakfasts by Dr Kenneth LO  Dr Kenneth LO Ka-hei, Assistant Professor of the Department of Food Sicence and Nutrition (FSN) was interviewed by the Now TV programme “Medicine Online” to expound upon the significance of eating breakfast and the healthy way to have it. Dr Lo explained the benefits of breakfast, as well as the recommended food, timing, and portion size for healthy breakfasts. Click the link below to watch more about the Now TV programme: https://polyu.me/3RbqmyC    Now新聞 - 杏林在線: 羅家禧博士分享健康早餐貼士 羅家禧博士日前於Now TV節目《杏林在線》接受訪問，講解進食早餐的重要性和健康吃早餐的方式。羅博士分享了早餐的益處，以及健康早餐的食物、進食時間及分量建議。歡迎透過以下連結，觀賞網上報道：https://polyu.me/3RbqmyC 

PolyU FSN Scholars Ranked as the World Top

Congratulations to the 5 scholars from our Department of FSN who have been recognized among the top 2% of scientists worldwide, as per Stanford University's latest ranking. This recognition is a testament to our outstanding research excellence across various fields and the significant impact we've achieved. The data is based on the October 1, 2023, snapshot from Scopus, providing comprehensive metrics like citations, h-index, co-authorship-adjusted hm-index, and more. Join us in applauding our distinguished scientists for this remarkable achievement. Your unwavering dedication is making a profound impact on the world of science! Learn more: https://polyu.hk/jQYef

Research Breakthrough: Cs4-SeNPs that can manage postmenopausal osteoporosis

Prof. Wong Ka-hing and his team at FSN have developed Cs4-selenium nanocomposites (Cs4-SeNPs) to manage postmenopausal osteoporosis. Selenium is crucial for bone health and metabolism, and with its well-characterized structure and high stability, Cs4-SeNPs showed promising results in inducing proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization in pre-osteoblast cells. In animal studies, Cs4-SeNPs demonstrated bone protective effects against OVX-induced osteoporosis by promoting bone formation, inhibiting bone resorption, and improving bone microarchitecture.  This patented project has gained international recognition with various awards and was recently published in the Journal of Functional Foods. Further investigations are underway to explore Cs4-SeNPs' stability, absorption, and metabolism. Prof. Wong and his team look forward to collaborating with the industry for the development of health food products and drugs based on this ground-breaking nanotechnology. Read the full research paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2023.105832 《蟲草菌絲體Cs4多醣蛋白功能化納米硒 : 一種有助於管理更年期骨質疏鬆症的新型納米礦物質》   最近，我系的黃家興教授及其研究團隊成功運用人體必須的微量礦物質「硒」，以及從冬蟲夏草中提煉的「多醣蛋白」，製備出高穩定性的「新型Cs4多醣蛋白功能化納米硒」，對於管理更年期骨質疏鬆症具有重大幫助。   骨質疏鬆症是一種代謝性骨骼疾病，其特點是骨質密度下降，骨微結構退化，增加了骨折風險。隨著全球老齡化，骨質疏鬆症已成為一個嚴重的公共健康問題，影響全球超過兩億人，給社會帶來巨大的經濟和醫療負擔。目前，臨床治療更年期骨質疏鬆症主要使用雌激素替代療法（HRT）。然而，最近的研究顯示HRT可能增加患乳癌、中風、心血管疾病等風險。因此，迫切需要開發一種新的更年期骨質疏鬆症治療方法。   硒是人體健康必需的微量元素之一，具有廣泛的生理功能。 在過去幾十年的大量研究表明，缺硒與大骨節病、骨量減少以及骨質疏鬆症有密切關係，揭示出硒在骨代謝中的重要角色。近年，利用納米技術獲得的納米硒，因其生物相容性高、毒性低和生物活性顯著而成為新的研究熱點。然而，迄今為止，有關納米硒對骨健康的研究仍然相對有限。   冬蟲夏草是一種珍貴的藥用真菌，在中國作為滋補食品及治療中藥已有700多年的歷史。藥理學和臨床研究表明，多醣蛋白是蟲草菌絲體 (Cs4) 的主要生物活性成分之一，具有廣泛的健康促進和治療作用，如免疫調節、抗腫瘤、以及骨保護等。利用Cs4多醣蛋白作為穩定劑，黃家興教授成功製備出高穩定性的新型Cs4多醣蛋白功能化納米硒（Cs4-SeNPs）。研究發現，Cs4-SeNPs（10μM）能顯著地誘導前成骨細胞的增殖、分化以及骨礦化。更重要的是，團隊利用去卵巢小鼠（更年期骨質疏鬆症的動物模型）驗證了口服Cs4-SeNPs (25, 50 & 500 µg/kg BW/day) 6周後，能通過促進骨形成，減低骨流失和改善骨微結構，展現出顯著的體內骨保護作用。   該研究團隊將進一步探討Cs4-SeNP的胃腸穩定性、腸道吸收率、代謝途徑等領域。團隊的長遠目標是為更年期骨質疏鬆症患者開發一種高品質、安全及有實證的新型保骨素，全面提升他們的骨健康及生活質素。   歡迎透過以下連結觀看傳媒報導： 香港商業電台- https://polyu.me/3RZVpj4 東方日報 - https://polyu.me/3twkkjV am730 - https://polyu.me/46UdmUm 大公報 - https://polyu.me/46XUy6Q 文匯報 - https://polyu.me/48XfxIx

Research Breakthrough: Pathogenic Mechanism and Novel Treatment for Superbug

Antibiotics have long been effective medications for treating bacterial infections. However, some bacteria have begun to exhibit "antibiotic resistance," rendering them resistant to multiple antibiotics, and they are often referred to as "superbugs." Recently, our research team at the Department of Food Science and Nutrition (FSN), led by Prof. Chen Sheng, Chair Professor of Microbiology, Member of State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, and Head of FSN, has discovered two novel treatment approaches for the treatment of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant superbugs. These approaches have demonstrated excellent efficacy and significant potential for clinical application. The research findings have been published in two prestigious journals: Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy and the Journal of Infection.  Prof. Chen Sheng and his team identified a new variant of Klebsiella pneumoniae, known as hyper-resistant and hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-hvKP). Remarkably, within just five years after the discovery of the CR-hvKP strain, they have simultaneously identified two promising treatment options that can be used individually or in combination to neutralize the threat posed by this highly drug-resistant and virulent pathogen. Timely treatment not only reduces mortality but also curbs the spread of the pathogen. The team is planning to conduct clinical trials to validate their findings, with the ultimate goal of significantly reducing the mortality rate associated with CR-hvKP infections. Learn more: https://polyu.hk/XSUOS

FSN talk by Prof. Kuang Shihuan

FSN Talk on "Regulation of Mitochondrial Remodeling in Brown Fat" by Prof. Kuang Shihuan.   Date:   17 October 2023 (Tuesday) Time:   10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Venue: Y716, Lee Shau Kee Building (Block Y), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University    

FSN talk by Dr Chu Ka Wing Kevin on 19 September 2023

FSN Talk on "Commercialization of Technology" by Dr Chu Ka Wing Kevin.   Date: 19 September 2023 (Tuesday) Time: 16:30 - 17:30 Venue: TU201, Yip Kit Chuen Building (TU Wing), PolyU Language: Cantonese or Mandarin Registration Link: https://polyu.hk/Vhgtv  

FSN Talk by Dr ZHANG Yingyi on 25 August 2023

FSN Talk on " Introduction on cryo electron microscopy and its wide application in structural biology research" by Dr ZHANG Yingyi.   Date:   25 August 2023 (Friday) Time:   10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Venue: TU511, Yip Kit Chuen Building (TU Wing), PolyU *All are welcome and no registration is required. Department of Food Science and Nutrition The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

媒體報道: 培育食品專家起薪高達$3萬 理大開拓香港首個食品科學及營養學系

【媒體報道: 培育食品專家起薪高達$3萬 理大開拓香港首個食品科學及營養學系】 隨著香港人對健康意識日漸提高，食物營養的重要性也不斷提升，選修營養學及相關學科的同學們亦因此迅速增長。我們學系的成立恰逢本地食品科學和營養行業發展迅速之際，旨在滿足食品可持續性和安全方面的需求，並營造更佳的研究環境。 近日，香港01和星島頭條都有媒體報導介紹了我們學系的課程、科研成果以及未來發展方向。詳情請查閱以下網頁： 【香港01： 培育食品專家起薪高達$3萬 理大開拓香港首個食品科學及營養學系】 https://www.hk01.com/%E5%B0%88%E4%B8%8A%E6%95%99%E8%82%B2/922565/ 【星島頭條：培育食品專家推動可持續發展 起薪點高達$3萬！理大開拓香港首個食品科學及營養學系】https://www.stheadline.com/cm/3257512/

Research Seminar by Dr Jianjun Sun on 7 August 2023

FSN Research Seminar on "How Does Traditional Chinese Medicine Control Infectious Diseases? A Modern Perspective Derived from the Model of Host-pathogen Interaction" by Dr Jianjun Sun. Date: 7 August 2023 (Monday) Time: 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Venue: TU511, Yip Kit Chuen Building (TU Wing), PolyU *All are welcome and no registration is required.   Department of Food Science and Nutrition The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

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 Department for a two-year term with effect from 1 April 2023.