Addressing global healthcare challenges requires visionary scientific innovation. In 2023, PolyU Professor Thomas LEUNG Yun-chung, Lo Ka Chung Charitable Foundation Professor in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Life Sciences and Director of the University Research Facility in Life Sciences, in collaboration with Professor Alisa SHUM Sau-wun, Associate Professor at the School of Biomedical Sciences of CUHK, developed ABarginase. Originally created as a novel drug candidate for obesity-related metabolic disorders, it was later found to show remarkable potential as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.
Throughout the discovery of ABarginase’s potential, from obesity-related treatment to Alzheimer’s disease, the Lo Ka Chung Charitable Foundation’s generous support played an instrumental role. The support through the Endowed Professorship Scheme at PolyU first laid the foundation for the rational design of cancer drugs. The Foundation’s additional support subsequently enabled the pioneering drug discovery targeting multiple diseases related to obesity and insulin resistance. Upon learning of the drug’s possible therapeutic value for Alzheimer's disease, the Foundation generously extended its support with another round of research funding.
PolyU held an appreciation lunch on 21 August 2026, hosted by PolyU President Professor Jin-Guang Teng, who expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Foundation for its trust and staunch support. He remarked that the continued support from the Foundation illustrates the community's recognition of PolyU's impactful research achievements, and affirmed that PolyU will continue to harness its research excellence to deliver tangible benefits to society.
Mr Peter Lo, Chairman of the Lo Ka Chung Charitable Foundation, said, “We are delighted to see the pharmaceutical advancements made by Professor Thomas Leung and his team. We are confident that PolyU will translate fundamental scientific research into positive real-world impact, benefiting more patients worldwide.”
Motivated by this continued support, Professor Leung is currently working on the clinical translation potential of ABargainase, bringing new hope to tens of millions of patients and their families worldwide. Expressing his deep gratitude, Professor Leung remarked, “Developing new drugs requires sustained resources and specialised facilities. The Foundation's unwavering support provided the freedom and necessary resources to uncover ABarginase’s substantial potential in addressing Alzheimer’s disease beyond our initial focus on metabolic conditions.”
This scientific breakthrough highlights how philanthropic seed funding can spark transformative discoveries with far-reaching societal impact. Through the Endowed Professorship Scheme, PolyU will continue to partner with like-minded philanthropic organisations to empower leading researchers and unlock scientific discoveries that benefit society.
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