PolyU hosts the inaugural Master Lecture by Prof. Zhang Wenhong, Director of the National Medical Centre for Infectious Diseases, on the value of medical innovations in combating pandemics

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)’s Department of Health Technology and Informatics (HTI), together with the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) and PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence (PAAI), today co-hosted the inaugural PolyU Master Lecture. Prof. ZHANG Wenhong, Director of the National Medical Centre for Infectious Diseases and Head of the Institute of Infection and Health at Fudan University, gave the keynote speech, “The Race between Evolving Infectious Diseases and Human Technology”, sharing insights on how medical innovation and technology can rapidly anticipate and counteract the challenges posed by the unpredictable progress of infectious diseases before the next pandemic emerges. The event attracted approximately 450 participants, including PolyU faculty members, students, alumni, healthcare professionals and members of the public.

Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President, expressed gratitude to Prof. Zhang for sharing his profound insights on the prevention and control of infectious diseases, which enriched participants’ understanding. He remarked, “During the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus genome monitoring system developed by a PolyU research team became a pivotal tool for the HKSAR Government’s precise pandemic response. In recent years, PolyU has been actively promoting interdisciplinary innovation through PAIR and other research platforms, and advancing research in cutting-edge fields, including artificial intelligence (AI) and healthcare. PolyU has submitted a forward-looking and innovative proposal to the Government for the establishment of Hong Kong’s third medical school, aiming to leverage the University’s robust capabilities in medical science, medicine and engineering integration, and AI-driven medicine to nurture a new generation of healthcare professionals who are socially responsible and technologically proficient.”

Prof. Zhang Wenhong is a world-renowned expert on infectious disease control, specialising in the clinical diagnosis, treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. He is currently Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Huashan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University, Director of the Shanghai Sci-Tech Inno Centre for Infection and Immunity, and Dean of the Department of Internal Medicine at Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University. He has been appointed as an Honorary Professor of the PolyU Department of Health Technology and Informatics and serves as an Expert Advisory Committee member for the University’s proposed third medical school. A prominent figure in the field of infectious diseases in Mainland China, Prof. Zhang has been honoured as a COVID-19 fight role model and a Young and Middle-Aged Expert with Outstanding Contributions of the National Health Commission in recognition of his exceptional professional excellence in the Nation’s fight against the pandemic. He is also a recipient of the 2^nd National Award for Excellence in Innovation, as well as other awards, for his scientific and technological achievements.

During his lecture, Prof. Zhang shared insights on the origins and evolution of infectious diseases, the importance and challenges of vaccination during pandemics, and how medical innovations can predict and counter pandemic outbreaks. Prof. Zhang pointed out that infectious diseases evolve in unpredictable patterns, constantly reshaping themselves in ways that challenge the medical community’s ability to anticipate the next dangerous variant. While medical researchers methodically develop vaccines and treatments through careful scientific processes, disease-causing organisms rapidly adapt through random mutations that can bypass the most sophisticated defences.

Prof. Zhang further pointed out that while vaccination can effectively reduce the severity and mortality rate of infections, the silent transmission chains within communities and the emergence of new variants can weaken the protection vaccines provide. Developing new vaccines will enable the global community to respond more effectively and help prevent future outbreaks and epidemics. Key strategies in addressing the next pandemic include achieving herd immunity, scaling up vaccine production, improving treatment plans, and developing tools and methods for the detection, response and containment of future infectious threats.

The following Q&A session was moderated by Prof. YANG Hongxia, Executive Director of PAAI and Prof. Gilman SIU, Professor of the HTI. Prof. Zhang engaged in in-depth exchanges with participants, inspiring all present.

Prof. Wing-tak Wong, PolyU Deputy President and Provost (right) conferred a certificate of appointment as an Honorary Professor in the Department of Health Technology and Informatics on Prof. Zhang Wenhong (left).