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PolyU research team develops trustworthy AI framework TRUECAM to enhance reliability of pathology AI in cancer diagnosis

Prof. ZHANG Xiaoge, Member of Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (RIAM), Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT) and Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), Assistant Professor of Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, and his research team have developed an integrated AI framework named TRUECAM (TRustworthiness-focused, Uncertainty-aware, End-to-end CAncer diagnosis with Model-agnostic capabilities). Applied to whole-slide image analysis for non-small cell lung cancer subtyping, the framework ensures both data and model trustworthiness, laying an important foundation for the safe application of pathology AI in cancer diagnosis. TRUECAM is designed to enhance the reliability of AI-assisted cancer diagnosis. It can assess the level of the AI’s confidence in its diagnostic outputs and proactively prompt pathologists to review cases when uncertainty is high or when input data falls outside the model’s scope. At the same time, the framework is model-agnostic, supporting the complete analysis pipeline from pathology images to diagnostic outcomes and helping healthcare professionals apply AI-powered diagnoses more reliably. The framework is applied to whole-slide imaging, a process that digitally scans glass tissue slides into super-resolution digital images and provides “virtual microscopy”, allowing pathologists to review pathology samples on a computer. The findings show that TRUECAM is applicable not only to non-small cell lung cancer subtyping, but can also be extended to breast, brain and kidney cancer subtyping tasks, as well as a 46-class pan-cancer slide-level classification setting, demonstrating its broad application potential and clinical translational value. As a general framework, TRUECAM can be integrated into pathology AI models of various sizes, architectures, purposes and complexities to support responsible clinical applications. The framework has three core functions: detecting out-of-scope inputs, automatically eliminating highly ambiguous and difficult-to-judge image regions, and applying conformal prediction to keep the diagnostic error rates within an acceptable range. The research team conducted a systematic evaluation of the framework across multiple cancer datasets using two types of AI models: specialised models designed for particular tasks and foundation models with broad application potential. Their computational experiments indicate that TRUECAM-wrapped models consistently outperformed their unwrapped counterparts in classification accuracy, robustness, interpretability, data efficiency and fairness. This research has been published in the internationally renowned journal Nature Biomedical Engineering, and received funding support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and the Shenzhen Science and Technology Program. Read the full paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41551-026-01694-8 Press release: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/en/media/media-releases/2026/0818_polyu-research-team-develops-trustworthy-ai-framework-truecam/   Online coverage: Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/3UlOe7V Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/4xr19V3; https://polyu.me/4ximZtB Mirage News - https://polyu.me/4cI0h5J Hkong.hk - https://polyu.me/4xLUBzI Hong Kong Economic Journal - https://polyu.me/4cxNYsJ Sciencenet - https://polyu.me/4wLykRT CT GoodJobs - https://polyu.me/4cu2iT6 Head Topics - https://polyu.me/4xeBnmI Eurek Alert - https://polyu.me/4xeg193 Bioengineer - https://polyu.me/4x7Nfqr

Advancing oxide electronics through materials engineering: Prof. Judith L. DRISCOLL shares breakthroughs in next-generation memory technologies

On 10 August 2026, Prof. Judith L. DRISCOLL, Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng), Professor of Materials Science and Fellow of Trinity College, University of Cambridge, delivered a PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “Pioneering Materials Engineering to Meet Performance Requirements of Oxide Electronics Applications”.  The lecture attracted 37 onsite participants and more than 14,000 online viewers across various social media platforms. During the lecture, Prof. Driscoll highlighted the enormous potential of functional oxide materials for a wide range of electronic, energy and information technologies.  While these materials exhibit diverse and highly attractive electronic, magnetic, optical and energy-related properties, she noted that translating research breakthroughs into practical technologies remains challenging.  Key challenges include the precise control of material composition, defects and interfaces, all of which significantly influence device performance. With the rapid advancement of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, edge computing and neuromorphic computing, demand for advanced non-volatile memory technologies continues to grow. Prof. Driscoll explained that next-generation memory devices must simultaneously deliver low power consumption, fast switching speeds, high endurance, scalability and reliable multilevel operation.  She highlighted oxide-based resistive random-access memory (RRAM) and ferroelectric random-access memory (FRAM) as two highly promising candidates for next-generation memory technologies. Prof. Driscoll then presented a series of innovative materials-engineering strategies developed by her research team to improve memory device performance.  Central to these approaches is the precise control of oxygen vacancies and their transport pathways within thin-film materials, which play a critical role in determining device performance.  By engineering switching layers, electrodes and interfaces, her team has demonstrated effective ways to improve device uniformity, reduce power consumption, enhance endurance and enable reliable multistate operation.  She also shared several examples of oxide-based memory systems, highlighting significant advances in switching performance, stability and neuromorphic-computing applications. The lecture also explored how fundamental materials research can be translated into device architectures compatible with existing semiconductor-manufacturing processes. Through advanced nanostructuring, interface engineering and electrode composition tuning, Prof. Driscoll demonstrated how materials design can address long-standing challenges associated with oxygen vacancy control and defect management, paving the way for the practical deployment of oxide-electronics technologies. Looking ahead, Prof. Driscoll emphasised that materials engineering will remain a key driver of progress in oxide electronics. She noted that new approaches to oxygen-vacancy control are continuously improving device uniformity, endurance, energy efficiency and neuromorphic-computing capabilities. These advances help bring oxide-based memory and computing technologies closer to real-world deployment, creating new opportunities for next-generation electronic and AI applications. The lecture concluded with a Q&A session moderated by Prof. TAO Xiaoming, Director of Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR), Vincent and Lily Woo Professor in Textiles Technology and Chair Professor of Textile Technology.  Participants actively engaged with Prof. Driscoll in discussions on oxide electronics, advanced memory technologies and neuromorphic computing, bringing the lecture to a successful close. Please click here for an online review.

Four PAIR members elected to Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Young Member Section

Four PAIR members have been elected Members of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering (HKAE) Young Member Section (YMS), in recognition of their breakthroughs and contributions in their respective fields.  This remarkable achievement highlights the University’s success in nurturing young research talent and driving scientific research and innovation.   The four elected PAIR members are: HKAE Young Member Research Contributions Prof. DUAN Huan-Feng Member of RILS and RISUD Associate Head (Research) and Professor of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Innovation in engineering science and technology, enhancing the resilience of urban water infrastructure and supporting climate sustainability Prof. LIU Liang Member of RIAIoT Assistant Professor of Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Next-generation cellular technologies Ir Prof. ZHENG Pai Member of RIAM Wong Tit Shing Young Scholar in Smart Robotics Associate Professor of Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering Mutual cognitive human-robot collaborative manufacturing systems Prof. ZHOU Chao Member of RILS and RISUD Tsui Tack Kong Young Scholar in Civil Engineering Associate Professor of Department of Civil and Environment Engineering Engineering advances in THM-coupled soil mechanics and geo-sustainability   Full list: https://hkae.hk/en/twenty-young-academics-and-industrial-leaders-elected-members-hkaes-young-member-section#gsc.tab=0  

Thirteen PAIR members shine at PolyU Patents Achievement Award

The PolyU Patents Achievement Award (PPAA) is a prestigious university-level accolade that recognises academic departments and faculty members for their exceptional commitment to knowledge transfer.  This award celebrates outstanding contributions to innovation and commercialisation while encouraging a strong culture of research impact across the University. PAIR is proud to celebrate 13 members who were recognised at the PPAA 2025, earning awards across four of the five award categories.  This achievement highlights PAIR’s strong commitment to innovation, intellectual property development, and research commercialisation. The PPAA comprises the following award categories: Top Patents Filing Award (Department and Individual Award): IP filing achievements over the past three years (2022–2025); Most Active Patents Filing Award in the Year (Department and Individual Award): Outstanding IP filing activities within year 2025; Most Active IP Commercialisation in the Year (Department Award): Highest number of licensing cases within year 2025; Outstanding IP Commercialisation Award (Individual Award): High-value licensing achievements over the past three years (2022–2025); Outstanding IP Commercialisation Awards in the Year (Individual Award): High-value licensing achievements within year 2025.   The PAIR awardees are as follows: Awardee Award Category Prof. Benny CHEUNG Chi-fai Associate Director of RCSV Management Committee Member of RCRE Member of RIAM Chair Professor of Ultra-precision Machining and Metrology Top Patents Filing Award Most Active Patents Filing Award in the Year Ir Prof. NI Yiqing Member of RISUD Yim, Mak, Kwok & Chung Professor in Smart Structures Chair Professor of Smart Structures and Rail Transit Top Patents Filing Award Ir Prof. POON Chi-sun Management Committee Member of RCRE Member of RILS and RISUD Michael Anson Professor in Civil Engineering Distinguished Research Professor of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Top Patents Filing Award Ir Prof. ZHENG Yongping Director of RISA Member of RI-IWEAR, RISports and RCSV Henry G. Leong Professor in Biomedical Engineering Chair Professor of Biomedical Engineering Top Patents Filing Award Outstanding IP Commercialisation Award Prof. ZHENG Zijian Associate Director of RI-IWEAR Management Committee Member of RISE Member of RIAIoT and PRI Vice President (Knowledge Transfer) Chair Professor of Soft Materials and Devices Top Patents Filing Award Most Active Patents Filing Award Ir Prof. ZHENG Pai Member of RIAM Wong Tit Shing Young Scholar in Smart Robotics Associate Professor of Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering Most Active Patents Filing Award Prof. Carly LAM Member of RiFood, RISports and RCSV Adjunct Professor of School of Optometry   Prof. TO Chi-ho Member of RCMI and RCSV Visiting Chair Professor of Experimental Optometry   Prof. Dennis TSE Yan-yin Member of RCMI and RCSV Associate Professor of School of Optometry Outstanding IP Commercialisation Award Prof. YANG Hongxing Former Management Committee Member of RISUD Former Member of RISE Retired Professor of Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering Outstanding IP Commercialisation Award Prof. Justina LIU Yat-wa Member of RILS and RISA Associate Head (Education) and Professor of School of Nursing Outstanding IP Commercialisation Award Prof. TAO Xiaoming Management Committee Member of PAIR Director of RI-IWEAR Member of RISE, RISA, RISports and RCTFF Chair Professor of Textile Technology Vincent and Lily Woo Endowed Professorship in Textile Technology Outstanding IP Commercialisation Award Prof. WONG Ka-hing Management Committee Member of PAIR Director of RiFood Member of RCRE Professor of Department of Food Science and Nutrition Outstanding IP Commercialisation Award in the Year  

Shaping the future of mobility: Prof. QU Xiaobo on autonomous driving and emerging paradigms in vertical transportation

On 5 August 2026, Prof. QU Xiaobo, Member of Academia Europaea (Academy of Europe), Changjiang Chair Professor of School of Vehicle and Mobility, Director of Beijing Key Laboratory of Intelligent Control for Low-Altitude Heterogeneous Vehicles, Tsinghua University, delivered a PAIR Seminar titled “Future Transport: Autonomy, Verticalization and Cloud Control”.  The seminar attracted 50 onsite participants and more than 14,600 online viewers across various social media platforms. During the seminar, Prof. Qu highlighted the growing challenges facing urban transportation systems as cities continue to expand.  He noted that existing transport networks are increasingly constrained by the limited flexibility of traditional infrastructure in accommodating dynamic travel demand, resulting in severe congestion during peak periods and underutilisation during off-peak hours.  To address these challenges, he presented a vision for future mobility centred on intelligent vehicle-road-cloud systems, which integrate vehicles, infrastructure and cloud platforms to create a more efficient, flexible and sustainable transportation ecosystem. A major focus of the seminar was the development potential of demand-responsive microtransit. This emerging transport mode combines the convenience of ride-hailing services with the affordability and sustainability of public transportation.  Leveraging cloud-based scheduling, dynamic route planning and intelligent dispatching algorithms, microtransit systems can respond to real-time travel demand while improving operational efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.  Prof. Qu also shared a successful case study of a microtransit platform implemented in Zhuzhou, Hunan Province. Supported by intelligent scheduling technologies, the platform has expanded service coverage, improved operational efficiency and enhanced the appeal of public transport. Prof. Qu also introduced his team’s research on System-Physical AI for Transport Autonomy. By integrating artificial intelligence, cloud platforms, digital twins and real-world operational data, the research provides important support for the development of future intelligent transportation systems.  He explained that digital twin technologies can recreate real-world operating scenarios in virtual environments, accelerating the testing and validation of autonomous vehicles, flying vehicles and intelligent transport operations, while improving safety, reliability and deployment efficiency.  He also presented several innovative concepts including modular and platooning-based microtransit systems capable of allocating capacity according to demand, improving passenger transfer experiences and enhancing overall network performance. Looking ahead, Prof. Qu explored the prospects of urban aerial mobility and low-altitude transportation systems. He noted that, as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles continue to mature, future transport networks may integrate virtual air corridors, cloud-based traffic management systems and intelligent safety-control technologies to enable seamless coordination between ground and air transportation. He also shared the latest developments in flying car technologies and low-altitude transport operations, highlighting their potential to overcome the limitations of existing transportation infrastructure and pave the way for more efficient and flexible modes of mobility. The seminar concluded with a Q&A session moderated by Prof. Hans WANG Shuaian, Professor in the Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies.  Participants engaged in lively discussions with Prof. Qu on topics including autonomous transportation, intelligent mobility services and urban aerial transport, exploring the opportunities and challenges presented by these emerging technologies. Please click here for an online review.

Prof. ZHANG Dan highlights robotics and 3D printing security risks, calling for stronger regulation and preventive measures

In an era of rapid artificial intelligence development, drones and robots are increasingly becoming part of daily life.  However, their growing adoption also introduces potential security threats, including the risk of terrorist attacks.  In a recent interview with Sing Tao Headline, Prof. ZHANG Dan of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) shared his insights on the security risks associated with robotics and 3D printing technologies, as well as measures to guard against their misuse. Prof. Zhang pointed out that robots offer distinct advantages, including the ability to operate without fatigue, respond rapidly and perform highly precise movements.  However, they also face a high risk of being maliciously modified and weaponised.  Because the low-level drive control systems of many robots rely on open architectures without encryption, virtually anyone can modify the software for secondary development.  When integrated with facial recognition technology, these machines could be used to identify and track specific targets.  Furthermore, as 3D printing becomes more accessible and affordable, malicious actors can easily fabricate components for harmful purposes and integrate them into robotic platforms To prevent the weaponisation of robots, Prof. Zhang urged manufacturers to implement encryption safeguards before products are released to the market, restrict devices from connecting to external networks, and require buyers to sign agreements prohibiting unauthorised modifications.  He also called on governments to establish dedicated legal frameworks as soon as possible to clarify legal liabilities and introduce traceability mechanisms to monitor the supply chain of core components, thereby tackling illegal modification and counterfeiting at the source Prof. ZHANG is a member of Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (RIAM), Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT), Research Institute for Intelligent Wearable Systems (RI-IWEAR), Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE) and Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion (RCTFF).   Online coverage: Sing Tao Headline - https://polyu.me/4pTFVfq; https://polyu.me/4w92kHc

Precision nanomedicine advances heart repair: Prof. Hélder A. SANTOS explores the future of cardiovascular therapeutics

On 31 July 2026, Prof. Hélder A. SANTOS, Professor and Head of the Department of Biomaterials and Biomedical Technology and Head of the Translational Bionanomicro Theragenerative Medicine Lab at the University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, delivered a PAIR Seminar titled “Can We Restore a Broken Heart? Precision RNA-based Nanotherapies for the Next Era of Cardiovascular Medicine”. The seminar attracted 43 onsite participants and an online audience of over 15,800 viewers through live broadcasts across various social media platforms. During the seminar, Prof. Santos highlighted the need for more effective treatments for cardiovascular diseases, which remain the leading cause of death worldwide. He discussed recent breakthroughs in nanotechnology and RNA therapeutics, explaining how these advances are driving the development of precision medicines capable of selectively targeting diseased cardiovascular tissues, offering new therapeutic opportunities for conditions such as myocardial infarction and atherosclerosis. Prof. Santos also addressed the key challenges facing the clinical application of RNA-based therapeutics, including poor stability, limited bioavailability and insufficient targeting efficiency. He demonstrated how rationally designed nanocarriers can overcome these barriers by protecting RNA molecules, enhancing cellular uptake and improving tissue specificity. By integrating biomaterials science, pharmaceutical nanotechnology and tissue engineering, his team has developed a range of targeted nanosystems that expand the potential for the clinical use of RNA medicines. Highlighting several recent advances from his laboratory, Prof. Santos presented innovative nanoparticle platforms designed to modulate inflammatory and tissue repair processes following cardiac injury precisely. Results from preclinical studies demonstrated that these precision-targeted nanotherapies can effectively reduce ischemia-reperfusion injury, attenuate inflammation, and promote functional cardiac recovery and tissue regeneration. He also shared the latest research outcomes from his team on RNA interference-based nanomedicines and targeted delivery systems for atherosclerosis, further highlighting the promising role of nanotechnology in cardiovascular medicine. Looking ahead, Prof. Santos emphasised the importance of receptor-specific targeting, advanced nanocarrier engineering and scalable manufacturing in accelerating the clinical translation of RNA nanomedicines. He noted that continued progress in these areas is bringing personalised therapies capable of repairing damaged heart tissue closer to reality, paving the way for a new generation of treatments for cardiovascular disease. The seminar concluded with a Q&A session moderated by Prof. ZHAO Xin, Professor in the Department of Life Sciences and Limin Young Scholar in Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering. Participants engaged in lively discussions with Prof. Santos on the clinical translation, prospects and practical challenges of RNA-based nanotherapies, bringing the seminar to a successful close. Please click here for an online review.

Two PolyU young scholars named “MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 China”

Prof. Benedict LO Tsz-woon, Member of Research Institute for Future Food (RiFood), Associate Head and Associate Professor of the Department of Chemistry, alongside Dr LV Jiaxin, Member of Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (RIAM) and Research Assistant Professor of Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, have been named on the 2025 “MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 China” (TR35 China) list in the “Visionaries” and “Inventors” categories, respectively. Prof. Lo developed the synchrotron resonant soft X-ray diffraction (RSXRD) technique, achieving a major breakthrough beyond the limits of conventional methods. In an international first, his work enables the three-dimensional atomic-resolution mapping of framework aluminium (Al) in industrial-grade zeolite catalysts. This landmark achievement, published in Science in 2025, provides atomic-level evidence for the rational design of zeolites, definitively resolving the decades-long “black box” surrounding the precise spatial arrangement of active sites. Delivering high precision, selectivity and energy efficiency in catalytic processes without requiring modifications to existing factory reactor hardware, the industrial value of this technique has been validated through collaborative projects. It offers significant scientific and practical benefits for improving carbon-resource conversion efficiency and helping address global climate challenges. Dr Lv developed the Multi-container Extrusion (MCE) technology, which enables the integrated, seamless manufacturing of ultra-wide, thin-walled light alloy components that previously required segmented welding. This innovation increases profile width to more than three times that of traditional methods while reducing extrusion pressure by 70% to 90%. By establishing multi-scale material models and integrating artificial intelligence-assisted optimisation, she has significantly shortened product development cycles, holding four cross-border core patents as the primary inventor and patentee. This original technology was successfully commercialised in 2024, driving the establishment of a 6,500-ton industrial production line. When applied to passenger vehicles, these structural components achieve a potential weight reduction of up to 50% and carbon emission reductions of approximately 30%, comprehensively rewriting the manufacturing standards for large-scale lightweight components. Established by the MIT Technology Review, the annual TR35 global list recognises outstanding young technological innovators across multiple frontier tech and industrial fields. The TR35 China regional selection was established in 2017 to recognise exceptional and internationally influential young scientific and technological leaders in China. Press release: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/en/media/media-releases/2026/0730_two-polyu-young-scholars-named-2025-mit-technology-review-innovators-under-35-china/   Online coverage: Hong Kong Economic Journal - https://polyu.me/3TlETg0 Sohu - https://polyu.me/4fyzucJ HKCNA - https://polyu.me/44ZBMNu Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/4fRB7CL Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/4h7Bf3b Yidianxixun - https://polyu.me/3TLOGfH Sina - https://polyu.me/4fY9DN5; https://polyu.me/4zyVpKi

PolyU ranks among leading universities in multiple RGC funding schemes, underscoring distinctive research leadership

Four research projects of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), all led by PAIR scholars, have received support from the Research Grants Council’s (RGC) funding exercises in 2026/27, amassing total funding of over HK$124 million. PolyU ranks high among local universities in terms of the number of funded projects: two interdisciplinary artificial intelligence (AI) projects supported by the Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS) will drive the development of green fuels and corporate AI risk management, while the other two, supported by the Areas of Excellence (AoE) Scheme and the Strategic Topics Grant (STG) respectively, cover the fields of smart manufacturing and the silver economy. PolyU will continue to harness its research prowess, advancing high-quality socio-economic development for the benefit of society. The AoE Scheme aims to provide support to universities funded by the University Grants Committee to build upon their existing strengths and develop them into areas of excellence. The purpose of the TRS is to focus academic research on themes of strategic importance to Hong Kong’s long-term development, while the STG supports collaborative research in specific areas which can help address important issues for Hong Kong. The University’s projects that were awarded funding are as follows: Project Coordinator Project Title Funding Areas of Excellence (AoE) Scheme Prof. George Q. HUANG Director of Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (RIAM) Chair Professor of Smart Manufacturing of Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering Centre of Smart Manufacturing Approximately HK$47.88 million Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS) Prof. WANG Lianzhou Member of Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE) Chair Professor of Energy Materials of Department of Chemistry Intelligent Artificial Photosynthesis Approximately HK$48.83 million Prof. TIAN Feng Member of Research Centre for Environmental, Social, and Governance Advancement (RCESGA) Associate Professor of School of Accounting and Finance Managing AI Risk for Businesses in Hong Kong Approximately HK$10.84 million Strategic Topics Grant (STG) Prof. BAI Xue Management Committee Member of Research Institute for Smart Ageing (RISA) Member of Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) Professor of Department of Applied Social Sciences Empowering an Inclusive, Age-Friendly Silver Economy in Hong Kong: From Longitudinal Evidence to Intergenerational Multi-stakeholder Action HK$16.63 million Press release: English – https://polyu.me/4hnG7S3; Chinese – https://polyu.me/4pNfhos   Online coverage: South China Morning Post – https://polyu.me/44SgFwq Mirage News – https://polyu.me/4yI56W9 Wen Wei Po – https://polyu.me/4bl1pvL; https://polyu.me/3U1ixk2 Bauhinia – https://polyu.me/4h45uYT

Diverse applications power smart innovation: Prof. ZHU Meifang charts the future of intelligent fibre materials

On 28 July 2026, Prof. ZHU Meifang, Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Dean of the College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, delivered a PAIR Distinguished Lecture at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), titled “Multifunctional Structural Fiber Materials for Diverse Applications”.  The lecture attracted more than 100 attendees in person and approximately 14,900 online viewers across multiple social media platforms. During the lecture, Prof. Zhu explained how advanced fibre materials have moved beyond the conventional boundaries of textiles to become strategic materials underpinning developments in aerospace, healthcare and green energy.  By seamlessly integrating structural performance with functionalities such as sensing, thermal management and electrical conductivity, these materials overcome the conventional divide between structure and function. Prof. Zhu highlighted a series of innovative technologies and application breakthroughs developed by her research team, including radiation-resistant nanofibre membranes for space exploration, flexible smart fibres for real-time physiological monitoring, and “NeuroWorm”, a biomimetic dynamic implantable fibre electrode.  These advances demonstrate the broad potential of advanced fibre materials across multiple frontier fields.  She also shared the team’s latest achievements in sustainable resource development and biomedicine, including high-efficiency hollow-fibre membranes for extracting lithium from seawater and advanced hydrogel fibres with self-regulating capabilities, engineered for precise cancer phototherapy. Looking ahead, Prof. Zhu outlined her vision for the future of intelligent materials through the acronym “FIBER”: Functional, Integrated, Brainy, Electronic and Responsive.  To accelerate this vision, her team collaborated with Tsinghua University to develop “AlphaFiber”, China’s first large artificial intelligence model tailored to the fibre industry.  Built on an AI-Ready materials database, the system integrates a wide range of knowledge resources, including literature, patents, and experimental data from the fibre sector, and leverages large language model technology to provide intelligent research support for scientists.  Through a closed-loop, data-driven R&D framework, it can accelerate materials discovery and innovation while reducing reliance on traditional trial-and-error experimentation.  Prof. Zhu noted that this emerging research paradigm has the potential to advance the multiscale design and intelligent manufacturing of next-generation sustainable fibre systems, helping to meet the evolving needs of global industrial development. The lecture concluded with a Q&A session moderated by Prof. FAN Jintu, Director of the Research Centre of Textiles for Future Fashion (RCTFF).  Both in-person and online participants engaged in lively and insightful discussions with Prof. Zhu. Please click here for an online review.