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Prof. Kevin KWOK highlights deep-sea aquaculture and fisheries innovation on ViuTV

Prof. Kevin KWOK, Associate Director of the Research Institute for Future Food (RiFood), Associate Head and Associate Professor of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition, was recently featured on the ViuTV programme Treasure of the Sea in Hong Kong, where he shared the latest research advances in deep-sea aquaculture and discussed innovative approaches to promoting the sustainable development of local fisheries. Prof. Kwok explained that RiFood is actively driving the transformation and upgrading of Hong Kong’s fisheries sector through scientific research and product innovation. In addition to developing a range of high-value seafood products, such as local mud carp siu mai, cherrywood-smoked fish products, and fish-scale collagen jelly, the Institute has also developed a nano-selenium immune booster designed to enhance fish immunity while reducing reliance on medication in aquaculture. Furthermore, RiFood is collaborating with local fish farmers to address labour shortages and rising operating costs using automation and smart technologies. Together, these innovative initiatives not only boost production efficiency and product quality, but also lay a solid foundation for the sustainable development and competitiveness of Hong Kong’s aquaculture industry.   Online coverage: ViuTV - https://polyu.me/3RXKR6i (00:00-11:18)

CRNAT Caregivers Risk and Needs Assessment Tool (CRNAT) Phase II Project Briefing Session Successfully Held

The Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) successfully held the CRNAT Phase II Project Briefing Session on 23 July 2026. The two-year project is led by Prof. Hector TSANG, Principal Investigator of the project, and funded by PolyU’s Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC). The Caregivers Risk and Needs Assessment Tool (CRNAT) is a digital platform that integrates caregiver assessment, risk identification, and service mapping functions to facilitate the early identification of caregivers’ needs and the appropriate matching of community resources and support services, enabling more timely and targeted interventions. Building on the successful outcomes of Phase I, the Phase II project aims to advance “comprehensive inclusion” by expanding the assessment tool to support caregivers across ten disability categories, while further enhancing the platform’s capabilities to better address the diverse needs of different caregiver groups. The briefing session received an enthusiastic response, bringing together 33 representatives from 19 non-governmental organisations (NGOs), as well as three caregivers who shared their valuable caregiving experiences and personal insights. In his opening remarks, Prof. Tsang highlighted that the project seeks to transform caregiver support from a “reactive response” model to a “proactive early warning” approach. Through the early identification of high-risk caregivers and their needs, the project aims to establish a more forward-looking support network, ensuring that families from diverse backgrounds can access timely and appropriate resources and services to support caregivers’ long-term health and wellbeing. During the focus group discussion and Q&A session, social welfare practitioners and caregiver representatives actively exchanged views and offered constructive suggestions on the future development of the assessment tool. Discussions focused on enhancing the tool’s inclusiveness for caregivers across all ten disability categories and exploring the application of artificial intelligence technologies to improve the platform’s usability and accessibility, ensuring that caregivers from diverse backgrounds and with varying abilities can benefit from the assessment and support services provided through the platform. Looking ahead, the project team from the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences will continue to harness machine learning technologies and further enhance the Service Mapping function to advance both research and platform development. The enhanced CRNAT platform will integrate more precise risk assessment and service mapping mechanisms, enabling NGOs to identify caregivers’ needs in a more systematic manner and facilitate the appropriate matching of support services based on caregivers' individual circumstances and risk levels. Through technological innovation and cross-sector collaboration, the team aims to further strengthen Hong Kong’s caregiver support ecosystem and provide caregivers with more timely, targeted, and comprehensive support.

PolyU research reveals fat distribution as key to brain health, with visceral fat accumulation significantly accelerating brain ageing and showing much stronger association than BMI

A recent study by Prof. QIU Anqi, Director of Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC) and Chair Professor of Neuroinformatics of Department of Health Technology and Informatics, has revealed that fat distribution in specific body regions is significantly and distinctly associated with brain structure and cognitive function. In particular, visceral fat was found to accelerate brain ageing and lead to cognitive decline, having more detrimental impact on brain health than any other type of fat. The research has shown that BMI alone is insufficient when assessing brain decline and cognitive ageing, whereas regional adiposity is an indispensable indicator. This milestone in neuro-epidemiological research will assist the healthcare sector in developing more precise and personalised brain health prevention and intervention strategies. The research team conducted a multidimensional correlation analysis of health data from over 18,000 participants in the UK Biobank, examining the relationship between regional adiposity data measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and results from multimodal brain imaging and cognitive testing. The findings revealed that fat accumulation in the arms, legs, trunk and visceral regions was differentially associated with, and affected, neural systems, including the morphology of the sensorimotor, limbic, default mode and subcortical–cerebellar–brainstem systems. The study specifically noted that visceral fat was the only type of fat directly linked to compromised white-matter integrity in the brain. White matter acts as the “cables” for transmitting neural signals in the brain, and damage to it is closely aligned with the pathogenic mechanisms of vascular cognitive impairment and cerebral small vessel disease. The research team suggested that visceral adiposity might be the most harmful type of regional adiposity for the brain due to its tendency to trigger chronic inflammation in the body, which may then lead to neuroinflammation. This study establishes a comprehensive analytical framework and highlights the importance of targeted reduction of visceral fat to help maintain mental acuity and prevent dementia. The study provides a new scientific basis for research into Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia and other age-related brain disorders. The findings have been published in the international journal Nature Mental Health. Read the full paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s44220-025-00501-8 Press release: https://polyu.me/4fyDbiO   Online coverage: Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/4pDUDqI Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/4hu02OU Hong Kong Economic Times - https://polyu.me/4pGtV0O Oriental Daily - https://polyu.me/4wlcaq4; https://polyu.me/44GWAcp Ming Pao - https://polyu.me/3RpMlWU Dot Dot News - https://polyu.me/4fiiKHZ National Tribune - https://polyu.me/3RrvaEm Mirage News - https://polyu.me/3Rrv9jM YorkBBS - https://polyu.me/4pRvPMa The Standard - https://polyu.me/4x0ctGM China Review News Agency - https://polyu.me/4x5ej9y HK01 - https://polyu.me/4yEy9Kt Yahoo News - https://polyu.me/4fqpcN5 Science Alert - https://polyu.me/4fIHM25 VICE - https://polyu.me/4pWRdQ0 RTHK - https://polyu.me/4qgpHgl (28:17 - 38:21)

Prof. WU Qiang featured in Sing Tao Daily on ESG

Prof. WU Qiang, Director of Research Centre for Environmental, Social, and Governance Advancement (RCESGA), Associate Dean of School of Accounting and Finance, recently gave an exclusive interview to Sing Tao Daily, sharing his insights on the latest developments in environmental, social, and governance (ESG).  Prof. Wu emphasised that ESG is by no means merely a “public relations expense”.  When integrated into core operations, financial strategy and risk management, ESG can yield tangible returns and foster long-term competitiveness. Prof. Wu noted that multinational brands are increasingly tightening their supply chain standards, making a robust ESG framework an essential prerequisite for entering global supply chains and securing green financing.  Businesses, he suggested, must pivot from “passive compliance” to “strategic integration”, focusing on high-impact operational areas such as energy efficiency and route optimisation. For resource-constrained small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), Prof. Wu cautioned against simply replicating the practices of large corporations.  Instead, SMEs should adopt a pragmatic, targeted approach, prioritising initiatives with clearly measurable outcomes, such as waste reduction and fuel efficiency.  Furthermore, businesses can leverage affordable smart tools, such as Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and Artificial Intelligence, to enhance data management efficiency, reduce administrative costs and enable forward-looking decision-making. Finally, Prof. Wu reminded businesses not to overstate their ESG performance.  Citing cases involving financial institutions such as DWS and Vanguard, which faced hefty penalties over greenwashing allegations, he noted that the greatest risk in advancing ESG lies in making commitments that exceed an organisation’s capabilities.  Management must “ensure accuracy in communication first, then substantiate it with solid data”, thereby building stakeholder trust through transparency and authentic reporting.   Online coverage: Sing Tao Daily - https://polyu.me/4vKPwGy

Redefining Neurotechnology: Prof. John A. Rogers of Northwestern University on Soft Bioelectronics

Soft bioelectronics advances took centre stage at the second Cambridge NeuroWorks and PolyU PAIR Joint Seminar on 21 July 2026, featuring renowned bioelectronics pioneer Prof. John A. ROGERS of Northwestern University.  Co-hosted by Prof. George MALLIARAS, Cambridge NeuroWorks Scientific Lead and Prince Philip Professor of Technology at the University of Cambridge, and Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of PAIR and Chair Professor of Building Thermal Science at PolyU, the online seminar, titled “Bioelectronic Systems as Neural Interfaces”, drew over a total of 14,600 Zoom participants and live steam audience worldwide, bringing together researchers, industry experts and members of the public from 20 countries and regions. Opening the event, Prof. Sir John ASTON, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research of the University of Cambridge, emphasised that the seminar is about “sharing ideas and creating long-term partnerships and friendships across the world – about creating a global community determined to improve the lives of billions of people.”  Echoing this sentiment, Prof. ZHENG Zijian, Vice President (Knowledge Transfer) at PolyU, noted that the series aims to “build a community of researchers who share a common goal: improving lives through science, technology and innovation.”  Both highlighted the critical role of international and multidisciplinary collaboration in advancing neurotechnology into affordable, scalable clinical solutions. In his keynote address, Prof. Rogers explored the transformative field of bioelectronic neural interfaces, which is reshaping neuroscience and opening up new avenues for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.  He also discussed how advanced electronic and optoelectronic technologies can be seamlessly integrated with soft biological tissues, enabling the precise monitoring and modulation of neural circuits across one-, two- and three-dimensional architectures. The seminar continued with a pitching session showcasing translational neurotechnology research from both institutions: Mr Sam KAMALI, CEO of Myonerv and Former Fellow of Cambridge NeuroWorks, introduced a closed-loop neurostimulator designed to remotely monitor and treat stroke-induced paralysis; Ms Allie WILLIAMS, Research Assistant at Plasticity Lab, University of Cambridge and Fellow of Cambridge NeuroWorks, presented “Ms Smarty Pants”, a novel device that helps maintain pelvic and musculoskeletal health; Prof. LIANG Haulou, Interim Head of Division of Artificial Intelligence and the Humanities, Associate Director of University Research Facility in Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience, and Chair Professor of Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence, PolyU, highlighted the use of Large Language Models (LLMs) in predicting dementia from speech; and Prof. Vivian HUI, Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing, PolyU, demonstrated how LLMs can bridge the gap between clinical education, surgical care and patient narratives. The seminar concluded with an engaging panel discussion moderated by Prof. George Malliaras and Prof. ZHANG Weixiong, Associate Director of PAIR, PolyU.  The panellists explored critical themes, including the clinical translation of neurotechnologies into human applications, real-world success stories of neural interfaces, and pathways to patient impact.  They emphasised that translating research into meaningful clinical outcomes requires close collaboration among patients, clinicians, researchers and industry partners.  This collaborative approach lies at the heart of the shared vision of Cambridge NeuroWorks and PolyU PAIR, which they continue to advance through innovation and partnership. Please click here for an online review.

Three PAIR members honoured as RGC Senior Research Fellows and Research Fellows, spearheading innovations in advanced manufacturing, neuroscience and IoT

In the Research Grants Council’s (RGC) Senior Research Fellow Scheme (SRFS) and Research Fellow Scheme (RFS) 2026/27, four distinguished PolyU scholars, including three researchers from PAIR, have been awarded fellowships. The Schemes offer support for the awardees’ continued innovations and breakthroughs in diverse frontier fields, spanning advanced semiconductor manufacturing, cognitive neuroscience and Internet of Things (IoT) applications. The RGC SRFS and RFS schemes aim to provide sustained research support for outstanding full Professors and Associate Professors with relief from teaching and administrative duties, so enabling them to more fully focus on R&D and nurture the next generation of research talent for Hong Kong. The successful projects showcase the University’s exceptional strength in bridging theoretical breakthroughs with real-life applications, underscoring the world-class calibre of PolyU research and the University’s commitment to translating frontier knowledge into impactful solutions that address pressing global challenges. The PAIR awardees are as follows: RGC SRFS 2026/27 Awardee Project Title Prof. Benny CHEUNG Chi-fai Associate Director of Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV) Management Committee Member of Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality (RCRE) Member of Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (RIAM) Chair Professor of Ultra-precision Machining and Metrology of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering Director of the State Key Laboratory of Ultra-precision Machining Technology A multi-mode ultra-through-focus light-field-spectrometry microscopy (MULFSM) for in-situ measurement of nanostructured surfaces in semiconductor manufacturing RGC RFS 2026/27 Awardee Project Title Prof. Bolton CHAU Associate Director of Mental Health Research Centre Associate Professor of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences How distractors bias choices: Investigating mechanisms through computational modelling, neuroimaging, neurochemistry and neurostimulation Prof. ZHENG Yuanqing Member of Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT) and RCRE Professor of the Department of Computing Software-defined edge radio access networks: System architecture and applications Press Release: https://polyu.me/4fuNZ1t   Online Coverage: Bauhinia - https://polyu.me/4wbMuMF; https://polyu.me/4hrc9wb Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/4yy6hHz Sing Tao Daily - https://polyu.me/4fNDwiN; https://polyu.me/4bVjbFT; https://polyu.me/4yzxQAv Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/3TdXfj1 Dot Dot News - https://polyu.me/45gme7W Mirage News - https://polyu.me/4vDUsNp Zhihu - https://polyu.me/3TdvSWk HKong.hk - https://polyu.me/3Tjpaht

Understanding cancer metastasis through the lens of biomechanics: Tsinghua scholar Prof. FENG Xiqiao shares frontier research on cell dynamics

On 20 July 2026, Prof. FENG Xiqiao, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chair Professor at the Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Department of Engineering Mechanics of Tsinghua University, China, delivered a PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “Multiscale Theory and Numerical Methods of Cell Dynamics” on the PolyU campus.  The lecture attracted over 70 attendees in person and nearly 16,200 online viewers across various social media platforms. In his lecture, Prof. Feng presented recent advances in biomechanics, focusing on the multiscale theories and numerical methods for understanding the dynamic behaviours of cells.  He explained that physiological and pathological processes in living tissues often involve the coordinated interplay of biological, chemical, mechanical and physical factors.  Given the complexity of cellular structures, physical properties and biological functions, developing accurate models to elucidate these processes remains a major scientific challenge.  He also highlighted important research directions in biomechanics, including material properties, instability, evolution, multiscale behaviours, multi-field coupling and morphomechanics. A central theme of the lecture was dynamic instability in cells and tissues.  Prof. Feng discussed how mechanical and chemical feedback can shape cellular dynamics and give rise to phenomena such as bifurcations, oscillations and pattern formation, including Hopf and pitchfork bifurcations and Turing-like patterns.  Using spontaneous oscillations in Drosophila amnioserosa cells as an example, he illustrated the important role of collective cell oscillations during embryonic development. The lecture then shifted its focus from the dynamic behaviour of individual cells to collective cell dynamics, covering both experimental and theoretical approaches in the field.  Prof. Feng described how researchers study the geometry, migration speed, trajectories, topology and interface evolution of large cell populations to uncover the underlying principles governing collective behaviour.  He also explained how statistical mechanics and entropy-based theories, including Tsallis statistics, can be applied to investigate active collective cell migration. Such behaviours are highly relevant to understanding the mechanisms underlying cancer cell dissemination and metastasis. Prof. Feng also discussed recent developments in multiscale modelling and the increasingly important role of AI in biomechanics research.  While AI models such as AlphaFold3 have achieved major breakthroughs in protein structure prediction, he noted that current models remain limited in predicting biological functions and modelling dynamic processes across multiple spatial and temporal scales.  Looking ahead, there is a need to establish integrated databases that bring together data from biology, chemistry and mechanics, while harnessing AI to drive the development of virtual cell and organoid platforms. Important applications of biomechanics in disease research were also highlighted, particularly in cancer metastasis and immune system biomechanics.  Prof. Feng explained how cancer cells migrate through confined spaces and dynamically adjust their morphology to changing mechanical environments via coupled mechanical, chemical and biological signalling mechanisms.  He also introduced key biomechanical mechanisms of the immune system, highlighting the role of lymph nodes in inflammation, immune responses, immune memory formation and disease progression. The lecture concluded with an interactive Q&A session moderated by Prof. TAN Youhua, Programme Leader in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at PolyU. Please click here for an online review.

PolyU develops durable shade-stable perovskite–organic tandem solar cells, advancing thin-film solar technology application

A research team led by Prof. LI Gang, Associate Director of Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), Chair Professor of Energy Conversion Technology of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Sir Sze-yuen Chung Professor in Renewable Energy, has successfully developed a new generation of perovskite–organic tandem solar cells (POTSCs) that not only deliver high power-generation efficiency but also effectively resist the damage caused by negative voltage. Even under an extreme reverse-bias of –40 V, the tandem devices retain more than 90% of their initial power-generation efficiency, far surpassing all existing thin-film solar technologies, marking a key step towards the practical application of thin-film solar technology. Thin-film solar technologies, such as cadmium telluride (CdTe), copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS), perovskite and organic solar cells, offer the distinct advantages of their light weight, flexibility and cost-effective manufacturing. However, these materials share a common weakness: owing to their electron–ion hybrid conducting properties, once a solar cell is partially shaded and generates negative voltage, its sustained performance becomes difficult and components may even be damaged. The ability to resist reverse bias is therefore key to determining whether thin-film solar technology is durable and capable of stable, long-term operation. Organic solar cells (OSCs) have made significant strides in both efficiency and durability in recent years. Yet their behaviour under reverse-bias condition and underlying charge transport mechanisms in bulk heterojunctions remains largely unexplored by the scientific community. Filling the related knowledge gaps is an indispensable step towards the practical application of thin-film solar technology. The team achieved a breakthrough through its innovative approaches and strategic interventions. By suppressing isolated acceptor clusters within the donor-acceptor intermix region, the team successfully minimised the above-mentioned defects and developed high-performance OSCs with an irreversible breakdown voltage exceeding -35 V. In other words, as long as the negative voltage does not exceed -35 V, the cell will not be permanently damaged. This substantially enhances damage resistance and establishes a new benchmark for the efficiency and stability of OSCs. The study shows that, by suppressing reverse tunnelling in n-i-p inorganic perovskite-organic tandem solar cells, the organic solar cells successfully protect the perovskite layer. Even after exposure to an extreme reverse-bias of -40 V, the tandem devices retained more than 90% of their initial efficiency. Moreover, these tandem solar cells proved highly stable: after continuous operation at -20 V for 12 hours, they retained 90% of their initial efficiency; and after continuous operation at -4.5 V for 2,000 hours, they retained as much as 97% of their initial efficiency - far surpassing all existing thin-film solar technologies. The research has been published in the paper “Perovskite–organic tandem solar cells with superior reverse-bias stability,” in Nature Materials. Press Release: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/en/media/media-releases/2026/0720_polyu-develops-durable-shade-stable-perovskite-organic-tandem-solar-cells/ Full paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41563-026-02541-6   Online coverage: Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/4yvAxmD Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/4fsSedV; https://polyu.me/4w99vQd Newsbreak - https://polyu.me/4byOBli Mirage News - https://polyu.me/3TLYCp6

SCRI co-organises inaugural Urban Systems Forum to advance smart and sustainable urban development

The inaugural Urban Systems Forum was successfully held on 19 July 2026. The forum, themed “Advanced Modeling of Urban Systems for Sustainable Cities”, was organised by the Urban Systems Institute of The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and co-hosted by the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), the HKU Institute for Climate and Carbon Neutrality, the State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Building and Urban Science Hong Kong Base, and the IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society Hong Kong Chapter. The forum served as a premier international platform for academic exchange. Renowned scholars from across the globe gathered to explore cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence, digital twins, remote sensing and spatiotemporal analytics. Discussions focused on multi-scale urban modelling of population, environmental, ecological and infrastructure systems, aiming to drive theoretical research and facilitate its translation into policy and practice. Prof. John SHI, Director of SCRI and Chair Professor of Geographic Information Science and Remote Sensing at PolyU, delivered a keynote presentation titled "Scientific System of Urban Informatics". Prof. Shi and his team pioneered the discipline of “Urban Informatics” in 2013. During the presentation, he analysed its unique scientific problems and development direction, demonstrating that it has become a new interdisciplinary science. He also illustrated how urban informatics can effectively address complex urban challenges such as transportation, public health, and spatial governance by showcasing representative core technologies and empirical cases. Prof. Shi also introduced the ISUI Global Smart City Index developed by his team using urban informatics methodologies. The Index encompasses six dimensions and nearly 100 indicators, enabling systematic benchmarking of urban development levels across cities worldwide. The forum provided an important platform for dialogue on global urban challenges and opportunities, while exploring innovative strategies and technologies for building more liveable and sustainable urban environments. The diverse perspectives and forward-looking insights shared will serve as valuable references for future research and development in urban systems and planning. ISUI Smart City Index: https://www.isocui.org/smart_city_index Article elucidating the science of urban informatics: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scib.2025.12.036   Online coverage: Bauhinia – https://polyu.me/4fSrSlw Eurek Alert – https://polyu.me/3RL5jY9

World-renowned bioelectronics pioneer Prof. John Rogers to present second PAIR—Cambridge NeuroWorks online neuroscience seminar

The PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has partnered with Cambridge NeuroWorks, UK—an alliance of nine partners including the University of Cambridge—to launch an online seminar series in neuroscience.  The inaugural seminar was a remarkable success, attracting 14,000 viewers worldwide from academia, industry, and the public. Building on this strong momentum, the second seminar “Bioelectronic Systems as Neural Interfaces”, will be delivered by Prof. John A. ROGERS of Northwestern University on 21 July 2026.  The seminar will offer insights into cutting-edge bioelectronic technologies that are transforming the way researchers study and interact with the nervous system.  Prof. Rogers will present pioneering approaches that integrate advanced electronic and optoelectronic devices with neural tissues, enabling unprecedented capabilities for monitoring and modulating neural circuits.  Drawing on examples from brain research and organoid-based studies, the seminar will highlight how these innovations are opening new frontiers in neuroscience, regenerative medicine and the treatment of neurological disorders. The Cambridge NeuroWorks and PolyU PAIR Joint Seminar Series provides an international platform for researchers, clinicians, students and industry professionals from Hong Kong, the UK and beyond to explore emerging ideas and breakthroughs in neuroscience research, technology development and clinical practice through expert-led presentations and cross-disciplinary dialogue.  Cambridge NeuroWorks is a transformative neurotechnology initiative led and hosted by Cambridge University Health Partners (CUHP) and powered by the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA).  The joint seminar series promotes professional exchange, encourages new partnerships and inspires future research opportunities, reflecting both institutions’ shared commitment to excellence, innovation and global engagement in improving healthcare and quality of living through advances in neurotechnology. Event website: https://polyu.hk/VeQzW Registration: https://polyu.hk/chKNV