News

PolyU and The George Institute for Global Health drive digital health solutions for seniors’ musculoskeletal care

PolyU Research Institute for Smart Ageing (RISA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The George Institute for Global Health in Australia to establish a strategic partnership aimed at advancing global health and smart ageing, in response to the health challenges arising from population ageing. By leveraging multidisciplinary research strengths and global health expertise, the two institutions will collaborate on joint research, clinical trials and development of innovative digital health solutions to enhance the health and quality of life of ageing populations. The MoU was signed by Prof. ZHENG Yongping, Director of RISA, and Prof. Manuela FERREIRA, Program Head of The George Institute for Global Health. Under the partnership, the two institutions will first focus on joint research and development in the areas of low back pain and sarcopenia, with a view to strengthening evidence-based musculoskeletal care. In addition, the two institutions will promote faculty exchange and co-supervision of postgraduate students to strengthen international academic collaboration and knowledge exchange. Through these efforts, both sides aim to enhance the quality of care, improve the health and well-being of ageing populations worldwide, and further advance smart ageing development.

Empowering Tomorrow: Academician GUO Wanlin on the Evolution Toward Hydrovoltaic Intelligence

On 22 May 2026, Prof. GUO Wanlin, Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Founder of the International Institute for Frontier Science at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (NUAA), delivered a PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “From Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Hydrovoltaics Intelligence (HI)” at the PolyU campus. The lecture attracted an audience of nearly 60 scholars, researchers and students onsite, and over 15,200 online viewers across various social media platforms. Prof. Guo began the lecture by outlining the fundamental nature of intelligence, describing it as the ability of living organisms to perceive their environment, obtain energy, and sustain life. He reviewed the development of computing technologies—from Turing’s theoretical foundations and the invention of the transistor to today’s complex neural network systems. He stressed that the digital era is facing a serious energy challenge: modern AI systems, such as AlphaGo, may require megawatt-level power to operate, whereas the human brain consumes only about 20 watts. Prof. Guo argued that achieving truly sustainable intelligence requires moving beyond energy-intensive, silicon-based computing paradigms and shifting toward HI, inspired by the highly efficient characteristics of water-based natural systems. Central to the lecture was how to develop transformative energy technologies from the Earth’s water cycle. Prof. Guo explained how hydrovoltaic technology can capture energy from raindrops, waves, and evaporation, noting that these technologies have made significant advances in power density in recent years. By integrating hydrovoltaics with photovoltaics, such as using evaporative cooling to enhance solar panel performance, his team has proposed a “Hydro–Energy–Ecology” framework that offers a new pathway for sustainable energy development. The lecture also explored the material foundations of HI, with a focus on recent applications of two-dimensional (2D) materials and “sliding ferroelectricity”. Prof. Guo shared that his team has successfully controlled more than 3,000 stable, non-volatile polarisation states at room temperature in van der Waals devices composed of graphene and hexagonal boron nitride. These breakthroughs provide critical support for “computing-in-memory” architectures, offering significantly higher energy efficiency than traditional transistors. They also help overcome the “memory wall” bottleneck between computation and storage, opening new avenues for the development of low-power, bio-inspired intelligent systems. The lecture concluded with a Q&A session moderated by Prof. NI Meng, Head of the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering and Chair Professor of Energy Science and Technology. In his closing remarks, Prof. Guo emphasised “reverence for nature” as a core guiding principle of scientific research, and encouraged young researchers to pursue bold, unconventional innovation. He also reminded the audience that every leaf outside the window reveals the boundless wonders of nature. Please click here for an online review.

AI-empowered wearable rehabilitation device: PolyU develops closed-loop sensory wristband to enable personalised rehabilitation for stroke patients

To address the challenges of disability and slow rehabilitation progress associated with hemiparesis, a common sequela of stroke, a research team led by Prof. Kenneth FONG, Management Committee Member of Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT), Member of Research Institute for Smart Ageing (RISA), Associate Dean (Community and Global Engagement) of Graduate School and Associate Head (Research, Innovation, and Knowledge Transfer) of Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, has applied intelligent closed-loop mobile technology to develop a new-generation wearable rehabilitation device, the “Remind-to-Move” (RTM) sensory wristband. Complemented by a mobile application, the device delivers instant feedback to users and automatically adjusts treatment regimens, thereby enabling more personalised home-based rehabilitation training. The RTM sensory wristband is specifically designed for patients with hemiparesis due to neurological conditions such as stroke or cerebral palsy. By emitting vibration signals, it reminds patients to perform exercises as instructed by their therapists. The latest version is enhanced with a “closed-loop system” that integrates artificial intelligence (AI), neuroscience and kinematic technologies. By real-time comparison of the movement patterns of the hemiparetic limb with its non-affected counterpart, the system automatically adjusts training parameters such as frequency and intensity, thereby improving the patient’s mobility more effectively. The RTM wristband is the world’s first rehabilitation intervention specifically designed to promote use of the hemiparetic arm in adult stroke patients and children with cerebral palsy. Earlier iterations adopted an “open-loop system” with fixed, preset therapy and were proven to effectively reduce “learned non-use” of the hemiparetic upper limb. To achieve more personalised rehabilitation outcomes, the team has upgraded the new-generation wristband to a “closed-loop system”, which sends cues based on the user’s actual arm movements and provides real-time feedback. Research findings showed that both the open-loop and closed-loop RTM systems improved hand function and movement frequency. Notably, the closed-loop system exhibited more prominent advantages—compared to participants in the open-loop group, those using the closed-loop system demonstrated higher movement frequency and more marked improvements in hand function. The related study titled “Closed-loop versus open-loop ‘remind-to-move’ treatment using wearables for hemiparetic upper extremity in patients after stroke: A proof-of-concept study” has been published in Wearable Technologies. Both the open-loop and closed-loop RTM devices have been patented in the United States and the Chinese Mainland, and the previous generation of the open-loop RTM devices has been adopted for over 10 years by 16 public hospitals in Hong Kong and international institutions such as the Kessler Rehabilitation Center in the United States, while its use has been extended to Singapore and the Chinese Mainland. The research team is currently recruiting stroke patients to participate in a clinical study of the new version of the RTM wristband. Participants will wear the wristband and engage in a four-week telerehabilitation programme under the guidance of a professional occupational therapist. The study aims to gain deeper insight into upper-limb activity patterns and evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. Press release: https://polyu.me/4uX7oxR   Online coverage: Mirage - https://polyu.me/4nzPVJr Ming Pao Daily News - https://polyu.me/3POIXUA Hong Kong Economic Journal - https://polyu.me/4uidBof (subscription required); https://polyu.me/43hVD9x Hong Kong Economic Times - https://polyu.me/3PbskCn Oriental Daily News - https://polyu.me/49dz9Kp; https://polyu.me/4tO3Woh Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/4dk9Ybt Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/4dQYj3X Bastille Post - https://polyu.me/4udSGCO Dot Dot News - https://polyu.me/3RiFQVp IT Pro - https://polyu.me/4eXGnWE Weekend Weekly - https://polyu.me/4ftKARV Headline for HK - https://polyu.me/3Ry5WUh; https://polyu.me/4tJT3nK Bauhinia - https://polyu.me/42OIepj Lion Rock Daily - https://polyu.me/49rvg4G

Prof. ZHANG Shuowen elected IEEE Communications Society Distinguished Lecturer

Prof. ZHANG Shuowen, Member of Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT) and Assistant Professor of Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, has been elected as an IEEE Communications Society (IEEE ComSoc) Distinguished Lecturer for the Class of 2026–2027. Prof. ZHANG’s research focuses on next-generation wireless communications, including smart and reconfigurable 6G-and-beyond wireless networks enabled by intelligent reflecting surface, as well as integrated sensing and communication, unmanned aerial vehicles, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), and communication theory. The IEEE ComSoc Distinguished Lecturer Program (DLP) connects accomplished IEEE ComSoc senior members in the field of communications technology with ComSoc chapters worldwide to exchange knowledge, expertise and insights into the future of communications technology.

Ir Prof. ZHENG Pai elected Fellow of American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Ir Prof. ZHENG Pai, Member of Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (RIAM), Associate Professor of Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, and Wong Tit Shing Young Scholar in Smart Robotics, has been elected a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the engineering profession and to the Society. Prof. Zheng has long been dedicated to advancing mutual cognitive human-robot collaborative manufacturing systems (MC-HRCMS).  His Research Group of AI for Industrial Digital Servitization (RAIDS) team has co-founded CobotAI Limited and introduced a novel multimodal human-robot interaction solution called TeleX.  The system combines precise motion tracking, advanced visual sensing, and touch-sensitive “robot hands” to synchronously collect multimodal human operation data in complex operational scenarios. TeleX has already been tested across a range of typical industrial scenarios, including egocentric or teleoperation in robotic assembly, dispensing process, and wire dismantling, etc., demonstrating its broad application potential.

PAIR and Cambridge NeuroWorks launch new online neuroscience seminar series in May 2026

The PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has joined forces with Cambridge NeuroWorks, UK, made up of nine partners including the University of Cambridge, to launch a new online seminar series in neuroscience.  The inaugural seminar, delivered by Prof. Edward CHANG of the University of California San Francisco, is being held on 27 May 2026. This strategic partnership brings together institutions with complementary strengths.  PAIR is recognised for advancing interdisciplinary research across brain health, biomedical engineering, data science and healthcare innovation, with a strong focus on real-world impact.  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 UK’s R&D funding agency created to unlock scientific and technological breakthroughs that benefit everyone.  It aims to build national translational infrastructure that connects researchers, clinicians, founders, patients and industry to accelerate breakthrough neurotechnology from idea to real-world impact. The seminar series provides an international platform for researchers, clinicians, students and industry professionals from Hong Kong, 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.  This new collaboration 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. Register now: https://polyu.hk/SISXu   Online coverage: Bastille Post - https://polyu.me/4uZhWwL  etnet - https://polyu.me/4nyB2qK  Quamnet - https://polyu.me/4v0zZmi  Sina HK - https://polyu.me/3RfVgK2 Yahoo Finance - https://polyu.me/3POqNCj Taiwan News - https://polyu.me/4wIgr7U Weekender Singapore - https://polyu.me/3PJOH1T The Manila Times - https://polyu.me/43lYCh7 IT News Online - https://polyu.me/3PxD7qz A-Performers - https://polyu.me/4uZhCy3 

London marathon’s historic sub-2 sparks “super shoes” debate — Dr Jason Cheung: Performance gains must be balanced with fairness

Last month’s London Marathon made history, with Kenyan runner Sabastian SAWE winning in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds and becoming the centre of attention.  Ethiopian runner Yomif KEJELCHA finished second in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 40 seconds.  Along with the women’s champion, all three athletes wore the latest “super shoes” from the same brand, once again drawing public attention to the issue of sports technology and fairness in competition. Dr Jason CHEUNG, Principal Research Fellow of Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports) at PolyU, said in a recent interview with RTHK that the key to “super shoes” lies not only in the carbon-fibre plate, but also in its combination with highly resilient, ultra-light foam materials.  Together, these features improve propulsion while reducing energy expenditure.  Since the first generation of super shoes was launched in 2017, the technology has advanced rapidly, enabling running shoes to retain their thick-soled design while achieving both lightweight and high responsiveness. Dr Cheung explained that “running economy” refers to the amount of energy a runner expends at a fixed speed: the lower the oxygen consumption, the greater the running efficiency.  Research shows that for every additional 100 grams in a shoe, an athlete’s oxygen consumption may increase by around 1%.  Earlier studies on super shoes also found that, on average, they could reduce oxygen consumption by approximately 4%. He added that World Athletics has tightened its regulations in recent years, introducing limits on the sole thickness of shoes used in marathon races (not exceeding 40 millimetres), permitting only one carbon-fibre plate per shoe, and requiring competition footwear to be made commercially available before the race.  These measures are intended to strike a balance between encouraging innovation and preserving fair competition.   Online coverage: RTHK - https://polyu.me/4ubRoIs (24:18 - 40:07)

Data explosion in AI era: PolyU leads breakthroughs in protein-based data storage, delivering high storage capacity, strong stability and encryption capabilities

An interdisciplinary research team led by Prof. YAO Zhongping, Member of the Research Institute for Future Food (RiFood) and the Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation (RCMI), Associate Head and Professor of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, and Prof. Francis LAU Chung-ming, Member of the Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT), Associate Dean (Global Engagement) of the Faculty of Engineering and Professor of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, have pioneered a method that uses engineered proteins to store digital data and completed the full process from data storage to data retrieval in de novo designed unnatural proteins.  This demonstrates the potential of establishing a protein-based storage framework with sustainability, high storage capacity and high stability, offering a promising solution to the explosive AI-generated growth in data globally.  The findings have been published in Nature Communications under the title of “Data storage and retrieval with unnatural proteins expressed via E. coli”. All digital files—including texts, images and videos—are stored in computers as sequences of bits comprising 0s and 1s. Molecular data storage typically works by assigning different types of monomers in a large molecule to specific bit sequences, thereby “translating” the data into monomer sequences that can later be decoded and read.  Commonly used medium DNA (nucleotides as monomers) consists of only four types of nucleotides, resulting in relatively low storage capacity, and is also prone to degradation.  The team previously developed peptides (amino acids as monomers) as an alternative.  Peptides can be made of 20 types of natural amino acids, as well as many non-natural amino acids, offering much higher storage capacity.  They can also be optimised to achieve very high stability. However, peptides have limited storage efficiency due to their short molecular sequences, and are produced mainly through chemical synthesis, which is costly. The research team has innovatively proposed using proteins as data carriers.  Proteins have much longer amino acid sequences than peptides, delivering even higher storage efficiency and capacity. In addition, proteins can be readily expressed by biological systems like bacteria and animal cells—i.e., by injecting genetic information that prompts the cells to make designated proteins—enabling large-scale and low-cost generation of data-bearing proteins. Proteins can also be preserved with greater stability in powder or solution form in various environments.  As data carriers, proteins have many advantages over DNA and peptides. The protein samples in this research achieved 30 times the storage density at only 10% of the cost of the peptide-based method. In addition, compared to the data-storing DNA that had been quickly degraded in solution form or in strong acid, the proteins remained readable for very long durations, demonstrating superior stability. The inherent stability, ease of preservation and high storage capacity of proteins make them excellent carriers for the long-term storage of large volumes of data. Their favourable biocompatibility even opens up the possibility of storing digital data in living organisms. However, protein-based data storage faces two major challenges.  First, the amino acid sequences of data-bearing proteins appear highly random and variable, which can compromise their stability and solubility, making such proteins difficult to design and express.  Second, the protein sequencing technique is currently used primarily for protein identification, where only a part of the protein sequence is needed to match against existing protein databases; however, to fully retrieve the encoded data, the entire sequence must be accurately rebuilt. The research team devised innovative strategies to overcome these challenges.  Inspired by the sequence pattern of collagen—a natural protein known for its long-term stability—they designed a protein template as the “backbone” to enhance structural stability and resistance to degradation.  By embedding the data-bearing amino acid sequences that were able to encode several files into the collagen-like template, they successfully expressed these proteins via E. coli.  For data retrieval, these proteins were then digested and analysed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, which separated all the peptide fragments produced and identified their amino acid sequences one by one.  The team further employed self-developed algorithms-driven software to reconstruct the full sequences and successfully convert them back into bit strings.  An error-correction scheme was also utilised to recover minor incorrect or missed sequences, achieving accurate and efficient data readout.  The team’s previous work on peptide-based data storage had demonstrated its stability and suitability for space exploration in China’s next-generation manned spacecraft in 2020.  This new approach delivers significant improvements in multiple aspects.  Beyond basic data storage, the research team further “functionalised” the proteins to enable random access and cryptographic protection.  With non-functionalised proteins, specific segments of data cannot be retrieved without decoding the entire dataset.  By attaching specific affinity tags to the proteins carrying required data segments, the team successfully used corresponding antibodies to “capture” the target proteins during purification, achieving random access.  The team also leveraged these functionalised proteins to encode secret messages and proved that the messages could only be retrieved by the known affinity compound, showcasing the data encryption capabilities of proteins. This research was supported by the Collaborative Research Fund and Research Impact Fund from the Hong Kong Research Grants Council. Press release: https://polyu.me/4daJaKD Read the full paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-70061-7   Online coverage: Mirage - https://polyu.me/4wMwzoX Hong Kong Economic Journal - https://polyu.me/42w9YPv (subscription required) Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/4doi6GJ Bastille Post - https://polyu.me/4do8rA2

Decoding the Decoction: Prof. LAO Lixing on Navigating the Rigours and Realities of Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinical Trials

On 13 May 2026, Prof. LAO Lixing, President of Virginia University of Integrative Medicine, United States, delivered a PAIR Seminar titled “Clinical Trials on Chinese Herbal Medicine, Methodology and Challenges” at the PolyU campus. The seminar attracted an audience of over 40 scholars, researchers, practitioners and students onsite, and over 13,300 online viewers across various social media platforms. The Pursuit of Evidence-Based Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Prof. Lao opened the seminar by discussing the paradigm shift toward Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM). While Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) has been used for millennia, the complexity of multi-herb formulas presents unique hurdles for scientific validation. According to the EBM hierarchy, Randomised Controlled Trials represent the gold standard. Prof. Lao’s work focuses on applying FDA research guidelines to CHM, covering everything from the authentication of raw materials and extraction methods to quality control and quality assurance using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Case Studies: HLXL and TSD The seminar delved into two primary case studies. The first focused on HLXL (Huo-Luo-Xiao-Ling) for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Pre-clinical trials on rats demonstrated significant reductions in arthritic scores and pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, a subsequent Phase II human clinical trial, while confirming the formula's safety, revealed that the 8-week treatment was not superior to the placebo in reducing pain. Prof. Lao noted this as a classic example of the “species gap” between animal and human responses. The second case study examined Tumour-Shrinking Decoction (TSD) for the treatment of uterine fibroids. This double-blind, dose-controlled trial aimed to evaluate symptom relief and fibroid size reduction. While the study provided valuable data on safety and potential efficacy, it highlighted the challenges posed by “fixed” formulas compared with the “individualised” nature of TCM diagnosis. The lecture concluded with an engaging Q&A session moderated by Prof. Wong Man-sau, Director of Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation and Professor of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at PolyU. In response to questions regarding online scepticism and geographical variations in herbal efficacy, Prof. Lao emphasised that robust scientific evidence is the most effective tool for global validation. He further explained how the “multi-target” nature of herbal formulas necessitates specialised requirements for clinical sample sizes and efficacy indicators. Prof. Lao encouraged researchers to persevere in integrating FDA-level rigor with TCM wisdom to ensure the sustainable development of Chinese medicine in global healthcare. Please click here for an online review.

Prof. MA Cong highlights emerging opportunities for medical AI in Hong Kong at Asia Healthcare Summit

Prof. MA Cong, Member of the Research Centre for Chinese Medicine Innovation (RCMI) and Associate Professor of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology of PolyU, recently served as a panellist at a thematic session of the 6th Asia Healthcare Summit, held during the 5th International Healthcare Week, where he shared insights into transforming healthcare through digital health & AI innovations. Prof. Ma noted that Hong Kong possesses several unique advantages for the development of “AI + healthcare”, including strong scientific research capabilities, government policy support, a well-established healthcare system and robust intellectual property protection.  He added that the establishment of the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation will help facilitate the approval of new local drugs and accelerate the translation and commercialisation of research outcomes. He explained that the development of medical artificial intelligence in Hong Kong has progressed through three stages.  As early as 2021, AI had already been applied to lung imaging diagnosis, before extending to stroke and ophthalmic disease screening.  At present, development has advanced towards genetic risk assessment and early disease prediction, driving a shift in healthcare from a treatment-led model to a prevention-first approach.  He pointed out that AI can not only optimise medical workflows and improve the efficiency and accuracy of image interpretation, but also support personalised health management and public health decision-making, bringing even greater potential to the development of smart healthcare. In addition, Prof. Ma’s research team has combined generative AI with structural biology to speed up antibiotic development.  They have already identified active candidate molecules targeting five types of difficult-to-treat infections, with two candidate drugs having entered the preclinical safety evaluation stage.  This highlights Hong Kong’s efforts in accelerating the development of a comprehensive healthcare innovation and technology ecosystem.   Online coverage: Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/42r4lC8 Hong Kong China News Agency - https://polyu.me/4uFLbV5 Chinese Daily - https://polyu.me/4dEsLye