With a robust foundation in healthcare education and medical innovation, PolyU addresses health challenges through interdisciplinary approaches that combine healthcare with artificial intelligence (AI), engineering, and data science. These efforts foster the development of precision medicine, preventive medicine, and primary healthcare, enhancing healthcare services in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area (GBA), while also contributing to Hong Kong’s development into an international health and medical innovation hub.

PolyU adheres to a patient-centred approach, leveraging its strengths in medicine-engineering integration and AI-driven healthcare to advance medical innovation and knowledge transfer. This commitment is exemplified by the impactful and pioneering work of its researchers. Here are four outstanding PolyU research projects that demonstrate the University’s excellence in medicine-engineering integration and AI for healthcare solutions.

AI-assisted radiotherapy support system to enhance treatment outcomes through precision medicine

Led by Professor Cai Jing, Head and Professor of the Department of Health Technology and Informatics

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Hong Kong and worldwide. To improve lung cancer treatment outcomes, Professor Cai and his team have developed an AI-assisted lung radiotherapy support system that automatically analyses patients’ CT scan images and creates lung ventilation and perfusion maps without using contrast agents. The system distinguishes the functions of different lung regions for designing optimal personalised radiotherapy plans through an innovative “function-guided” approach. This method avoids high-functioning lung areas and reduces radiation damage to the patient’s lungs, improving post-operative quality of life.

This innovation won a Silver Medal at the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva. The team is collaborating with several local and Mainland hospitals for clinical trials. They also plan to develop AI models for “function-guided” radiotherapy for liver and brain cancers.

Prof. Cai and his team have developed an AI-assisted lung radiotherapy support system that features a user-friendly interface and a powerful backend, and is compatible with major hospital operating systems.

AI-assisted non-invasive angiography for diagnosing eye diseases

Led by Professor He Mingguang, Chair Professor of Experimental Ophthalmology of the School of Optometry, Director of the PolyU-Wuhan Technology and Innovation Research Institute, Henry G. Leong Professor in Elderly Vision Health, Director of the Research Centre for SHARP Vision and Global STEM Scholar

Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness globally. However, traditional diagnostic approaches rely on fluorescein angiography, which puts constraints on primary healthcare screening capacity. In light of this, Professor He’s team has leveraged Generative AI technology to facilitate the diagnosis of eye diseases, marking significant breakthroughs. The technology converts fundus photographs to high-precision angiographic images and dynamic videos within a couple of seconds, enables early detection of pathological changes on the retina, such as microaneurysms and retinal haemorrhages, and expands the detection area by incorporating ultra-widefield imaging technology.

This cutting-edge project won the Special Merit Award from the French Inventors Federation and Europe-France Inventors and a Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury at the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva. The innovation has also secured five different international patents and is now undergoing multi-centre clinical trials in top medical institutions in the GBA.

Prof. He and his team developed a system leveraging Generative AI technology to facilitate the diagnosis of eye diseases. The innovation has secured five international patents and is now undergoing clinical trials.

Embodied intelligent ankle rehabilitation robot to assist stroke patients with home-based rehabilitation

Led by Professor Zhang Dan, Chair Professor of Intelligent Robotics and Automation of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Director of the PolyU-Nanjing Technology and Innovation Research Institute, and Director of the Consortium for Intelligent Robotics Research

Stroke patients require ongoing and repetitive rehabilitation training to prevent joint contractures and excessive muscle atrophy. Professor Zhang’s team has developed a first-of-its-kind robot product with three degrees of freedom (3-DoF) to provide comprehensive ankle rehabilitation. The robot assists patients with restricted ankle joints in home-based rehabilitation and aids in post-operative ankle joint functional rehabilitation for patients with cerebral hemiplegia and stroke. It can meet the rehabilitation exercise needs of different patients at different stages of rehabilitation.

The team is currently conducting clinical trials in collaboration with Huashan Hospital in Shanghai and plans to apply AI to offer personalised training for patients. This innovation holds significant potential for the rehabilitation of the shoulder joint or hand.

Prof. Zhang and his team have developed the first robot product with 3-DoF to provide comprehensive ankle rehabilitation. The robot can also collect muscle activity data, enabling real-time monitoring and adjustment to tailor the training intensity and mode.

Ultrafine high-sensitivity optical fibre sensor to enhance precision of cochlear implantation surgery

Led by Professor Tam Haw-yaw, Chair Professor of Photonics of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Associate Director of the Photonics Research Institute

The complexity of cochlear implantation surgery has greatly reduced its application for patients with hearing impairments. To overcome this technical bottleneck, Professor Tam’s team has developed an ultrafine, biocompatible plastic optical fibre sensor and integrated it into the cochlear implant electrode arrays to enhance surgical navigation and reduce trauma during procedures. By integrating the novel fibre sensor into commercial electrode arrays, real-time adjustments to the electrode array’s bending angle can be made to further minimise tissue damage.

With technology patents filed, the team is collaborating with the renowned implantable hearing solutions company Cochlear Limited, the University of Melbourne, and the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital to advance clinical trials and commercialisation. This invention won the Thailand Award for the Best International Invention and Innovation and a Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury at the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva.

Prof. Tam and his team have developed an ultrafine, biocompatible plastic optical fibre sensor and integrated it into the cochlear implant electrode arrays.

PolyU has established a strong foundation in medical and health research, supported by key infrastructure, including seven relevant research institutes and centres under the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR), 19 university-level research institutes and centres, and four University Research Facilities. The University also encourages interdisciplinary research that combines healthcare with AI, engineering, and data science through the newly established PolyU Academy for AI (PAAI). The University’s groundbreaking research translates into real-world solutions, evidenced by ranking first in Hong Kong for both the number of projects and the amount of funding received from the Collaborative Research Fund under the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC), securing 14 projects in the 2024/25 exercise.

Professor Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation), stated, “With our world-renowned researchers, state-of-the-art research facilities, and extensive experience in medical education—particularly in training allied healthcare professionals—PolyU is confident in its ability to establish Hong Kong’s third medical school. We look forward to cultivating the next generation of clinician-scientists who will pioneer medical breakthroughs, ultimately contributing to the global vision of ‘Health for All’.”