PolyU, committed to advancing public health through medical innovations, recently hosted an inaugural Master Lecture titled “The Race Between Evolving Infectious Diseases and Human Technology”. The event featured a keynote speech by world-renowned infectious disease expert Professor Zhang Wenhong. As Director of the National Medical Centre for Infectious Diseases and Head of the Institute of Infection and Health at Fudan University, Professor Zhang addressed anticipating and counteracting challenges before the next pandemic, attracting nearly 450 participants, including PolyU academic staff, students, alumni, healthcare professionals and members of the public.

The Lecture, co-hosted by PolyU’s Department of Health Technology and Informatics (HTI), the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR), and the PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence (PAAI), highlighted Professor Zhang’s views on key pandemic response strategies including achieving herd immunity, scaling up vaccine production, improving treatment plans, and developing tools and methods for the detection, response and containment of future infectious threats.

Addressing the dynamics of infectious diseases and vaccines

Professor Zhang examined the origins and evolution of infectious diseases, along with the importance and challenges of vaccination during pandemics. He explained how medical innovations can help predict and counter outbreak threats. As infectious diseases evolve unpredictably, they challenge the medical community’s ability to anticipate new variants. While vaccines can reduce disease severity and mortality, silent transmission and emerging variants may diminish their effectiveness. Therefore, developing advanced vaccines and detection technologies remain essential for enhancing global responses and preventing future outbreaks.

He emphasised that predicting the next pandemic will present significant challenges, highlighting the importance of prioritising quick responses over predictions. With PolyU’s extensive experience in training medical professionals, coupled with its robust capabilities in medical-engineering integration and AI technology, he expressed confidence that the proposed establishment of Hong Kong’s third medical school by PolyU is highly significant and will further enhance the application of medical technology.

He stated, “I believe that if AI can play a pivotal role in public health, we will be better equipped to confront the next pandemic. When it arises, we will undoubtedly rely on AI – initially for predictions, and later, once the outbreak begins, to provide various models that can guide our response.”

Honorary appointment and advisory contributions

Professor Zhang, specialising in the clinical diagnosis, treatment and prevention of infectious disease, has been honoured as a role model in the fight against COVID-19 and recognised as a Young and Middle-Aged Expert with Outstanding Contributions of the National Health Commission for his exceptional professional excellence. He serves as an Expert Advisory Committee member for PolyU’s proposed third medical school and has been recently appointed as an Honorary Professor of HTI.

Prof. Zhang discussed how medical innovation and technology can proactively address the challenges of infectious diseases before the next pandemic.

PolyU’s President, Professor Jin-Guang Teng, expressed his gratitude for Professor Zhang’s profound insights and acknowledged the University’s contributions to pandemic control through the virus genome monitoring system led by Professor Gilman Siu Kit-hang, Professor of HTI, which supported the HKSAR Government’s anti-pandemic measures.

The Lecture concluded with a Q&A session moderated by Professor Yang Hongxia, Executive Director of PAAI, and Professor Siu. This session drew enthusiastic responses from the audience, facilitating in-depth exchanges with Professor Zhang.

Moderated by Prof. Yang (centre) and Prof. Siu (right), the Q&A session and in-depth discussion with Prof. Zhang engaged the audience.

The inaugural PolyU Master Lecture delivered by Prof. Zhang (5th from right) was attended by distinguished guests including Prof. Teng (5th from left); Prof. Wong (4th from right); Prof. Chen Qingyan, Director of PAIR (4th from left); Prof. Yang (3rd from right); Prof. Cai Jing, Head of HTI (3rd from left); Prof. Zhang Weixiong, Associate Director of PAIR (2nd from left); Prof. Siu (2nd from right); Prof. He Mingguang, Director of the Centre for Eye and Vision Research (right); and Prof. Li Xiangdong, Director of the Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (left).