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RCOcean Conducts In-Depth Exploration in Portugal to Expand Global Cooperation on Marine Biological Resources

Recently, the RCOcean team embarked on a special field trip to Portugal focused on marine biological resources. The delegation visited the Azores Islands as well as key mainland cities including Lisbon and Porto, engaging with top academic institutions and leading enterprises. This initiative not only highlighted marine natural product development and innovative drug discovery but also provided a comprehensive survey of Portugal’s marine ecological protection, technology transfer, and industry development landscape—building a solid bridge for international cooperation in the field of ocean-based health and wellness.   First Stop: The Azores – Unlocking the Potential of Marine Resources in Extreme Environments   From July 14 to 16, the delegation’s first destination was the Azores, with key visits to the University of the Azores and Azores Life Science/Ignae. During discussions, Miguel Pombo, founder of Azores Life Science, shared in detail the unique diversity of algae and plant natural products in the Atlantic subtropical region, as well as the company’s established expertise in the exploration and utilization of marine biological resources.   Professor Duarte Toubarro and his team at the University of the Azores focused on the development of marine resources from extreme environments, showcasing the immense potential of novel microorganisms from hydrothermal vent ecosystems in peptide and small-molecule drug discovery.   Both sides engaged in in-depth discussions on new anti-inflammatory compounds unique to the Azores, exchanging views on industrial pathways for their application in cosmetic ingredients and functional nutraceuticals. Initial consensus was reached on cooperation in areas such as technology sharing and joint research and development, laying the groundwork for precise follow-up collaboration.   Mainland Portugal: Comprehensive Survey of the Marine Innovation Ecosystem   From July 16 to 22, the delegation continued its journey in mainland Portugal, conducting extensive research in Lisbon, Porto, and beyond. Academic visits included the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Lisbon, Instituto Piaget, CIIMAR (Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research), Atlântico Business School, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, and more than ten other renowned institutions. Through thematic seminars and on-site visits, the team gained systematic insights into Portugal’s advances in marine ecological protection, efficient extraction processes for bioactive marine substances, and innovative marine drug discovery practices.   Among these, CIIMAR stood out as Portugal’s flagship marine research institute, leaving a particularly strong impression. Its mature strategies for the sustainable development of marine biological resources, interdisciplinary research teams, and mechanisms for industry–academia–research collaboration provide a high-quality model for efficient scientific knowledge transfer. The two sides held in-depth discussions on joint laboratory initiatives and technology sharing in marine bioactive substance R&D.   In the industry engagement sessions, the delegation visited leading marine health enterprises and innovation hubs, including HinnovaCare and FASTinov. Dialogues focused on practical issues such as technical bottlenecks in the industrialization of marine bioactives and international market access standards. Several companies expressed strong interest in pursuing technological cooperation and market expansion with RCOcean.   Building a Bridge for Long-Term Cooperation   Through a research model combining targeted site visits and broad ecosystem surveys, the RCOcean delegation identified the unique development potential of marine biological resources in the Azores while also gaining a comprehensive understanding of the technological strengths and industrial ecosystem of Portugal’s marine health sector.   The delegation emphasized that this trip marks a key milestone: RCOcean will integrate high-quality cooperation resources identified during the visit—particularly by deepening collaboration with CIIMAR and other leading institutions—and promote the establishment of long-term exchange mechanisms. The goal is to contribute to the sustainable development of marine biological resources and to foster international industrial cooperation in the marine health and wellness sector.  

RCOcean Shines at Brazilian International Symposium, Showcasing Cutting-Edge Research in Marine Natural Products

Leading the Dialogue: Marine Drug Discovery at the Forefront On May 23, 2025, the Symposium on Traditional and Marine Natural Products, hosted by Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) in Santos, gathered leading scientists in the field of natural product research. PolyU-BGI Joint Research Centre for Genomics and Synthetic Biology in Global Ocean Resources (RCOcean) was invited as a key international partner to present its latest innovations at the intersection of genomics, artificial intelligence, and marine drug discovery. The event marked a new step forward in China-Brazil scientific collaboration in the field of natural products. The symposium was opened by renowned scholar Prof. Norberto Peporine Lopes from the University of São Paulo. In his address, he emphasized that “the diversity of natural products is a treasure trove for drug development, and interdisciplinary collaboration—including molecular biology, genomics, and artificial intelligence—is the driving force to unlock its full potential.” The RCOcean team presented three key reports at the event: Prof. Simon Ming-Yuen, LEE, Director of RCOcean, delivered a talk titled “Discovery of Natural Products from Medicinal Plants and Marine Organisms for Neurodegenerative Disease Treatment”. He introduced the team’s recent progress in identifying marine bioactive compounds through genomics approaches, highlighting their therapeutic potential for conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Mr Jianwei Chen, Associate Director of RCOcean, presented “Systematic Mining of Bioactive Natural Peptides from the Microbiomes Using Machine Learning”. He outlined the development of an AI-driven platform for high-efficiency screening of marine microbial peptides, emphasizing their promise as candidates for novel antibiotics and anti-stroke therapeutics. PhD student Ling Peng presented findings from her research titled “Deciphering the Fungal Diversity and Genomic Functionality of Mangrove Rhizosphere Soil in China”, shedding light on the pharmaceutical and biotechnological potential of fungal resources in these unique habitats. Brazilian Scientists Highlight Local Breakthroughs: The symposium also featured leading Brazilian researchers. Prof. Paula C. Jimenez (UNIFESP) shared her team’s bioprospecting efforts on anti-cancer agents from coastal microorganisms and invertebrates. Prof. João Henrique Ghilardi Lago (UFABC) discussed the Bioactive Secondary Metabolites in Antiparasitic, Antitumor, and Antimicrobial Models. Prof. Leticia Veras Costa Lotufo (USP) introduced novel Connecting Dots— What Can We Learn About Cancer Biology from the Understanding of Natural Products Mechanism of Action. A Visit to Center for Marine Biology: Charting New Frontiers for Blue Economy Cooperation On May 24, the RCOcean delegation visited the Center for Marine Biology (CEBIMar) of the University of São Paulo, one of South America's leading platforms for marine ecosystem research. Prof. Ronaldo Bastos Francini Filho, director of CEBIMar, showcased deep-sea live organism cultivation technologies, enabling the long-term laboratory survival of rare marine species. Dr. Hudson Tercio Pinheiro presented integrated research combining genomics and biogeography to unravel the evolutionary patterns of mesophotic coral reefs. The center’s extensive specimen repository of rare tropical marine organisms offers unique resources for future pharmaceutical development. Prof. Simon Ming-Yuen, LEE and the CEBIMar team explored three major avenues for collaboration: Smart Diving Equipment Development – Combining advanced manufacturing in the Greater Bay Area with Brazil’s deep-sea exploration expertise. Genomic Profiling of Live Marine Samples – Building a fast-track, trans-hemispheric bio-sample identification platform. Synthetic Biology Technology Transfer – Jointly developing pharmaceutical pipelines from Brazil’s endemic marine microbes. “Sustainable exploration of ocean resources requires global collaboration,” said Prof. LEE. “Leveraging Hong Kong’s position as an international innovation hub, RCOcean looks forward to working closely with Brazilian partners to chart a scientific path for the blue economy.”

RCOcean research project wins funding support from RAISe+ Scheme

The Innovation and Technology Commission of the HKSAR Government has recently announced the second batch of projects selected for funding under the Research, Academic, and Industry Sectors One-plus (RAISe+) Scheme. Prof. Simon Ming-yuen LEE, the director of the PolyU-BGI Joint Research Centre for Genomics and Synthetic Biology in Global Ocean Resources, has been awarded funding support from the RAISe+ Scheme for his project “Novel Nutraceuticals for Neurodegenerative Diseases”. This project develops novel nutraceuticals and drugs derived from natural resources for treating neurodegenerative diseases. It establishes the LifeChip technology platform, combining next-generation DNA sequencing, AI-driven discovery, advanced chemical separation, high-throughput in vivo screening, and synthetic biology. Focusing on neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, as well as neurological disorders including insomnia, depression, and anxiety, this integrated approach delivers a comprehensive solution for both prevention and treatment using innovative nutraceuticals with unique mechanisms of action. For instance, the development candidate Oxyphylla® is a first-in-class drug targeting α-synuclein, an emerging therapeutic target for Parkinson’s disease. Oxyphylla® is anticipated to become a disease-modifying therapy, offering a breakthrough in neurological health. Inaugurated in 2023, the RAISe+ Scheme aims to provide funding, on a matching basis, for at least 100 research teams from universities funded by the University Grants Committee which demonstrate strong potential to evolve into successful startups. Each approved project will receive funding support ranging from HK$10 million to HK$100 million.

Driving Scientific Innovation and Publication Excellence with the European Journal of Pharmacology and Elsevier

PolyU-BGI Joint Research Centre for Genomics and Synthetic Biology in Global Ocean Resources (RCOcean) is proud to organize an insightful forum titled "Driving Scientific Innovation and Publication Excellence with the European Journal of Pharmacology and Elsevier" on 15 April. This event gathered top experts and scholars to discuss cutting-edge developments in pharmacology and scientific publishing. The forum will feature a keynote presentation by Prof. Frank Redegeld from the Faculty of Science at Utrecht University. Prof. Redegeld will delve into the topic of "Eosinophilic Esophagitis – An Emerging Disease: Novel Insights into the Local Immunological Events in Eosinophilic Esophagitis." His talk will explore the latest research findings on this increasingly recognized condition, highlighting the complex immunological processes involved and potential implications for treatment and management. In addition, Dr. Xu Liu, a distinguished publisher for the European Journal of Pharmacology, Life Sciences, and Fitoterapia, will present on "Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in Scientific Writing and Scholarly Publishing." Dr. Liu will discuss the transformative impact of GenAI technologies on the landscape of scientific communication, offering insights into how these tools can enhance the quality and efficiency of scholarly writing and publication processes. This forum represents a unique opportunity for researchers, academics, and industry professionals to engage with pioneering ideas and foster collaborations that drive scientific innovation. Attendees will gain valuable knowledge on emerging trends and technologies that are shaping the future of pharmacology and scientific publishing.

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