News

RCSV Member appointed as Non-official Member of Primary Healthcare Committee

RCSV congratulated Prof. Marco Pang, RCSV Member, Shun Hing Education and Charity Fund Professor in Rehabilitation Sciences, Chair Professor of Neurorehabilitation, and Head of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, for being appointed as a Non-official Member of the Primary Healthcare Committee of the HKSAR Government for a term of two years, effective from 15 July 2024. The Committee advises the newly established Primary Health Commission on the planning of primary healthcare services and the allocation of resources through strategic purchasing, with the goal of enhancing the overall primary healthcare service.   HKSAR Government Press Release: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202407/15/P2024071500326.htm?fontSize=1  

RCSV Director shares with Nature on repeated low-level red-light therapy for myopia control in children

Prof. He Mingguang, Director of RCSV, was interviewed by the journal Nature on his study about using repeated low-level red-light (RLRL) therapy to reduce the prevalence of myopia in children. Prof. He and his collaborators conducted a year-long study at ten primary schools in Shanghai. Results showed that children at risk of developing myopia (premyopia) who received the RLRL therapy for three minutes twice per day, five days per week, were half as likely to develop myopia than children who did not receive the therapy, demonstrating the promising application of RLRL therapy for controlling and preventing myopia.   Online coverage: Nature - https://polyu.me/4bH1ojO NetEase - https://polyu.me/3Kp6ODR (Chinese only)  

RCSV Members shine at International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva

RCSV Members shine at International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva Six RCSV members secured seven accolades, including the Prize of the Saudi Arabian Delegation, three Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury, one Gold Medal and two Silver Medals at the at 49th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva (Geneva Inventions Expo), a widely recognised annual event devoted exclusively to invention. The results serve as a testament to the outstanding research capabilities of the RCSV members. The international recognition will inspire them to continue pursuing excellence, not only in basic research but also in translating their research outcomes into positive impacts for the benefit of Hong Kong, our Nation, and the world. The 49th Geneva Inventions Expo attracted 1,035 entries from 38 countries and regions. To learn more about these impactful projects, please refer to the Appendix or visit the website of the PolyU Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office. Project Principal Investigator(s) Award(s) GOOD Vision/Wellsees: Novel Portable Corneal Topographer Prof. KEE Chea-su Head and Professor, School of Optometry; Deputy Director of Centre for Eye and Vision Research; Co-founder, GOOD Vision Technologies Co., Ltd/Wellsees Technologies Co., Ltd (a PolyU academic-led startup) Prize of the Saudi Arabian Delegation   Gold Medal Augmented Reality (AR) Software Built to Aid the Visually Impaired Prof. Allen CHEONG Associate Head and Professor, School of Optometry; Deputy Director of Centre for Eye and Vision Research   *Project from Centre for Eye and Vision Research (Set up as a joint partnership between PolyU and the University of Waterloo, Canada under the Health@InnoHK cluster) Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury ProRuka — Novel Prosthetic Hand Controlled by Wireless Sonomyography Prof. Yongping ZHENG Henry G. Leong Professor in Biomedical Engineering and Chair Professor of Biomedical Engineering; Director, Research Institute for Smart Ageing; and Director, Jockey Club Smart Ageing Hub Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury SLOPE – Structured Light Observation, Perception and Evaluation Co-Principal Investigator: Dr Dennis TSE Associate Professor, School of Optometry   *Project from Centre for Eye and Vision Research Limited (Set up as a joint partnership between PolyU and the University of Waterloo, Canada under the Health@InnoHK cluster) Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury Invention and Application of Vitamin D Supplement Preparations Prof. WONG Man-sau Professor, Department of Food Science and Nutrition Silver Medal Precision Gene Editing for Enhanced Stem Cell-Retinal Neuron Generation Prof. YIP Shea-ping Head and Chair Professor of Diagnostic Science and Molecular Genetics, Department of Health Technology and Informatics; Principal Investigator, Centre for Eye and Vision Research Silver Medal *The prizes are listed in order of prize level and alphabetical order of project names.

PolyU joins WHO Global SPECS Network, contributing towards 2030 global eye health target

We are pleased to announce that The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has joined as a member institution of the Global SPECS Network hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in January 2024. The Network, which comprises representatives from inter-governmental organisations, non-governmental organisations, academic institutions, private sector and philanthropic foundations, promotes collective and coordinated advocacy and action towards the WHO SPECS 2030 target, that is to achieve a 40% increase in effective global coverage of refractive error by 2030. Prof. HE Mingguang, Director of the Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV), serves as the primary representative of PolyU in meetings, communication and collaboration of the Network. The RCSV shall continue pursuing various impactful and international collaborations, with the goal to create knowledge and solutions for the promotion of healthy life-long sharp vision. Please visit here for the member list of the Network.

PolyU and National Eye Institute of NIH Co-hosted Global Ophthalmology Workshop, Focusing on the Standardisation of AI Clinical Practices

RCSV, in collaboration with the National Eye Institute (NEI) of National Institutes of Health (NIH) from the United States and RIO, successfully organized the workshop titled “US-Asia Pacific Panel Workshop on Standardization of Methodology in Ophthalmology: From Disease Definition to Ground Truth and Artificial Intelligence” on 10 December. This marked NEI’s first global effort to organize a workshop on standardizing methodology for integrating artificial intelligence into clinical practice in ophthalmology. The workshop aimed to establish a standardised approach in defining diseases, generating ground truths, and developing AI models, taking intoconsideration the unique healthcare systems across the Asia Pacific region and beyond.  With the theme on “Standardisation of Methodology in Ophthalmology : From Disease Definition to Ground Truth and Artifical Intelligence,” the workshop was chaired by Prof Mingguang HE, Chair Professor of Experimental Ophthalmology and Director of Research Centre for SHARP Vision at PolyU and Dr John Prakash, Director of International Program of NEI/NIH.  The panel workshop also hosted esteemed speakers and panelists, including Dr Michael Chiang, the Director of NEI/NIH, along with numerous highly accomplished clinician scientists from China, the United States, Singapore, the United Kingdom, India and other countries. Together, we addressed challenges, explored innovative solutions, and set best practices in this rapidly evolving field. The discussions held during the workshop were not only enlightening but also paved the way for potential collaborations with international partners. RCSV eagerly anticipates further engagements and partnerships to drive advancements in the field.  

RCSV Associate Director Won BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize

RCSV congratulated Prof. Benny Cheung, Associate Director of RCSV; Chair Professor of Ultra-precision Machining and Metrology, for being awarded the BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize (STIP) in the field of “Advanced Manufacturing”. This prestigious award recognises Prof. Cheung’s outstanding contribution to the scientific and technological innovation and transformation in Hong Kong.

RCSV Members Recognised as Top Two Percent Scientists Worldwide

RCSV is very pleased to announce that seven members are on the Stanford University’s list that represents the top two percent of the most-cited scientists in various disciplines. The report was prepared by a team of experts led by Prof. John Ioannidis, Professor of Medicine (Stanford Prevention Research) of Epidemiology and Population Health at the Stanford University.   Prof. Chen Xiaojun Prof. Benny Cheung Prof. He Minggunag Prof. Marco Pang Prof. Yip Shea-ping Prof. Jane You Ir Prof. Zheng Yongping    The list issued by the Stanford University can be downloaded from the link below: https://elsevier.digitalcommonsdata.com/datasets/btchxktzyw/6   Congratulations to our top scientists!

RCSV Member Honoured with Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award 2023

RCSV congratulated Prof. To Chi-ho, RCSV Member; Visiting Chair Professor of Experimental Optometry of School of Optometry, on receiving the Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award 2023. This prestigious award recognizes Prof. To’s remarkable achievements and contributions to his alma mater and society. It also serves as a testament to Prof. To's exceptional accomplishments and his unwavering commitment to excellence in the field of Optometry.  The Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award aims to acknowledge distinguished graduates of PolyU and its forerunners, namely the Government Trade School, Hong Kong Technical College and the Hong Kong Polytechnic. For more information about the Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award 2023, please visit https://www.polyu.edu.hk/media/media-releases/2023/1018_polyu-honours-five-outstanding-alumni/.

PolyU and Rohto Join Forces to Establish the Centre of Research Excellence for Eye Care

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) partnered with Rohto, an eye care brand under Mentholatum, to establish the PolyU-Rohto Centre of Research Excellence for Eye Care (“the Centre”). The Centre’s inauguration took place at the “Leading Research in Eye Fatigue, Empowering the Joy of Seeing” launch ceremony held in Hong Kong. During the event, PolyU and Rohto also jointly released the “Promoting Healthy Vision and Prioritizing Standardised Diagnosis of Eye Fatigue” advocacy paper, which aims to enhance eye health within the broader community. Honourable guests witnessing this significant event included Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU, Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation), Prof. ZuanKai WANG, Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation), Prof. David SHUM, Dean of Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Prof. Mingguang HE, Director of Research Centre for SHARP Vision; Director of the PolyU-Rohto Centre of Research Excellence for Eye Care and Chair Professor of Experimental Ophthalmology School of Optometry, Mr Michael SIN, President of Mentholatum Asia Pacific, and Mr Wesley CHAN, General Manager of Sales and Marketing, Mentholatum (China) Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Establishment of The PolyU-Rohto Centre of Research Excellence for Eye Care marks a breakthrough for the optometry industry At the launch ceremony, Prof. Teng, said, "The University's School of Optometry is one of the world's leading institutions in optometry and vision science, and PolyU is the only university in Hong Kong offering optometry education. We have established several research centres related to ophthalmology, including the Centre for Eye and Vision Research launched with the University of Waterloo in Canada and supported by the HKSAR Government, as well as the Centre for Vision Science Research under the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research. The partnership with Rohto represents a powerful alliance in eye care." Moving forward, the Centre will gather teams of ophthalmic experts to conduct research and testing in multiple locations and establish collaborative networks with various regions to develop eye health and care technologies, aiming to provide comprehensive medical and care solutions for eye fatigue. Early attention is crucial in the face of rising eye fatigue cases Prof. Mingguang He, Director of Research Centre for SHARP Vision; Director of the PolyU-Rohto Centre of Research Excellence for Eye Care and renowned scholar in the international optometry field, corroborated these findings at the launch ceremony, stating “Due to society’s digital transformation and fast-paced lifestyles, eye-fatigue problems are increasingly prevalent. This problem can significantly impact both quality of life and work efficiency, but the majority of people tend to overlook its significance.” Prof. Mingguang He also noted that eye fatigue is caused by prolonged eye usage, leading to tiredness and discomfort. It already affects approximately 20-30% of children and adolescents and 50-80% of adults, including university students and office workers who use computers extensively. However, the establishment of an innovative and standardised treatment system for eye fatigue is still a work in progress. Currently, the traditional diagnosis of eye fatigue relies heavily on subjective questionnaires, while treatment methods vary, lacking a unified objective diagnostic standard and evaluation. As a result, eye fatigue is often overlooked by patients and clinical practitioners, leading to a relatively limited understanding of this condition in terms of both public awareness and academic research. It is crucial to prioritise high-quality research into and resolution of eye fatigue issues. Rohto partners with PolyU to introduce Eye Fatigue advocacy: Enhancing public eye health in four key areas The low level of public awareness of eye fatigue and the existing diagnosis system being ill-prepared to effectively tackle this issue are of growing concern. Mr Michael Sin, President of Mentholatum Asia Pacific, said, "Mentholatum holds a strong commitment to scientific research, grounding its practices in scientific principles and relying on experimental evidence. It prides itself on introducing products of the highest quality. The Rohto brand is recognised as the world's leading eye-care brand. Over the years, Mentholatum has been dedicated to promoting eye health, particularly through the development and introduction of a range of eye drops targeting eye fatigue. We are honoured to collaborate with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in establishing the PolyU-Rohto Centre of Research Excellence for Eye Care. We share a common vision in promoting research into eye fatigue, recruiting talented individuals, and focusing on the study of eye-fatigue technology to aid in treatment and alleviate the impact of eye fatigue, allowing us to appreciate the world with our eyes to the fullest.” On this occasion, Rohto and PolyU also jointly announced the launch of the "Promoting Healthy Vision and Prioritizing Standardised Diagnosis of Eye Fatigue" advocacy paper." This advocacy, centred around the "Know-Diagnose-Explore-Engage" framework, aims to enhance public awareness of eye fatigue. Its objectives are to establish and promote globally unified diagnostic standards and develop a multi-level diagnosis system. It also seeks to explore new prevention methods and treatment approaches. Through collaboration with various sectors, the Centre is dedicated to creating a healthy environment for eye health, cultivating healthy eye habits, and mitigating the impact of visual fatigue on public eye health, thereby improving individuals' quality of life.  

RCSV Member Awarded the World Physiotherapy International Service Award in Research

RCSV congratulated Prof. Marco Pang, RCSV Member; Professor of Department of Rehabilitation Sciences; Director of University Research Facility in Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience on receiving the World Physiotherapy International Service Award in Research. Prof. Pang has made history as the first physiotherapist from Hong Kong to receive the World Physiotherapy International Service Award in Research, which was presented to him at the recent World Physiotherapy Congress in Dubai. The World Physiotherapy International Service Award in Research is to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of physiotherapy research internationally.