University Review

Impact on health

New brittle bone disease drug

A research team led by Professor Zhang Ge and Professor Lyu Aiping (School of Chinese Medicine) has successfully developed a new class of molecule-nucleic acid aptamers, i.e. a single-stranded piece of DNA, for the treatment of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), which is also known as brittle bone disease. The novel aptamer, which was developed with the use of artificial intelligence technology, is the first drug in Hong Kong to be granted orphan drug designation by the US Food and Drug Administration. The designation not only brings a series of benefits to the subsequent research and development of the drug, but also presents an opportunity for the HKBU team to develop a more effective treatment strategy for OI in order to benefit patients and society.

Manipulating molecular chirality to reduce drug side effects

Dr Jeffery Huang (Department of Physics) and his research team have developed a novel technique that can produce pure therapeutic drugs without the associated side effects. The approach, which uses a nanostructure fabrication device, can manipulate the chirality of drug molecules by controlling the direction a substrate is rotated within the device, thus eliminating the possible side effects that can arise when people take drugs containing molecules with the incorrect chirality. The research findings pave the way towards the mass production of purer, cheaper and safer drugs that can be made in a scalable and more environmentally-friendly way.

Exploring how Pu-erh reduces cholesterol and lipid levels

A study by Professor Jia Wei (School of Chinese Medicine) and his team has validated the effectiveness of Pu-erh tea in lowering cholesterol and lipid levels. The team discovered that the most abundant pigment in Pu-erh tea, theabrownin, can improve people's blood lipid profile and restore the homeostasis of lipid metabolism through gut microbiota modulation. The research findings linked Pu-erh tea to gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism for the first time, and revealed the mechanistic role of theabrownin as the main active component of Pu-erh tea. In particular, it showed that it can reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels, thus providing a novel strategy for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipidaemia.

Impact on nature

New fireworm species discovered in Hong Kong waters

Professor Qiu Jianwen (Department of Biology) and his research team discovered a new fireworm species in Hong Kong waters and named it Chloeia bimaculata. The new species, which was collected from the sandy bottom of a coral community, is fusiform in shape and measures between 28 mm and 39 mm long and 7 mm and 14 mm wide. It also typically has around 30 segments. Chloeia bimaculata is the fourth named species to be added to the fireworm genus Chloeia during the last century. The researchers also identified Chloeia parva as the fireworm species that caused the outbreaks in Hong Kong in recent years. The discovery has enhanced our understanding of marine biodiversity in Hong Kong.

Unravelling the mystery of invasive apple snails

Following detailed sequencing and analysis of the genomes of four apple snail species from the Ampullariidae family, Professor Qiu Jianwen (Department of Biology) and his team discovered that apple snails have evolved to achieve broad environmental adaptability.

Slow-moving tropical cyclones bring greater flood risks

A research study led by Dr Li Jianfeng (Department of Geography) has revealed that slower tropical cyclone movement tends to elevate rainfall volume, leading to greater flood risks on a regional scale. Using statistical analysis, the research team detected a negative correlation between tropical cyclones’ moving speeds and local rainfall volume, with evidence showing that slow-moving tropical cyclones brought about 20% more rainfall on average when compared with fast-moving ones. The team also found that the occurrence of slow-moving tropical cyclones became more frequent after 1990, indicating an increase in flood risks in the Pearl River Delta region in recent years. The discovery offers invaluable insights that will enable the development of better flood management and adaptation strategies in the coastal region of China.

Using art for mental wellness

To help alleviate the social problem of declining mental health, Dr Joshua Nan (Department of Social Work) transferred his expertise in art therapy to frontline mental health social workers through a two- level intensive training project. Through this project, Dr Nan's Use of Art training model has significantly enhanced the professional self-efficacy and professional quality of life of the participating trainees. The collaborating organisations, including the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong, confirmed that the incorporation of art therapy into their regular services has helped build rapport, promote better emotional regulation and encourage self-discovery in both social workers and their clients.

Unveiling COVID-19 transmission patterns

A research team led by Professor Liu Jiming (Department of Computer Science) has developed a novel computational model that explicitly characterises and quantifies the underlying transmission patterns among different populations throughout the various phases of the coronavirus pandemic. Based on the model, the team carried out a prospective analysis of different work resumption plans, revealing the respective economic implications and the levels of disease transmission risk associated with each plan. The computational model provides a science-based analytical solution which enables policymakers to design plans that can achieve both the containment of the disease and the gradual reopening of affected cities in a safe manner.