University Review

A research led by HKBU and the Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine discovered that an aptamer developed by HKBU can be used to treat X-linked hypophosphatemia, a rare bone disease. The aptamer, originally developed to treat osteogenesis imperfecta, has been granted Orphan Drug Designation and Pediatric Rare Disease Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

HKBU's Centre for Chinese Herbal Medicine Drug Development (CDD) achieved a significant milestone in developing a novel Chinese herbal formulation, CDD-2103, for ulcerative colitis remission maintenance. Following a submission of Investigational New Drug application for CDD-2103 to the National Medical Products Administration in mid-June 2024, CDD has received in late August its authorisation for clinical trial.

In February 2025, HKBU established the "Frontier Translational Medical Research Institute", which is set to serve as a hub for cutting-edge research and development in medical science and healthcare.  The Institute is co-led by 2020 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine Sir Michael Houghton, Professor Johnson Lau and Professor Manson Fok as founding members, and Dr Robert J Spiegel as a member.

The Automated Multiplex Diagnostics System developed by Professor Terence Lau, Interim Chief Innovation Officer at HKBU, was recommended in the 2024 Compendium of Innovative Health Technologies for Low-resource Settings published by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an innovative technology with the potential to contribute positively to health systems in low- and middle-income countries.

A research team led by Professor Cai Zongwei (Department of Chemistry) and Professor Yang Zhu (Department of Biology) discovered that phosphocholine, an important component in the body's metabolism, could counteract the adverse effects of PM2.5 toxicity on lung cells. This discovery highlighted the therapeutic potential of phosphocholine in treating lung diseases associated with PM2.5.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) often spreads to the liver and lungs. Professor Anna Kwan Hiu-yee (School of Chinese Medicine) and her collaborators conducted a study and identified a specific protein, FGF19, which may worsen the disease. By targeting the FGF19 protein, this innovative approach could potentially reduce liver metastasis and lead to more effective therapies for CRC patients.

Professor Zhao Zhongying and Dr Jeffrey Xie Dongying (Department of Biology) made a remarkable discovery about the complex interactions between hosts and pathogens. The findings provided clear evidence that gene duplication and the subsequent functional changes in response to environmental challenges, such as pathogen exposure, can create reproductive barriers between closely related species.

An HKBU research team led by Professor Zhao Jun (Department of Biology) developed a novel catalytic membrane that can substantially boost the efficiency of cleaning wastewater using a modified advanced oxidation process. The invention contributes to the effort of tackling environmental pollution problems by offering a safer, more cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solution for wastewater treatment.

In August 2024, Professor Qiu Jianwen (Department of Biology) ventured to the Western Pacific to study seamounts, or underwater mountains, on the much-celebrated Jiaolong submersible that can dive to a depth of over 7,000 metres. His research highlighted the importance of establishing regulations, designating protected areas, and understanding the ecological dynamics of deep-sea life to safeguard the ocean from exploitation or any activities that might harm the marine environment. In December, Professor Qiu and his team discovered two new species of windowpane shell at Mai Po, Hong Kong and in the South China Sea, bringing the total number of species in this genus from five to seven worldwide.

Professor Sammy Li Kin-sum (Department of History) launched an e-learning platform that fused Chinese art history with innovative 3D technology. Led by Professor Li and faculty members across disciplines, the project took over a year to develop, and combined augmented reality and gamified design to transform five classic ancient paintings into 3D models that can be freely rotated, zoomed, and explored.

The "2024 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Pay and Benefits Survey" conducted by HKBU and the Hong Kong People Management Association found that over the past two years, the average salary increases for employees in Hong Kong have been higher than those in Guangdong and Macau. According to Professor Huang Xu (School of Business), the findings highlighted Hong Kong's status as a hub for international talent, with more companies willing to attract talent with high salaries despite the challenges posed by an economic slowdown.

Professor Cherian George (Department of Journalism) authored the Covering Hate Speech: A Guide for Journalists, commissioned by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This publication was launched duringUNESCO’s World Press Freedom Day celebrations on 6 May 2025 in Brussels, Belgium. This commission and publication demonstrated how HKBU scholars drive global impact beyond academia.

In her book Celebrity Activism and Philanthropy in Asia: Toward a Cosmopolitical Imaginary, Professor Dorothy Lau (Academy of Film) explored the rising influence of Asian celebrities in activism and philanthropy, addressing their unique civic roles. It introduced the concept of "multiversal consciousness"  to navigate the complexities of their contributions amid global challenges.

In February 2025, HKBU hosted the "Nobel Laureate Symposium - Hepatitis C Virus and Drug Development", featuring a lecture by Sir Michael Houghton, the 2020 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine. Sir Michael spoke on "Discovery of Hepatitis C Virus: The Nobel Prize in Medicine 2020", recounting his remarkable journey in scientific discovery and sharing valuable insights into drug development.

The Vincent V.C. Woo Chinese Medicine Clinical Research Institute of the School of Chinese Medicine hosted the "Advancing Clinical Pathways and Practice Guidelines for Evidence-based Chinese Medicine & Integrative Medicine Symposium" in March 2025. The event brought together top experts from around the world in Chinese, integrative, and Western medicine to discuss the latest research and applications inevidence-based medicine.

The HKBU-NVIDIA Joint Symposium 2025 series held in February and March featured presentations on technological advancements in the creative industry, as well as how AI has transformed the healthcare sector through promising advancements in diagnosis, treatment and public health management.

The Inaugural International Interdisciplinary Research Summit in February 2025 attracted over 290 registrations from scholars, researchers, and innovators worldwide, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration to revolutionise treatment development and address pressing global challenges in disease management.

Co-organised by HKBU, the International Federation of Translators and its Asian Regional Centre, and the Hong Kong Translation Society, the three-day 11th Asia-Pacific Translation and Interpreting Forum was held in May 2025. The Forum brought together around 400 representatives from the translation, interpreting, language technology, and academic research sectors to discuss how AI and technology connect and integrate with language, translation and intercultural communication.

The Institute for Innovation, Translation and Policy Research and the Wu Jieh Yee Institute of Translational Chinese Medicine Research organised the Drug Development – Roadmap to U.S. FDA Clinical Trial symposium in January 2025, with the support of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, to showcase the advancements in pharmaceutical development at HKBU, and to foster knowledge transfer and partnerships among the academia, government, industry, and the investment community. At the symposium, a tri-partite research collaboration was announced between HKBU, the Faculty of Medicine at Macau University of Science and Technology, and Avalon Biomedical Management Limited on a joint research project titled "The Development of a Highly Absorbed Oral Berberine for Metabolic Diseases".