News

Former Olympic diving gold medalist Ms Wang Xin speaks at Distinguished Elite Athletes Seminar

The very first Distinguished Elite Athletes Seminar "Never Stop Dreaming - From Olympic Champion to Research Scholar" delivered by Ms Wang Xin, former Olympic diving gold medalist, current Sports Advisor of Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports) and PhD student at PolyU, organised by RISports and jointly co-organised by the Department of Biomedical Engineering, the PolyU - Samaranch Sports Development Centre and the PolyU - HKSI Research Centre was successfully held on 24 January. This seminar attracted nearly 100 PolyU staff and students, athletes and friends from the sports industry to share Ms Wang's journey from once an Olympics champion to now a research scholar.

BMEAA New Year Gathering

To welcome the new year 2024 and to create a networking opportunity for BME alumni, PolyU BME and Biomedical Engineering Alumni Association (BMEAA) organised a cocktail reception as the first 2024 gathering on 19 January 2024 on PolyU campus. Over 25 alumni enjoyed a wonderful Friday evening together with Prof. Ming Zhang, Department Head, and Dr Thomas Lee, Associate Head (Academic). Not only the alumni had the chance to meet some old friends, fresh graduates also had the opportunities to chat with the senior alumni about the industry development. The Department and BMEAA look forward to welcoming more alumni in the future gatherings!  

Ir Professor Yongping Zheng’s startup snatches Gold Award in "Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area High-value Patent Portfolio Layout Competition 2023"

Telefield Medical Imaging Limited (Telefield), founded by Ir Professor Yongping Zheng, Henry G. Leong Professor in Biomedical Engineering and Chair Professor of Biomedical Engineering, PolyU, was the only Hong Kong start-up snatched a Gold Award in the "Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area High-value Patent Portfolio Layout Competition 2023" (website in Simplified Chinese only). A total of 809 projects participated in this competition. The awarded projects were selected through 1.45 million online votes and a panel of professional judges. Telefield is a pioneer in developing 3D ultrasound imaging equipment and solutions, and has over 120 patents. The patent portfolio of Telefield is based on three PolyU patents: "Three-Dimensional (3D) Ultrasound Imaging System for Assessing Scoliosis," "Three-Dimensional Ultrasonic Detection Method," "Three-Dimensional Ultrasonic Imaging System." After commercialisation, Telefield has developed a diverse range of patent families, including platform technologies for 3D ultrasound imaging devices and systems, as well as over a hundred patents/patent applications spanning 21 patent families derived from the platform technologies. These 21 patent families primarily cover five areas, including (i) 3D ultrasound scanning and imaging techniques, (ii) applications of 3D ultrasound imaging in orthotics, (iii) the structure of 3D ultrasound imaging systems, (iv) micro 3D ultrasound imaging technologies, and (v) 3D ultrasound display, measurement, and analysis. These patent families provide comprehensive patent protection for various products of Telefield, such as the 3D spinal ultrasound device, portable spinal ultrasound device, and AI+ 3D ultrasound spinal imaging algorithms. Telefield’s Scolioscan® is the world’s first and only radiation-free 3D ultrasound scoliosis assessment system. It enables patients to undergo safe and unrestricted examinations of scoliosis and posture, eliminating the need for regular X-Ray scans that increase the risk of cancer. Additionally, it ensures timely treatment for patients.  The system has been deployed in hospitals and clinics in Europe, Australia, Mainland China, and Hong Kong. It has obtained the EU CE certificate, Australian ARTG certificate, and Mainland China NMPA certificate.

Professor Mo Yang and Dr Youhua Tan receive 2023/24 RGC CRF Collaborative Research Project Grant

Hong Kong's Research Grants Council (RGC) has recently announced the funding results of the Collaborative Research Fund (CRF) including Collaborative Research Project Grant (CRPG), Collaborative Research Equipment Grant (CREG) and Young Collaborative Research Grant (YCRG) in 2023/24 Exercise. PolyU has nine CRF Collaborative Research Project Grant (CRPG) projects and two CRF Young Collaborative Research Grant (YCRG) projects supported by RGC in this round of exercise. Among the nine PolyU CRF CRPG projects, two of them are from BME colleagues — Professor Mo Yang, Associate Head (Research), and Dr Youhua Tan, Associate Professor and Programme Leader (MSc). Details are as follows: Professor Mo Yang – Proposed Tile: High-resolution single-cell multi-omics: Joint profiling of multiple types of biomolecules in the same single cell Dr Youhua Tan – Proposed Title: The roles of mechanically heterogeneous local niches within primary tumors in metastatic organotropism Congratulations to Prof. Yang and Dr Tan!   About the Collaborative Research Fund (CRF) The Collaborative Research Fund (CRF) supports multi-investigator, multi-disciplinary projects in order to encourage more research groups to engage in creative and high-quality cross-disciplinary / cross-institutional projects.

Professor Mo Yang and Dr Youhua Tan awarded Faculty of Engineering Research Grant Achievement Award 2022

Professor Mo Yang, Associate Head (Research) of BME, and Dr Youhua Tan, Associate Professor and Programme Leader (MSc) of BME, were awarded the Faculty of Engineering Research Grant Achievement Award 2022. The Award is to recognize the outstanding performance of Faculty of Engineering academic staff members in securing external competitive research grants from 2018 to 2022. Prof. Yang’s research focuses on microfluidic device for biosensing and nanomaterials based bioprobes for imaging, sensing and therapy; Dr Tan’s research is to unveil the roles of mechanical cues in tumor metastasis and develop new mechanomedicine and mechanotargeting strategies. Congratulations to Prof. Yang and Dr Tan!

The 4th "Love．Innovate for Happy Ageing" engages younger generation to address the needs of the elderly

The 4th Biomedical Engineering Innovation Competition "Love．Innovate for Happy Ageing" (第四屆「愛．創耆樂」) ended successfully on 2 December on The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) campus. Over 366 students formed 67 teams to participate in the competition. Co-organised by PolyU Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council, "Love．Innovate for Happy Ageing" aims to nurture the younger generation to develop innovative technologies and solutions to meet the emerging needs of the society due to the aging population in Hong Kong. It upholds the spirit of interdisciplinary learning through STEM. Students used engineering design thinking to understand the advantages and disadvantages of existing assistive technologies, pay attention to the needs of end users, and suggest a more appropriate product design. The competition also involves the participation of the elders during the innovation process, in order to achieve harmony between the elderly and the youth. The competition had two categories — Challenge Competition and Design Competition. The Challenge Competition was an intergenerational robotic car competition. Each team consisted of two to eight primary or secondary school students, one teacher and one elder who is over 60 years old. Each team needed to use Micro:bit or LEGO to build three robotic cars to target the balloons on the cars of the opponent teams, while saving their own balloons at the same time. One of the cars must be controlled by the elder. The Design Competition requires participants to design and develop a gerontechnology product aiming to help the elders prevent or alleviate the symptoms of Dementia. Each team consisted of two to eight primary school, secondary school or higher education institution students and one to two teachers/coaches. Before building the final prototype to present their product ideas, they must first participate in three activities, including Event 1: Participating the online co-create platform, Action Hub to understand the living difficulties and mental health condition of the Hong Kong elders who live alone or in double aging families, Event 2: Design Thinking & Entrepreneurship Sharing Workshop to understand the design of different existing gerontechnology products and Event 3: Sharing sessions with the healthcare professionals to collect feedback from healthcare professionals and/or elders to optimize their product ideas. The teams introduced their products through their design inspirations, ideas and solutions to address the needs of the elders to prevent or alleviate the symptoms of Dementia. Judges included engineers, medical professionals and over 180 elderly users. The winning teams were selected based on these criteria — innovation, STEM application, usability and potential for improvement. Scholarships were also awarded to teams whose products were considered suitable for further research and development. Dr Hin-chung LAU, Senior Teaching Fellow of PolyU BME, organised the competition for the fourth year, expected the scholarship would encourage the students to continue to design products using STEM knowledge and skills.

PolyU and HKSI to establish joint research centre for advancing sports and technology development

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 28 November 2023 for the establishment of the “PolyU–HKSI Research Centre” (the Centre) to drive research in the field of elite sports, promote the development of sports science and technology, and help Hong Kong athletes reach their full potential and achieve greater success. This strategic partnership will foster a closer collaboration between the PolyU and HKSI. Together, the two institutions will share resources and advance research in sports science and technology development. The Centre will connect PolyU researchers with sports organisations to form an expert team comprising academics, technologists, sports professionals and technical analysts. This team will conduct cutting-edge interdisciplinary research and develop joint proposals for large-scale projects. Witnessed by Dr LAM Tai-fai, Council Chairman of PolyU; Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President as well as HKSI representatives including Mr Tony CHOI, Chief Executive Designate and Dr Raymond SO, Director of Elite Training Science & Technology, the MoU was signed by Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU and Dr Trisha LEAHY, Chief Executive of HKSI to officially establish the “PolyU–HKSI Research Centre”. Prof. Jin-Guang Teng said, “PolyU has been a staunch supporter of sports development. We launched the ‘Outstanding Sportsmen Recommendation Scheme’ in 1998, and have partnered with the Hong Kong Sports Institute on the ‘Elite Athletes Study Programme’ since 2017 to encourage elite athletes to study undergraduate programmes at PolyU. The establishment of the Research Centre signifies the commitment of both parties to making greater contributions to promote the development of sports.” Dr Trisha Leahy said, “The HKSI is committed to supporting athletes’ performance through the development and utilisation of novel sports technologies. We look forward to working closely with PolyU and seeing Hong Kong athletes scale new heights.” The Centre will be jointly operated by PolyU’s Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports) and the HKSI under the leadership of the inaugural Centre Coordinators, Ir Prof. Ming ZHANG, Head of PolyU BME and Director of RISports, and Dr Raymond So from the HKSI. It will serve as a platform for research innovation, knowledge exchange and technology transfer in the realm of elite sports. RISports was established in June 2022 to address emerging societal needs in sports research and technology. It brings together multi-disciplinary experts from the PolyU and around the world to deliver advanced scientific solutions for the field of sports.

The 29th Congregation

The 29th Congregation – Faculty of Engineering BME session was held successfully on 22 November! BME is proud to congratulate the graduates from the Master of Philosophy, Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering, Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering (Digital Health), Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering (Rehabilitation Engineering) and Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering degree programmes. BME wishes all graduates every success as they embark on their new chapter! Congratulations also go to Ir Choi Pong Chi, Alex, Senior Electronics Engineer, HKSAR Department of Health, who received the Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Department of Biomedical Engineering! Ir Choi obtained the BSc in Health Technology in 2003 and MPhil in Biomedical Engineering in 2009 from PolyU. This award recognizes his professional achievement and significant contribution to the Department, PolyU and the community.

Chairman of Asics China Trading Dr Tsuyoshi Nishiwaki speaks at "Distinguished Sports Research Seminar Series - Sports Footwear Science"

Organised by the Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports), and co-organised by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University - Samaranch Sports Development Centre, and PolyU BME, the "Distinguished Sports Research Seminar Series - Sports Footwear Science" delivered by Dr Tsuyoshi Nishiwaki, Chairman of Asics China Trading and Senior Managing Director of Asics Greater China was successfully held on 17 November, which attracted over 150 PolyU staff and students, professionals and friends from the sports industry. This seminar covered the designs of performance running shoes and track spiked shoes based on gait analysis, computer aided structural modelling, specific functions and materials required. Latest innovations like the world’s lightest midsole material and application of 3D printing were also shared by Dr Nishiwaki.

Jockey Club Smart Ageing Hub Project Achievement Sharing Day Summarises the fruitful results of six years to promote the applicationn of local gerontechnology

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) hosted the Jockey Club Smart Ageing Hub Project Achievement Sharing Day on 3 November 2023, aiming to share the fruitful achievements of the Project with stakeholders in the gerontechnology (gerontech) field. The event brought together cross-disciplinary experts to share their experience and best practices and to discuss the future development of Hong Kong’s gerontech ecosystem. The welcome ceremony was officiated by Mr Chris SUN, Secretary for Labour and Welfare of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Bryan WONG, Head of Charities (Positive Ageing & Elderly Care) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club and Dr Miranda LOU, PolyU Executive Vice President. The event was attended by more than 300 cross-disciplinary representatives from the gerontech field including stakeholders from the elderly care industry, academia, and the business sector. An HKSAR Chief Executive’s Community Project since December 2017, the Jockey Club Smart Ageing Hub received a donation of over HK$47 million from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and is currently managed by the PolyU Department of Biomedical Engineering. The Project aims to tackle issues related to Hong Kong’s ageing population through the establishment of a cross-disciplinary network, in order to promote not only innovative gerontech solutions for elderly care, but also to enhance quality of life for the elderly. In her welcome remarks, Dr Lou stated, “PolyU is not an academic silo, but rather an integral part of the Hong Kong community. Whether it is scientific research or knowledge transfer, we must ensure that we contribute to the well-being of Hong Kong citizens. As an international city with an ageing population, we believe that utilising PolyU’s knowledge and technology to address the societal needs of the elderly is the most appropriate strategy for us. The Jockey Club Smart Ageing Hub aims to advance gerontech in order to foster a smart and age-friendly community. A Day Experience Centre is located on the PolyU campus to provide information on gerontech for elderly people and caregivers, and six elderly care service and rehabilitation service units have been invited to join as strategic partners in the development of Real-life Hostels. These Hostels are equipped with gerontech to enhance the quality of life for service users, who include the elderly and aged individuals with disabilities. This initiative aims to promote the application of technology in the industry, ultimately optimising the continuum of care.” In his welcome remarks, Mr Wong stated that The Hong Kong Jockey Club is committed to supporting older people to age with dignity and respect, and working with different partners to improve the elderly’s quality of life. “The Jockey Club Smart Ageing Hub Project has made remarkable achievements. We are very grateful for the efforts of the PolyU team and all the organisations and volunteers involved in the project. As gerontech becomes popular, the next step is to enhance the application of these tools. In the next three years, the Club will continue to cooperate with PolyU to improve the services of residential care homes for the elderly through technology,” Mr Wong said. Enhancing quality of service for the elderly and disabled individuals with gerontech solutions To improve the continuum of care services for the elderly and individuals with disabilities, the Project aims to reinforce the application of gerontech tools based on the specific needs of each elderly person and disabled service units, and to facilitate on-site visits at the Real-life Hostels by elderly care industry representatives with a view to encouraging the industry to effectively leverage technology to improve service quality. Furthermore, innovative PolyU technology solutions have been implemented in multiple Real-life Hostels. These solutions include the eNightLog bed-leaving monitoring system for enhancing overnight residential services, the smart toilet sensing system to ensure the safety of the elderly during toileting, and a detachable laser indicator to assist older adults in gait training activities. These gerontech solutions have not only benefited 3,500 elderly and disabled individuals, but also alleviated the burden and pressure on frontline healthcare workers. At the same time, through the practical experience of applying gerontech in six Real-life Hostels, the industry has gained valuable reference and insights on the application of gerontech solutions. Promoting gerontech applications in the community The Project team has established a Day Experience Centre on the PolyU campus, showcasing over 2,000 gerontech tools collected from around the world and integrated them into a categorised resource library. They have also organised over 1,200 activities for public education on gerontech, including guided tours, workshops and exhibitions. To further enhance public awareness of gerontech in Hong Kong, the Project team regularly organises the “Health Care Day” to provide health assessments, encouraging the public to utilise technology for their own personal health management. They have also collaborated with 12 District Health Centres (DHC) and DHC Expresses to establish “Gerontech Corners” and co-organised 35 thematic exhibitions with over 500 gerontech and assistive devices on show. In addition, community outreach activities have been conducted in partnership with various organisations promoting the use of technology in preventing chronic diseases. The Project has invited around 60 elderly care units to participate in trial programme of the PolyU research achievement the Smart Companion Robot. In total, these various activities have benefited over 40,000 individuals in Hong Kong, contributing to the widespread application of gerontech. The Project team has made remarkable contributions to the promotion and development of gerontech, earning widespread societal recognition and garnering support from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. In the next three years, the Project team will continue to provide gerontech support to the community and work hand in hand with 11 self-financing residential care homes for the elderly operated by small-to-medium NGOs. This collaboration aims to create more intelligent residential care homes, furthering the advancement of the elderly care industry and the community in embracing gerontech in response to the challenges presented by an ageing population.