News

27th Graduation Ceremony

The 27th Congregation of Biomedical Engineering was successfully held on 29 November 2021 at PolyU Jockey Club Auditorium (JCA) and virtually via live broadcasting, with graduates and their families attended to share the happiness. The Department would like to congratulate all graduates again and wishes them a bright future ahead.    

COVID-19 testing device exhibited in the Central Market (Tangible Stories/Form follows Innovation) from 23 Oct 2021 to 9 Jan 2022

Dr. LEE Ming Hung Thomas (BME) and Prof. YIP Shea Ping (HTI) started developing gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for simple, fast, sensitive, specific, and inexpensive nucleic acid testing in 2014. The first-generation assay platform utilized disposable hand warmer content for LAMP reaction temperature control. In 2017, there were 2 major advancements, including new gold nanoparticle-based sensing method as well as simple and low-cost prototype device for real-time monitoring (device built by an undergraduate student). Since then, they collaborated with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department's Veterinary Laboratory Division for avian influenza virus detection (device built by the Industrial Centre at PolyU). Starting in 2020 with the financial support by the Health and Medical Research Fund, the project team (with new members of Dr. SIU Kit Hang Gilman and Dr. HUANG Chien Ling at PolyU, Dr. FUNG Sau Chun Kitty at United Christian Hospital, Dr. LAM Yiu Wing Jimmy at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, and Dr. JONG Kwok Kwan at Department of Health) has been using the assay platform for COVID-19 testing. The goal is to achieve rapid COVID-19 screening in decentralized settings such as airports, quarantine centers/hotels, and private clinics. Details: https://bit.ly/31ZVfQF Interview: https://youtu.be/p-FRwBo9fHU News on Wenweipo.com: https://bit.ly/3nkafBl

Congratulations To Prof. Mo YANG Awarded General Research Fund (GRF) 2021

The Research Grant Council (RGC) has recently announced the results of the 2021 funding exercise of the General Research Fund (GRF). Prof. Mo YANG has demonstrated high-quality research and has obtained a research grant. Prof. Yang has achieved the impressive feat of winning a GRF for the fourth time in the past five years.  This is a significant and well-deserved outcome of Prof. Yang's hard work and dedication to research. The four GRF grants information are as follows: Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC) General Research Fund (GRF), “Multiplexed single exosome analysis based on hybridization chain reaction (HCR) enhanced multi-color fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) nanoprobes in a droplet optofluidic platform”, (PolyU 15217621), HK$, 815,601, 2022-2024 Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC) General Research Fund (GRF), “Hybrid ZnIn2S4/GQD nanointerface based artificial photoreceptors for restoring human-like colour sensitivity of degenerative retina”, (PolyU 152146/19E), HK$, 869,898, 2020-2022 Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC) General Research Fund (GRF), “A hybrid nanosystem for photo-treatment of Alzheimer’s disease in a blood-brain barrier on-a-chip”, (PolyU 152108/18E), HK$, 632,421, 2019-2021 Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC) General Research Fund (GRF), “A hybrid molybdenum disulfide (MoS2)/graphene quantum dot (GQD) nanosystem for imaging-guided combinatorial phototherapy targeting cancer stem cells”, (PolyU 15216917), HK$, 443,950, 2018-2020  Congratulations to Prof. Yang! 

HKIE Scholarship 2019/20

Congratulations to Year 4 student TONG Cheuk Ying for receiving the HKIE Scholarship 2019/20! Let's enjoy the video illustrating her involvement in the HKIE activities in the past years: Video credit: TONG Cheuk Ying; original links(https://youtu.be/ipNA9MytvDA)  

PolyU develops groundbreaking targeted osteoarthritis pain reliever

Researchers at PolyU introduced their development of an imaging-guided nanoparticle photothermal treatment for osteoarthritis pain that uses the concept of targeted cancer therapy in a press conference held yesterday (14 September). The targeted osteoarthritis pain theranostics, which offer both diagnostics and therapeutics, are made of gold nanorods which are fused with antibodies directed against the nerve growth factor (NGF), the pain-triggering protein.   Professor Yang Mo, Associate Head (Research) of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, said it is the first time the concept of targeted photothermal therapy for osteoarthritis pain via nanotechnology is being introduced. He said testing on mice suggests the targeted photothermal treatment achieves satisfactory pain relief and improvement of motor function. It holds good promise for clinical translation to achieve long-lasting pain relief for days.   Dr Wen Chunyi, Associate Professor of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, said the dual-track pain treatments with the antibody-fused nanorods and laser stimulation reduced the amount of NGF in joint tissues more efficiently and did not cause damage to the surrounding soft tissues or bone.    The research findings have been published in the prestigious journal ACS Nano by the American Chemical Society and were reported by Nature Reviews Rheumatology.  Press release: English - https://polyu.me/3hA6ggG; Chinese - https://polyu.me/3CckkVr   Online coverage: Sing Tao Daily - https://polyu.me/3AdzqJM Headline Daily - https://polyu.me/2Xg21iT Hong Kong Economic Times - https://polyu.me/399PEHM Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/397R8T0 Hong Kong Economic Journal - https://polyu.me/39mttOZ Sky Post - https://polyu.me/2YM8XVF The Standard - https://polyu.me/3ljM8QS HK01 - https://polyu.me/3Aov6Hq Urban Life Health - https://polyu.me/3C9QJMk Bastille Post - https://polyu.me/3nvR6wH Line Today - https://today.line.me/hk/article/akN2KG MSN HK - https://polyu.me/2YMcOC7 PR Newsire - https://polyu.me/3ls6p6K

Dr Xin ZHAO awarded China’s Excellent Young Scientists Fund

Dr Xin ZHAO, Associate Professor of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, PolyU, has been awarded funding from the highly competitive China’s Excellent Young Scientists Fund 2021 (國家優秀青年科學基金) with the project “Engineering biomimetic microenvironment for bone repair”. She will receive HKD1.92 million to support her research project in Hong Kong over a three-year period. Under the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Fund was extended to young scientists in Hong Kong and Macau at eight designated universities since 2019. A total of 25 young scholars from Hong Kong and Macau are awarded funding this year. Congratulations to Dr Zhao! 今年，香港理工大學(理大)有一個項目獲選「優秀青年科學家基金項目」。該項目名為「骨修復材料仿生微環境構建」，由理大生物醫學工程學系副教授趙昕博士負責。趙博士從臨床病理出發，研究細胞外微環境中各類因素對細胞行為及功能影響，通過材料設計、修飾及加工，構建具有不同功能的新型組織工程支架，以期提高相關疾病臨床診療效果。 Online coverage: Ta Kung Pao -https://polyu.me/3j7UuLD  

Ir Prof. Yongping Zheng invents Liverscan : a portable non-invasive system for liver fibrosis assessment

Alcohol abuse and hepatic tissue scarring due to long-term inflammation may cause liver fibrosis. In severe cases, liver fibrosis may develop into serious problems like liver cirrhosis, dysfunction and cancer. In recent years, transient elastography (TE) diagnostic technology has emerged as a non-invasive method to assess liver fibrosis by measuring the stiffness of the liver, but it has the disadvantages of high cost and insufficient accuracy. In view of this, Ir Professor Zheng Yong-ping, Department of Biomedical Engineering of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has led a research team to develop Liverscan, a palm-sized wireless device that combines TE with a real-time ultrasound image guided system, substantially bringing down the cost and greatly enhancing the accuracy of measurement through the real-time imaging. Its lightweight and portable design allows medical staff to perform liver fibrosis detection for patients anytime, anywhere.

PolyU develops AI-based screening system for Knee Osteoarthritis

Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA) is a chronic degenerative disease with no cure. Early detection is critical for early intervention to prevent disease progression and to reduce the need for salvage joint replacement surgery.   A team led by Dr Chunyi Wen, Associate Professor of PolyU’s Department of Biomedical Engineering, has developed an artificial intelligence-based KOA screening system that can predict the risk of KOA progression at different time points in the future with an accuracy of 80%. The system won “Global Innovation Awards” at the TechConnect Business Virtual Summit and Showcase 2020.   The system was trained by US Dataset with data of over 10,000 KOA patients. Mr Justin Chan, MPhil student in Biomedical Engineering at PolyU, said the system can predict the risk of KOA with basic information of the patient, such as age and daily habit, plus a medical-related questionnaire of about 20 questions responded by the patient’s family doctor.   Dr Wen noted that under the current hospital flow, new KOA patients have to wait for years for treatment in public hospitals. Their system can provide early diagnosis and therefore reduce the consultation time by up to 90%. The outcome would also aid clinical practitioners to perform efficient triage and construct personalised treatment plans.   Mr Toby Li, also MPhil student in Biomedical Engineering at PolyU, pointed out that the AI system can deepen the collaboration between community medical and clinical systems, as well as improve the management of chronic diseases, and hence an expected reduction of health costs of HK$1.4 billion each year.   The team is currently applying to the Hospital Authority for the use of data of 100,000 KOA patients in Hong Kong, with an aim of enhancing the system’s accuracy to 90%. It is also applying for subsidies from the government to recruit 2,000 people for clinical tests within five years.   Moreover, a mobile application is being developed to measure and record relevant physiological data of the patients regularly, so as to facilitate continuous tracking and self-management of the disease. (Oriental Daily News A13, Hong Kong Economic Times A19, Ta Kung Pao A09)   Online coverage: Oriental Daily News - https://polyu.me/3fJBssQ Hong Kong Economic Times - https://polyu.me/3Atd1rD Sky Post - https://polyu.me/3xrEsjy HK01 - https://polyu.me/3fMyfIS Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/3AmlTPE U Lifestyle - https://polyu.me/2U2T1MN

Faculty Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Knowledge Transfer 2020/21

We are pleased to announce that Professor Yongping Zheng's project " A Novel Radiation-free Assessment for Scoliosis Using 3D Ultrasound Imaging" has won the Outstanding awards from the Faculty Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Knowledge Transfer 2020/21.  Prof. Zheng has invented a way to harness 3D ultrasound imaging technology to monitor the spinal condition scoliosis in children. The innovative solution makes the assessment of scoliosis both easier and safer. Prof. Zheng has been working on the development of a 3D ultrasound solution for scoliosis diagnosis since 2006. His research has demonstrated that 3D ultrasound technology can be used for both spinal imaging and spinal deformity measurement, with the novel volume projection method able to generate a radiography-like image of the spine. The Outstanding Awards winners will receive a cash prize of HK$10,000 for individual awards. Our hearty congratulations to Prof. Zheng for his achievements!

Hypertension Meets Osteoarthritis - Revisiting the Vascular Aetiology Hypothesis

Dr. Chunyi WEN and his team, is one of the leading research groups worldwide, focusing on vascular origin of aging and age-related diseases. Dr. Wen observed a clinical association between hypertension and osteoarthritis (Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 2013). This finding led a way in Dr. Wen’s research to searched for the underlying molecular link between these two prevalent debilitating age-related diseases (Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 2015). Under the auspices of RGC, Dr. Wen and his team finally identified endothelin-1 (ET-1), the most potent vasoconstrictor in hypertension, contributing to articular chondrocyte senescence and osteoarthritis pathology (Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 2020). It substantiates the vascular aetiology hypothesis of osteoarthritis and opens up a new avenue for discovery of novel mechanism-based disease-modifying therapies against osteoarthritis.Therefore, Dr. Wen has been invited to review current knowledge and to discuss future development along this direction on Nature Review Rheumatology in July, 2021.