Sustainability Report 2019/20 - The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Sustainability Report 2019/20 / Fighting the Pandemic Together / Exerting Research Expertise to Combat COVID-19

Fighting the Pandemic Together

Exerting Research Expertise to Combat COVID-19

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, PolyU has been harnessing innovation and expertise to fight the virus through scientific research. Researchers from PolyU and other universities have been working together at an unprecedented pace to develop innovative solutions to combat the pandemic.

Automated multiplex diagnostic system

An automated multiplex diagnostic system was developed for testing infectious respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.

Automated multiplex diagnostic system

To address the difficulty of accurate COVID-19 diagnosis, Prof. Terence Lau Lok-ting (Director of Innovation and Technology Development, Adjunct Professor of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology) and his research teams developed the world’s most comprehensive automated multiplex diagnostic system for testing infectious respiratory diseases with the support of Prof. Yuen Kwok-yung, Chair Professor of Infectious Diseases at the University of Hong Kong.

This diagnostic system comprises a fully automated machine and a multiplex full-screening panel for point-of-care genetic testing (POCT) of respiratory infectious diseases, including COVID-19. This diagnostic system can identify 30 to 40 pathogens, including seasonal influenza viruses and COVID-19, within approximately one hour in one single test. Based on patent-pending microfluidic and biochemical technologies, the system performs ultra-sensitive detection (down to 5 gene copies) and simultaneous differentiation of various pathogens with extremely high specificity. The user interface is designed to be user-friendly, with no manual handling required throughout the testing process.

The automated multiplex diagnostic system

AI-assisted system for COVID-19 pneumonia diagnosis and prognosis prediction

AI-assisted diagnostic system

An AI-assisted system can accurately determine the severity level of a patient within a short period.

AI-assisted diagnostic system

To fasten the diagnosis process and identify high-risk patients more accurately for early intervention, PolyU launched an AI-assisted diagnostic system jointly with the Macau University of Science and Technology in conjunction with other Chinese institutions.

Applying computed tomography (CT) chest imaging technology, the AI-assisted system can determine the severity level of a patient within 20 seconds, with an accuracy rate up to 90% or above. To further understand the situation of patients, the AI-assisted system can generate texture analysis, quantitative measurements and diagnosis classification by deep learning, semantic segmentation and multiple neural network architectures. In addition, a comprehensive rating mechanism was also developed to project the emergence of pneumonia severe lesions accurately for follow-up treatment. The AI-assisted system assists radiologists and physicians in performing a quicker diagnosis and supports more effective allocation of resources. This AI-assisted system is now in use at many hospitals in different countries.

AI-assisted system for COVID-19 pneumonia diagnosis and prognosis prediction

Anti-pandemic related research

A series of research studies showed the correlation of COVID-19 cases with population factors.

Anti-pandemic related research

At PolyU, Dr. He Dai-hai and Dr. Lou Yi-jun from the Department of Applied Mathematics and Dr. Yang Lin from the School of Nursing jointly completed a series of research studies focusing on transmission patterns of COVID-19 with support from their students and collaborators from Mainland China.

Together, the three of them were able to project the transmission rate, case fatality rate and gender disparity of COVID-19 at the early stage of the pandemic. With only limited testing capacity for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the team estimated the underreported COVID-19 cases during early January in Wuhan by different statistical models. With population flow data, they further estimated the migration of cases from Wuhan to other major Mainland cities. This study identified a significant correlation between the daily number of domestic passengers travelling by train and the number of infected cases. Based on their research results, more evidence is available for COVID-19 related risk assessment to support decision-making on mitigation strategies.

Conducting anti-pandemic-related research using different statistical models

PolyU designs a new 3D-printed face shield to fulfil the imminent needs of medical personnel

3D-printed face shields for medical use and the public

Production lines were developed to manufacture face shields for medical staff and the general public.

3D-printed face shields for medical use and the public

Addressing the urgent demand for protective equipment for Hong Kong's frontline medical professionals, PolyU partnered with the Hospital Authority and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in early February to produce eye and face shields. Under the leadership of Prof. H. C. Man, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Director of the University Research Facility in 3D Printing, and his team, final production was completed in 10 days. With support from local manufacturers, production lines began to manufacture up to 30,000 face shields per day in March 2020. These face shields helped meet the imminent needs of Hong Kong's frontline medical personnel.

Meanwhile, to meet high public demand for face shields during the first wave of COVID-19, Prof. Man and his team also designed two reusable face shields for general use. Made of lightweight, low-cost, environmentally-friendly Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) plastic, the face shields were produced with the vacuum forming technique. These new face shields are anti-fogging, more comfortable to wear and reusable after cleaning. They received positive feedback from the Hong Kong Christian Service care-givers and frontline staff during trial use.

PolyU designs a new 3D-printed face shield to fulfil the imminent needs of medical personnel