At PolyU, science, technology and innovation converge to shape tomorrow’s healthcare landscape. With a strong foundation in healthcare education and medical innovation, PolyU is at the forefront of addressing some of the most pressing health challenges. By combining expertise in medicine, engineering, and artificial intelligence (AI), the University is driving groundbreaking interdisciplinary research that delivers solutions to improve lives, exemplified by the transformative work of three PolyU researchers, highlighted below.

Breakthrough in mental health diagnosis and treatment

PolyU’s medicine-engineering-AI synergy is evident in the pioneering mental health research led by Professor Zhang Weixiong, Chair Professor of Systems Biology and Artificial Intelligence of the Department of Health Technology and Informatics and Global STEM Scholar.

“Traditional diagnosis relies on patients’ self-reporting, which carries a high degree of subjectivity,” Professor Zhang explained. His research team harnesses AI to analyse genomic variations and brain imaging data, identifying objective biomarkers associated with mental illnesses and bringing precision to mental health diagnosis.

This AI-driven approach enables accurate diagnosis and personalised therapy strategies that transcend conventional methods, including non-invasive transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy. Professor Zhang’s work exemplifies how PolyU’s interdisciplinary excellence is creating new hope for the over one million Hong Kong residents affected by mental health conditions.

AI-powered drug research fighting antibiotic resistance

Professor Ma Cong, Associate Professor of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, demonstrates medicine-engineering-AI synergy through his research combating antibiotic resistance, one of the top ten global health threats projected to claim 39 million lives between 2025 and 2050.

“Endoscopy is expensive, and culturing bacteria takes days to a week. Through AI research on key genes, we’ve developed rapid detection methods that deliver results within tens of minutes, significantly shortening diagnosis time and reducing costs,” Professor Ma explained.

Focusing on H. pylori, a bacterium that causes stomach ulcers and cancer, Professor Ma’s research team has developed an AI-assisted drug discovery platform that employs deep learning to rapidly analyse vast volumes of biological, chemical, and clinical data, supporting the prediction of new antibiotic candidates with optimal bioactivity and safety.

By pairing the ingestible capsule device developed by Professor Barry Marshall, a Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine in 2005 and a Distinguished Honorary Professor at PolyU, with AI-driven detection tools developed at PolyU, this approach enables prompt diagnosis and precision therapeutics for H. pylori infections, demonstrating the practical applications of this interdisciplinary research.

Connecting body weight to brain health

The recent research led by Professor Qiu Anqi, Professor of the Department of Health Technology and Informatics and Global STEM Scholar, further demonstrates the convergence of medicine, engineering and AI as she uncovers the surprising connection between obesity and brain ageing.

Drawing on multifaceted obesity measurements from the UK Biobank, her study found that different obesity trends have varying impacts on the brain. Specifically, groups with sustained obesity experienced more significant damage to brain structure and cognitive function, suggesting that long-term weight issues accelerate brain ageing. “As the ageing population grows, there has been a notable rise in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and others, that currently lack a cure. This research proposes that maintaining long-term weight control can contribute to improved brain health,” Professor Qiu stated.

Through these three researchers and many others, PolyU continues to bridge medicine and engineering with AI capabilities, developing practical solutions to pressing healthcare challenges that improve lives across Hong Kong and beyond. Their work represents the University’s ongoing commitment to redefining future healthcare through interdisciplinary innovation and excellence.