News & Stories

Prof. Yu Huang was honoured to deliver the Paul M. Vanhoutte Memorial Lecture at the 9th Scientific Meeting of the Asian Society for Vascular Biology (ASVB), held in Nanjing, China, on 30 November 2024.

We are proud to announce that three postdoctoral fellows from Prof. Yu Huang’s laboratory were recognised for their outstanding research contributions at the 10th Asian Preventive Cardiology & Cardiac Rehabilitation Conference, held in conjunction with the 27th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Institute of Cardiovascular Science and Medicine in Hong Kong on 23–24 November 2024.

Professor Michael Yang Mengsu, Senior Vice-President (Innovation & Enterprise) and Yeung Kin Man Chair Professor of Biomedical Sciences at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK), has been elected Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) in recognition of his significant contributions to innovation, societal welfare, and economic development.

We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 BMS Postgraduate Research Output Award and the BMS Outstanding PhD Thesis Award, presented on 4 November 2024. These awards celebrate the hard work and contributions of our postgraduate researchers.

Mr Wenyi Jin and Mr Weiheng Guo, PhD students under the supervision of Prof. Liang Zhang, participated in the 23rd Human Proteome Organization (HUPO) World Congress, held in Dresden, Germany. We are delighted to announce that Wenyi received the prestigious Travel Award, marking the sole award of this category to Hong Kong this year. Further enhancing their achievement, both Wenyi and Weiheng were honored with the Best 10 Posters Awards at the congress by the Asia Oceania Human Proteome Organization (AOHUPO), underscoring their impactful research contributions.

Congratulations to Prof. Katie Chan, who has recently been awarded a 2024–2025 Teaching Development Grant (TDG) from City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK). Her project, supported by this grant, will engage students in using AI chatbots to aid in their pre-lecture study of fundamental statistical concepts. AI technology will also be utilised to develop a pool of practice questions, allowing students to reinforce their learning through interactive and personalised exercises.

We are pleased to announce that Miss Kwong Kwan CHING, our BSc in Biomedical Sciences graduate in 2024, was awarded a Book Prize for Outstanding Academic Performance 2023–2024 at the Scientific Meeting hosted by the Hong Kong Association of Medical Laboratories (HKAML). The presentation ceremony took place on 27 September 2024. Congratulations to Ching on her remarkable achievement!

The “Young Scientists Fund”, which has accepted applications from Hong Kong scholars since 2022, nurtures young scholars’ ability to undertake innovative projects independently. Twenty-one CityUHK scholars have been awarded the “Young Scientists Fund” to date.

Given the extremely limited regeneration potential of the heart, one of the most effective strategies to reduce the prevalence and mortality of coronary artery disease is prevention. A pioneering publication marks a significant leap forward in this area, spearheaded by a collaborative team led by Professors Terrence C. K. Lau, Kiwon Ban, and Kwan T. Chow from the Department of Biomedical Sciences at City University of Hong Kong, along with Dr Hun Jun Park from The Catholic University of Korea. Their groundbreaking study, titled “Daily Oral Administration of Engineered Probiotics Prevents Myocardial Injury from Ischaemic Heart Disease by Secreting Short-Chain Fatty Acids,” represents a significant advancement in this field and has been published in Cardiovascular Research (Impact Factor: 10.3; Journal Citation Reports, Clarivate, 2023).

A research team led by Professor Michael Yang Mengsu collaborated with mainland cross-institutional and cross-disciplinary teams to develop a single-cell screening/selection system (BLASTO-chip), which is based on microfluidic droplet technology and transformable hydrogel material. The system can achieve automatic high-throughput, label-free selection of sperm, bringing hope to patients with asthenozoospermia, an infertility condition in which a man produces sperm with low motility.

Cancer treatment has long been a challenging field, with researchers continuously seeking innovative methods to enhance therapeutic outcomes. Recently, a significant breakthrough has been made by a multidisciplinary team led by Professors Gigi P.-C. Lo and Kwan T. Chow from the Department of Biomedical Sciences at City University of Hong Kong. Their pioneering research, titled “Inducing Immunogenic Cancer Cell Death through Oxygen-Economized Photodynamic Therapy with Nitric Oxide-Releasing Photosensitizers,” has been published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition (with Impact Factor of 16.6; 2022 Journal Citation Reports, Clarivate, 2023).

A pivotal study published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials has unveiled significant insights into the individual contributions of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3) to the risk of non-accidental, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality. This pioneering research sponsored by Hong Kong Research Grant Council (RGC)- General Research Fund (GRF) not only clarifies the relative dangers of these pollutants but also underlines the urgency for a coordinated approach to air quality management.

BMS Research Gala 2024, held on 21 June 2024, was a resounding success, bringing together close to 200 participants from the faculty, research community, PhD students, and industry professionals. The event served as a dynamic platform for showcasing the exceptional research being conducted in the field of biomedical sciences.

On 12 June 2024, the JCC Commencement ceremony proudly recognised the remarkable achievements of our graduating class. It was a day of great pride as we honored the hard work and dedication of our graduating students. But the celebrations did not stop there. We were also delighted to present the prestigious Outstanding Research Award to Prof. Xin Deng, in recognition of his groundbreaking contributions to the field.

Hyperuricemia (HUA) is diagnosed when the levels of urate in the blood exceed 420 µM, the saturated concentration of urate. In mainland China, the prevalence of hyperuricemia exceeds 17.7% in the adult population, affecting over 185 million individuals. HUA has become the fourth most common chronic metabolic condition in China, following hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, and hypertension. Hyperuricemia not only triggers gout but also increases the risk of various metabolic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, hypertension, and kidney disease. Among the 25 million gout patients in China, more than half exhibit abnormal blood lipid levels. Although preliminary analysis suggests that hypertriglyceridemia may be a causal factor for HUA, the underlying mechanism has remained elusive.

A research project of Prof. Michael Yang, among with other four projects, was granted funds from the HKSAR Government’s Research, Academic, and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme (RAISe+ Scheme). This demonstrates our commitment to promoting excellence in high-quality research and innovation, driving the transformation of the University’s world-class scientific research into applications, thereby creating commercial and social value.

CityUHK and Sun Yat-sen University signed two cooperation agreements to establish partnerships in areas such as digital medicine and law to foster talent nurturing and exchange...

We are delighted to announce that Professor Yu Huang, Jeanie Hu Professor of Biomedical Sciences at the Department of Biomedical Sciences, has been honoured with the Peter Harris Distinguished Scientist Award by the International Heart Research Society (ISHR). Professor Huang is the first Chinese recipient of this esteemed award, which recognises his lifetime achievements and contributions to major discoveries in cardiovascular science.

A multidisciplinary research team consisting of members from Prof. Xi Yao and Prof. Mingliang He’s groups has prepared a stable LM electrode with extremely high adhesion strength (8.9 MPa), which can be further adjusted in a wide range. The adjustable adhesion strength can greatly expand the material’s application scenarios.

Miss ZHU Jingyi, a PhD student of Prof. Leo Chan, Visiting Associate Professor of BMS, recently received the prestigious WESTPAC Best Young Scientist Oral Presentation 2024 award at the2nd UN Ocean Decade Regional Conference and 11th WESTPAC International Marine Science Conference.

Cancer is a complex disease characterized by genetic mutations that accumulate over time. Detecting cancer at an early stage is crucial for effective treatment. Scientists have made significant progress in using a non-invasive method called circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to detect liver cancer. Circulating cell-free DNA-inferred tumor content has been demonstrated detectable previously in blood samples collected at diagnosis of early-stage cancer. However, limited data has been shown in samples collected prior to cancer diagnosis – “pre-sample”.

A vibrant and interactive faculty and student gathering took place on 18 April 2024, marking the conclusion of the teaching week. The event, attended by a total of 37 enthusiastic faculty members and students, provided a platform for open dialogue.

Congratulations to our PhD student, ZHANG Xuebing Eva (Prof. KIM Jin Young’s group) who has won “Dance Your PhD 2024” contest in the Chemistry category, hosted by Science Journal.

Ms AI Liqing, a PhD student of Prof. YAO Xi, has been honoured with the Best Poster Award at the “2024 International Symposium on Superwettability+ (iSS+ 2024)” held in Singapore during 23–26 January 2024.

BMS recently organised a delightful and engaging barbecue event. The event brought together faculty members, students, and staff in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere, promoting social interactions within BMS. The barbecue, held near Sai Kung sea shore, provided an excellent opportunity for attendees to unwind from their academic pursuits and connect with colleagues in a more informal setting. With the aim of strengthening bonds and fostering a sense of community, the event successfully achieved its objectives. Under the clear skies and pleasant weather, participants indulged in a mouthwatering spread of grilled delicacies, including an assortment of meats and vegetarian options.

BMS Retreat 2024 took place at Disneyland Hotel on 9 January 2024, our faculty members, colleagues from Technical Office and General Office participated. This retreat provided a rejuvenating and enjoyable day for our BMS staff, offering them a break from the daily routine and providing opportunity for colleagues to connect outside workplace. It features team-building discussion and sharing, which aims to strengthen relationships among colleagues, promote a positive work environment, and recharge our colleagues, enhancing collaboration and productivity in the workplace.

Professor HUANG Yu has been elected as a Fellow of the British Pharmacological Society (BPS) in 2023 in recognition of his research and contribution in pharmacological science. The BPS announced new Fellows and Honorary Fellows on 28 November 2023. The Society has elected 29 Fellows and awarded 9 Honorary Fellowships by stating “Our Fellows and Honorary Fellows play an incredibly important role in the Society. Through their work, they further all disciplines of pharmacology in the discovery, development and use of medicines. And through their leadership, and contribution to Society life, they inspire and support members at earlier stages of their career or study.”

Immunotherapy has revolutionised cancer treatment, but the clinical responses in liver cancer remains are far from satisfactory. To address this, scientists have been investigating the metabolic interactions between immune cells and tumour cells in the tumour microenvironment (TME). Previous studies led by Prof. Yin and other researchers have identified that downregulation of a glycolytic enzyme fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase B (ALDOB) in tumour cells orchestrated metabolic programming to favour hepatocellular carcinogenesis (HCC).

The application of wearable technologies in personalized health management and medical treatment has attracted significant attention. On the one hand, various applications have been realized on the developed wearable devices including physiological state monitoring, disease prevention and diagnosis, and health data management. On the other hand, the rapid progress of personalized health management generates new demands on the multifunctionality of wearable devices, for example, to maintain function under large and frequent deformations when the device is equipped on human body, and to monitor diverse physiological parameters simultaneously with minimum energy supply.

No one knew about the existence of inhibitory ligand of interferon receptors in the innate immune system. After over 13 years of hard work, Prof. He’s team demonstrated that virus invasion upregulates and stimulates LRPAP1 secretion. As a ligand, the secreted LRPAP1 binds and triggers IFNAR1 degradation to facilitate virus evasion from cellular innate immunity. Targeting LRPAP1 with its inhibitor a2M potently inhibits infections by all the tested viruses (both DNA and RNA). This work not only expands the relationship between lipoprotein metabolism and the host's innate immune response but also paves the way for the development of LRPAP1 inhibitors as pan-antiviral drugs.

BMS and BME joined forces on 23 September 2023, to co-organise a highly anticipated joint symposium on Innovation in Biomedicine and Bioengineering at Benjamin Kwok Lecture Theatre located in Yeung Kin Man Academic Building. The event witnessed active participation from staff and students, creating an environment conducive to collaboration and knowledge exchange.

A research team co-led by Prof. Mingliang He has achieved a significant breakthrough by inventing a new class of near-infrared-activated photo-oxidants that can effectively kill cancer cells without requiring oxygen. The photo-oxidants induce a unique form of cancer cell death that can overcome cancer cell resistance. The findings offer a new strategy, called ‘photo-oxidation therapy’, and provide a promising direction for the development of anti-cancer drugs.

CityU Department of Biomedical Sciences (BMS) is pleased to announce the results of the Research Grants Council’s General Research Fund (GRF) for 2023–2024. BMS has once again demonstrated its excellence in research by obtaining nine GRF grants totaling over HK$12M.

Dr PU Yujie, a postdoctoral fellow under the supervision of Prof. HUANG Yu in the Department of Biomedical Sciences (BMS), received a NSFC – Young Scientists Fund on 24 August 2023. The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) – Young Scientist Fund aims to provide promising young researchers with support to conduct independent innovative research. This scheme also helps to train the critical and innovative thinking of young researchers, thus cultivates future talents in basic research in China.

CityU signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Asian Fund for Cancer Research (AFCR) to establish a closer collaboration between both parties and jointly promote cutting-edge cancer-related innovative inventions and commercialisation.

Seven scholars from BMS are ranked as the World’s Top 2% most-cited scientists in the world, in an annual list released by Stanford University. Compiled by a research team at Stanford University, the list ranks leading scientists across various fields based on their career-long citation impact and recent year citation impact. The inclusion of BMS academic faculty members highlights the global recognition and high academic standards of our faculty and underscores our excellent research performance.

New Master of Science in Health Sciences and Management (MSHSM) students embarked on their academic journey with an engaging and informative orientation event held on 4 September 2023. The event, which took place on the first day of the academic year, began with a warm welcome from Prof. Yu Huang (Head, Department of Biomedical Sciences), followed by a comprehensive presentation by Prof. Mingliang He (Programme Leader) and Prof. Xi Yao (Deputy Programme Leader).

New BSc in Biological Sciences and BSc in Biomedical Sciences students kicked off their academic journey with an exciting Undergraduate (UG) Orientation on 29 August 2023. The event buzzed with energy from Prof. HUANG Yu (Department Head), Prof. Rebecca Chin (Assistant Head, UG Education), Prof. Kingston Mak (Programme Leader of BSc in Biological Sciences) and Prof. Gigi Lo (Programme Leader of BSc in Biomedical Sciences) greeting the incoming undergraduates and presented a roadmap to success.

Two biotech start-ups incubated by CityU have been selected for the “Forbes Asia 100 to Watch 2023”, an annual list published by Forbes Asia highlighting small companies and start-ups on the rise across the Asia Pacific region that are targeting underserved markets with new technologies. These CityU start-ups are applying innovative biomedical technologies to address unmet medical needs, from blood-based cancer diagnostics to nanobody-based immunotherapy.

We are happy to share that our MSc Student Mr NG Chelon Colin and the Start-up he founded became Winner and were awarded in the 1st HK Tech 300 National Startup Competition.

Through close collaboration, Prof. He Mingliang (BMS) and Prof. Zhu Guangyu (CHEM) jointly published a paper entitled as Near-infrared-activated anticancer platinum(IV) complexes directly photooxidize biomolecules in an oxygen-independent manner in Nature Chemistry for novel anticancer drug development.

Virtually all living organisms on Earth depend on biological processes related to redox reactions, which play a critical role in maintaining protein structures, signal transduction pathways, and various physiological and pathophysiological processes. The Chinese National Meeting of 2023 Redox Biology and Medicine took place at Xiamen University in Xiamen, China, from 10 to 13 August 2023.

We are happy to share that our Year-4 BSc in Biomedical Sciences student, Miss MAN Wai Ingrid has recently received the Book Prize for the Outstanding Academic Performance in 2022–2023 from The Hong Kong Association of Medical Laboratories (HKAML) at the Annual General Meeting (AGL) held on 28 July 2023. Congratulations to Ingrid for her achievements and wish you to keep up with her good work!

Congratulate Professor HUANG Yu, Head of the Department of Biomedical Sciences (BMS), on his election to the position of Fellow within the prestigious International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS) Academy of Physiology. The IUPS Fellowship honours researchers who have made “extraordinary contributions to the advancement of physiology, in the form of original discoveries, sustained excellent contributions to science, or who have otherwise rendered outstanding service to physiology”. Professor Huang is one of 27 Fellows elected in 2023.

A Hong Kong Scholars Annual Symposium 2023 was held in hybrid mode on 8 July 2023 (Saturday), organised jointly by the China National Postdoctoral Council under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (全國博士後管委會辦公室), The Society of Hong Kong Scholars (香港學者協會 and Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre (京港學術交流中心), and supported by the Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong.

Research projects led by scientists at CityU have secured significant grants in both the Areas of Excellence Scheme (AoE) and the Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS) funded by the Research Grants Council.

Prof. Yu HUANG was invited to deliver a Keynote Lecture on 4 July 2023 at the 19th World Congress of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology 2023 (WCP2023) held in Glasgow, Scotland during 2–7 July 2023. WCP2023 is organised by British Pharmacological Society, a member society of the International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (IUPHAR).

On 29 June 2023, delegates from the University of South China led by Prof. Jiang Zhisheng (Vice-President) visited our Department for a fruitful and productive meeting, they were greeted by our department management team members including Head, UG, TPg, RPg Research and External Links Coordinators and Programme Leaders.

A JUPAS Consultation Day was held on 20 May 2023. During the event, Programme Leaders, Dr Rebecca CHIN and Dr Gigi LO gave presentations on BScBISI and BScBMS programme respectively, highlighting the unique features and benefits of each one.

Ms Guopan Liu, PhD student of Dr Liang Zhang, received a Young Scientist Travel Award of the 11th Asia Oceania Human Proteome Organization (AOHUPO) and 7th Asia Oceania Agricultural Proteomics Organization (AOAPO) Congress held on 10 May 2023 in Singapore.

A Joint Symposium on Brain and Vision Health, co-organised by BMS, Guangdong-HongKong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration (GHMICR) of Jinan University and NA, and supported by HKIAS, which was held in a hybrid format on 11 May 2023, was a resounding success.

On 9 May 2023, the Fifth BMS Research Gala took place with great success. The event brought together close to 200 participants, including faculty, researchers, PhD students, and industry professionals from our sponsor companies.

Dr CHENG Chak Kwong, a postdoctoral fellow in Prof. HUANG Yu’s laboratory in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, received the HK Tech 300 Seed Fund (HK$100,000) for initiation of his startup project, at HK Tech 300 Seed Fund Cheque Presentation Ceremony held on 15 March 2023.

Cancer metastasis is a major cause of cancer-related death. A research team led by Prof. Mengsu (Michael) Yang recently identified a protein that triggers the migration of liver and pancreatic cancer cells and metastasis, and is correlated with shortening the survival time of patients. The research findings were verified by in vitro and in vivo models, supported with clinical data, and are expected to provide a new potential target for cancer therapy.

On 7 March 2023, Prof. Yu Huang, Head of Department and our Clinical Attachment Coordinators paid a visit to Quality HealthCare Medical Group. During the clinical visit, they were able to meet with the clinical staff and observe the operations of the lab and facilitates including specimen reception areas, hematology bench, clinical chemistry automation, medical microbiology rooms and molecular clean zone. The Head and Coordinators also met with the lab director, manager and mentor to discuss areas for improvement in the clinical program. They discussed ways to enhance the learning experience for the students and improve the quality of care provided by the lab.

A Joint Symposium in Frontiers of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, organised by Department of Biomedical Sciences (BMS) of the City University of Hong Kong (CityU) and Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, which was held virtually on 2 March 2023, was a resounding success. Around 130 participants joined the joint symposium bringing together some of the brightest minds in the scientific community. The speakers presented their latest research findings and shared their perspectives on current scientific challenges, and discussed potential solutions to these challenges.

Dr Chak Kwong CHENG (Andy), a RGC Postdoctoral Fellow in Prof. HUANG Yu’s laboratory, was awarded a Young Investigator Award (Second Place) at the 2022 ACRE/CAAC/CNAHA Joint Symposium. The online symposium was held on 19 November 2022, co-organised by the Academy of Cardiovascular Research Excellence (ACRE), Chinese American Academy of Cardiology (CAAC) and Chinese American Heart Association (CNAHA). Dr Cheng presented his findings on the protective role of key mitochondrial antioxidant protein uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), by elucidating that UCP2 as a novel mechanosensitive gene under the control of fluid shear stress and the transcription factor KLF2 in endothelial cells.

BMS Research Retreat 2023 took place at The Peninsula Hong Kong on 6 January 2023, with the theme of “Inspire to Go Beyond – Strategic Areas to Enhance BMS Development in Education, Research and Reputation”. The Retreat kicked off with a welcome speech by Prof. HUANG Yu (Head, Department of Biomedical Sciences). Prof. Huang gave a brief overview on the past achievements made by the concerted efforts of individual faculty members and the overall BMS performances on different areas including teaching, research publications and grants and other professional areas in 2022. Both academic and non-academic colleagues were divided into groups to brainstorm any initiatives and plans to enhance our UG education and outreach strategies for our taught and research programmes, and discuss preparation plans for Research Assessment Exercise 2026 and professional accreditations. The day ended with closing remarks by Prof. Huang. He expressed appreciation for the constructive comments from colleagues, welcomed colleagues to discuss with him if they need support, and encouraged them to proactively discuss with him what can be offered by Department to add value to their teaching, research and other professional development.

We are happy to share that our Year-4 BSc in Biomedical Sciences student, Miss Fong Jie Yu has recently got the Book Prize for the Outstanding Academic Performance in 2021–2022 from The Hong Kong Association of Medical Laboratories Limited at the Annual General Meeting...

Eminent scholars from academia worldwide shared their insights into complex signaling networks in various metabolic pathways at the HK Tech Forum on Metabolism in Health and Disease hosted by HKIAS and BMS...

A MoU was signed between CityU and the Futian District People’s Government, Shenzhen on 29 November 2022. The occasion marked a new milestone for the cooperation between CityU and the Futian District People’s Government in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone (the Zone)...

Guopan Liu, PhD student of Dr Liang Zhang, won the solo Best Poster Award of the 2022 Rohto Forum Poster Session held on 22 July 2022. The Second Rohto Forum for Regenerative Medicine, jointly hosted by Rohto ARHK and HKSTP, was held in virtual mode during 21–22 July 2022 this year. The Forum was convened to address the challenges facing regenerative medicine to improve health through the development of advanced therapies with leaders and experts from Japan, Hong Kong, and Mainland China...

Dr Andy CHENG Chak Kwong, a postdoctoral fellow in Prof. HUANG Yu’s laboratory, received RGC Postdoctoral Fellowship in recognition of his outstanding academic performance at the 2022 RGC Award Presentation Ceremony held on 7 November 2022...

The key takeaway from the recent talk by Professor Yu Huang was something we could easily relate to: keep your blood vessels healthy...

Dr Chak Kwong CHENG (Andy), a RGC Postdoctoral Fellow in HUANG Yu’s laboratory, received an Outstanding Presentation Award (Best Oral Award) at the 10th Biennial Meeting of Society for Free Radical Research-Asia which was held on 4–6 November 2022 at Seoul National University, South Korea...

Professor HUANG Yu was elected as Vice-President of the Chinese Association for Physiological Sciences (CAPS) (中國生理學會副理事長) at the 26th National Congress of CAPS on 5 November 2022. CAPS was founded in 1926 by a group of Chinese physiologists in Peking Union Medical School...

Dr PU Yujie, a postdoctoral fellow in Prof. HUANG Yu’s laboratory received Sun Chieh Yeh Heart Foundation Young Investigator Award (1st Prize) in recognition of her outstanding oral presentation at the 25th Scientific Meeting of the Institute of Cardiovascular Science and Medicine (ICSM)...

Congratulate to both Prof. Mengsu (Michael) Yang and Prof. Yu Huang for their recognitions with prestigious named professorships at the CityU first inauguration ceremony for such honors. They are among a group of over twenty eminent academics across the University to receive named chair professorships within just a few years...

We are proud to share that a total of our 29 PhD students have received the following scholarships and awards issued from Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies, CityU for 2022/2023. Granted on a strictly competitive basis, the awards recognise and reward students for their outstanding academic performances in their research studies...

In recognition of his accomplishments and contribution, Dr Xi Yao has been named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) in September 2022...

BMS has recently established two award categories – BMS Postgraduate Research Output Award and BMS Outstanding PhD Thesis Award to recognise PhD students’ outstanding research performances...

Dr Min Yi received the Best Oral Presentation Award at the Hong Kong Scholars Annual Symposium (香江學者計劃週年學術交流會) which was held on 18 June 2022. She presented the research paper “Disulfiram inhibits Yap-induced gasdermin D activation during atherogenesis” at the Symposium...

在創業圈裏，「獨角獸」是指成立不足十年、估值超過十億美元而未上市的企業，是不少初創的目標，但要突圍而出，成為躍身國際的獨角獸殊不容易。香港城市大學一直主張「教研合一」，鼓勵學生及科研人才探索及應用新知識，多年來培育了一位又一位的創科菁英。他們於各自領域上都獨當一面，在國內外舞台上大展拳腳...

Scientists from CityU recently revealed the essential neurocircuitry that is fundamental for animals to perceive and integrate environmental cues to initate defensive behaviour. The findings suggest a new direction for further investigation in developing treatment for schizophrenia patients suffering from auditory hallucinations...

CityU researchers including BMS teams received tremendous accolades at Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days (IGED) 2022...

Researchers at CityU received tremendous accolades at Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days (IGED) 2022 by winning a total of 22 awards, the highest number among local institutions for two years in a row, including one Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury, six Gold Medals, 13 Silver Medals and two Bronze Medals...

A correlation exists between the weather and humidity that patients are exposed to during different stages of COVID-19 infection and the probability of death, according to Assistant Professor Dr Sean Yuan and PhD student Jing-bo Liang...

香港城市大學　一個匯聚創新思維和創意的地方；一個讓世界頂尖教員追求卓越研究的校園；一個孕育世界專才的卓㙎中心...

A place where fresh ideas and creativity meet. A home for world-class faculty pursuing problem-driven research. A centre of excellence for developing the talent needed in tomorrow’s world...

A research team at CityU estimated in mid-January, i.e. before the recent outbreak of the fifth wave, that if social mobility decreases by around 25% when compared to the level during the Christmas and New Year holidays, a fifth wave will cause around 250,000 infected cases, which is similar to the current pandemic trend in Hong Kong...

Dr Katie Chan has been granted the Paul Dudley White International Scholar Award presented by the American Heart Association for an abstract submitted to the EPI | Lifestyle Scientific Sessions 2022. As one of the American Heart Association founders, Paul Dudley White was also a champion for global cardiovascular health strategies. The award recognises authors with the highest ranked abstract submitted from each country/region...

The Croucher Foundation granted the Croucher Innovation Award 2019 to Dr Kwan Ting Chow for her excellent scientific research achievement. Due to COVID-19, the Croucher Awards Presentation Ceremony was postponed until this year and was held at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong on 8 December 2021 to present awards to the recipients of the Croucher Innovation Awards 2019–2021 and Croucher Senior Fellowships 2020–2021...

Eileen Yang Zihan, a PhD student in the lab led by Prof. Michael Yang, received the HKIOS Best Paper Award at the 8th Hong Kong International Oncology Symposium...

Dr Sean Yuan Hsiang-yu has developed the first mathematical model that takes variation in confirmation delay into account, making quantifying the impacts of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) such as gathering bans more accurate. The new approach may help guide public health policies on outbreak control, especially after the border reopens...

Five faculty members including Dr Jian Yan are conferred the Outstanding Research Award this year for their eminent performances in materials science, media and communication, biomedical sciences and data science...

BUI Thi Van Anh, a PhD student supervised by Dr BAN Kiwon, received the Sun Chieh Yeh Heart Foundation Young Investigator Award (First Prize) at the 24th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Institute of Cardiovascular Science and Medicine (ICSM)...

CityU, Campus France Hong Kong, and the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, along with three leading French higher-education institutions, namely ISC Paris; Nantes-Atlantic National College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering; Centrale Nantes; and biotech company, InvivoGen, jointly organised a cross-border online event, titled One Health @ CityU x France, bringing together professionals from various areas of expertise to discuss biotechnology and the contribution of veterinary medicine and engineering to the One Health approach in two panel discussions...

CityU is continuously pursuing academic and research excellence to create a better future. In 2020 and 2021, when the world faces unprecedented challenges in public health, with the generous support of The Tung Foundation, CityU has proudly launched the Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre...

The newly established Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre at CityU has been named in honour of The Tung Foundation in appreciation of the staunch and generous support of the Foundation...

Cochlear implants help deaf patients in hearing, yet the current technology remains far from perfect. A research team led by scientists from CityU has shown that neonatally deafened rats could be trained with cochlear implant stimulation to restore the ability to locate the directions of sound origins...

It is generally agreed that sperms swim by beating or rotating their soft tails. However, a research team co-led by Dr Jiahai Shi has discovered that ray sperms move by rotating both the tail and the head. The team further investigated the motion pattern and demonstrated it with a robot. Their study has expanded the knowledge on the microorganisms’ motion and provided inspiration for robot engineering design...

A research team led by Dr Rebecca Chin and Dr Xin Wang has identified a set of specific super-enhancers that stimulate the activity of the Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) genes, and that deleting certain specific super-enhancers can reduce tumour growth. The findings may help discover new effective drug targets for TNBC patients to improve their survival chance...

Dr Jianbo Yue and Dr Xi Yao received Gold Medals at the Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days (IGED) 2021, a virtual edition of the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva...

While the clinical connection between chronic pain and increases in levels of anxiety, depression, cognitive dysfunction has long been established, the underlying mechanisms of brain neural networks remain less understood. Prof. Ying Li has achieved breakthroughs by unveiling the secrets of brain molecules and tissue – astrocytes and myelin – in the central nervous system...

How memories are formed has long been a fundamental question for neuroscientists. Studies by Prof. Jufang He have shed light on the crucial role of a key neuromodulator, called cholecystokinin (CCK), in memory forming in the neocortex. As a result of the discovery of CCK›s functions, Prof. He is developing a treatment strategy to alleviate epilepsy, tinnitus, Alzheimer›s disease, and other brain disorders...

An international research team co-led by Dr Jian Yan has developed a high-throughput biological assay technique that provides valuable data for finding type-2 diabetes key biomarkers for diagnostics and treatment...

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive type of breast cancer with a high fatality rate. Currently, chemotherapy is the major treatment option, but the clinical result is unsatisfactory. A research team led by Dr Rebecca Chin and Dr Xin Wang has identified and characterised a set of specific super-enhancers that stimulate the activity of the related critical cancer genes...

心肌梗塞簡單來說是冠狀動脈閉塞。因為血流急劇減少或中斷而令部分心肌因嚴重的持久性缺血而壞死。心肌梗塞後，心肌和血管系統都會嚴重受損。城大研發出一種雙管齊下的方法，利用兩種幹細胞同時修復心肌和心臟血管...
Myocardial infarction is caused by blockage in coronary blood vessels. A drastic decrease or suspension of blood supply will lead to permanent damage of the heart muscles. Myocardial infarction causes severe damage to the heart muscles and cardiac vessel system. CityU has developed a dual approach to repair the cardiac muscle and vasculature of the heart...

New medicines can save and improve lives, but drug discovery is an extremely long and expensive process. Prof. Mengsu (Michael) Yang, one of the top scientists at CityU, is developing an integrated system based on his internationally recognised, award-winning biochip technology, with the aim of providing a novel drug-screening tool with greatly reduced drug development time and cost...

Many genetic variants have been found to have a linkage with genetic diseases, but the understanding of their functional roles in causing diseases are still limited. An international research team, including Dr Jian Yan, has developed a high-throughput biological assay technique which enabled them to conduct a systematic analysis on the impact of nearly 100,000 genetic variants on the binding of transcription factors to DNA...

According to metrics compiled by Stanford University, over 140 CityU faculty members, including Prof. Mengsu (Michael) Yang, are listed among the top 2% of the world's most highly cited scientists, reflecting the high academic standard of our faculty and our excellent research performance...

Three projects at City University of Hong Kong (CityU) have been granted $8.3 million in funding by the Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) under the Food and Health Bureau, spotlighting our valuable contributions to fighting Covid-19...

With an increasing global population, we often heard warnings about the possibility of a food supply shortage. In addition to climate change and the reduction of agricultural land, the world's food security is also threatened by bacterial diseases of plants. A joint research team led by Dr Xin Deng and Dr Jian Yan has previously identified a pathogen›s transcription factors, the key proteins that are virulence-related...

Research at CityU aimed at tackling Covid-19 has attracted over $7.1 million in funding from the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) under the Innovation and Technology Commission...

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is a large and diverse class of RNA (ribonucleic acid) molecules which has become a growing focus of cancer genomics studies in recent years. In this article, we will explain what lncRNA is and its functions...

A research team led by Dr Jian Yan, Dr Liang Zhang and Dr Ming Chan has developed a new method for identifying binding proteins of non-coding RNAs in living cells. The findings can be applied in cancer diagnosis and stem cell research, and may even help to identify potential antiviral drug targets to combat Covid-19...

Cancer cells can now be detected from 4 ml of blood in only five minutes. Cancer is the No. 1 killer in Hong Kong. On average, over 35 people have died per day from cancer in the past few years. Early detection is the key to saving lives...

A research co-led by Dr Jian Yan, Dr Liang Zhang and Dr Ming Chan has developed a novel detection method, called CARPID, to identify binding proteins of specific RNAs in the living cells. It is expected the innovation can be applied in various cell research, from identifying biomarkers of cancer diagnosis to detecting potential drug targets for treating viral diseases...

A research team has developed a novel intracellular biopsy technique that isolates targeted miRNAs from living cells within around 10 minutes by using diamond nanoneedles. The technique is simple and can be applied to other aspects, from the nucleic acid testing of viruses (e.g. COVID-19) to early cancer screening...

Reflecting our growing reputation for excellence in data science, leading scholars from CityU, Harvard, MIT, Cornell, UT Austin, UC Irvine, HKU and HIT (Shenzhen) convened online for an international forum on data, statistics and Covid-19 pandemic...

Dr Kiwon Ban, together with his collaborators, has developed a novel strategy, called in vivo priming, to train the stem cells to stay strong after implantation to the damaged heart via the 3D-printed bandage-like patch. The positive results of the study show that an in vivo priming strategy can be an effective means to enhance cardiac repair...

A possible increase of around 60 infected cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) from mid-February to mid-March is projected by Dr Sean Yuan...

Unleashing the intrinsic power of the immune system to fight cancer is the focus of a research led by Dr Kwan Chow, who has received the 2019 Croucher Innovation Award for her pioneering research on the anti-tumour activities of a rare immune cell type – plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs)...

Dr Sean Yuan estimates that the worst-case scenario for a novel coronavirus outbreak in the local community could be more than 220 individuals infected over the next two weeks after the Chinese New Year holidays...

Groundbreaking technology that can accurately perform early screening for cancer cells and effectively monitor disease status has been successfully developed by a research team led by Prof. Michael (Mengsu) Yang...

A world-first self-healable anti-smudge coating successfully developed by Dr Xi Yao’s research team could lead to production costs that are 80% lower than for existing materials...

A study led by Prof. Ying Li reveals for the first time that schema-like learning can foster the growth and regeneration of brain myelin, thereby enhancing the synchrony of neural networks...

The programme prepares its graduates for a range of careers in the large and interdisciplinary healthcare and management field. Graduates may work in different health services organizations or non-profit making groups, private insurance companies, public health or administration, hospitals, schools or government agencies...

A research team featuring Dr Kiwon Ban has developed a novel dual approach for the first time for concurrently rejuvenating both the cardiac muscle and vasculature of the heart by utilising two types of stem cells. The results give hope for a new treatment for repairing myocardial infarction (MI) heart...

High levels of excellence and innovation are top priorities at CityU. The University look to showcase inventions among experts around the world. Recently researchers won two golds and two silvers at the 47th International Exhibition onf Inventions of Geneva...

As a medical emergency caused by severe cardiovascular diseases, myocardial infarction (MI) can inflict permanent and life-threatening damage to the heart. A joint research team comprising scientists including Dr Kiwon Ban has recently developed a multipronged approach for concurrently rejuvenating both the muscle cells and vascular systems of the heart by utilizing two types of stem cells...

As antibiotic resistance is growing and posing a threat on public health, developing new antibiotics has become more urgent than ever. Dr Xin Deng and Dr Xin Wang’s research labs have recently revealed the virulence regulatory mechanism in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a superbug which is common in patients with a weak immune system and is resistant to many antibiotics...

BMS held its fourth departmental Research Gala cum Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area Biomedical Forum at Zhongshan, China...

In a joint research with Harvard Medical School, the research group led by Dr Wenjun Xiong found that while some Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors were toxic in the eyes of mice, the others were perfectly nontoxic. The toxicity, when present, could cause inflammation, abolish the therapeutic effect of the gene therapy vector, and induce retinal cell death and severe visual function loss...

World-class experts in the field of neuroscience shared ideas and research discoveries during a two-day symposium at CityU from 25 to 26 March...

Using a genome-wide biomarker discovery approach, Dr Wang Xin developed a novel 8-gene mRNA classifier for more accurate detection of LNM in patients with T1 CRC, in collaboration with Baylor University Medical Center and the University of Tokyo. Their findings were recently reported in Gastroenterology...

A research team led by BMS, BME and Harvard Medical School has found a shortcut for developing new drugs which can potentially reduce time and costs by sorting out high potential candidates out of a long list of chemical compounds, with an accuracy of around 50%...

The team led by Prof. Jufang He recently further revealed the memory formation mechanism. The findings consolidate the theoretical basis for developing new treatments for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy...

Our second cohort of BSc Biomedical Sciences students and 12 of our PhD & MPhil students graduated in December 2018...

The WCC Award Ceremony granted special acknowledgements to Dr Eddie Ma among other young researchers and scholars from Hong Kong who have achieved outstanding performances in the fields of science, education or the arts...

A research team led by Prof. Ying Li has discovered a brain signalling molecule that can improve decision-making performance. The ground-breaking discovery involves the role of astrocytes in the decision-making dysfunction caused by chronic pain...

CityU celebrated the naming of Hong Kong’s first and only veterinary college: Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences in collaboration with Cornell University...

A new strategy to produce drug carriers for treating cancer with an efficiency rate as high as 80% has been devised by Dr Minh Le’s research team. The new and promising cancer-killing mechanism enables the production of highly pure extracellular vesicles (EVs) from red blood cells in large quantities and at one-hundredth of the usual cost...

CityU has been granted more than HK$11 million in research funding for a project to enhance heat transfer on material surfaces and to establish a multi-function analytical facility for surface studies across disciplines...

BMS held its third departmental Research Gala, together with other universities including Sun Yat-Sen University, Macau University, and National University of Singapore, as the inaugural Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area Biomedical Forum at Qingyuan City...

A framework for collaboration on academic exchange, cultural interchange and cooperation in teaching and research will be created with Karolinska Institutet to further enhance CityU’s capacity to contribute towards addressing the global One Health challenge...

Four PhD students from BMS won the First Prize in the Category of Life Sciences and the Top Prize in the Category of Innovation in the Challenge Cup National Competition – Hong Kong Regional Final...

The inaugural 2018 Neuroplasticity of Sensory Systems Gordon Research Conference was held in June. BMS played an important role in helping organise this GRC, with Prof. Jufang He as Co-Chair and Prof. Jan Schnupp as Vice Co-Chair...

The WCC Award Ceremony will be held on 8 November 2018 (Thursday) at CityU. The WCC will grant special acknowledgements to young researchers and scholars from Hong Kong who have performed outstandingly in the fields of science, education or arts, including Dr Eddie Ma from BMS...

The 12th Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Award was awarded on 30 May to Prof. Jian Lu, a materials scientist focusing on structural metallic materials at CityU...

Faculty members from CVMLS and CSE held a special mini-workshop on Molecular Imaging and One Health during the 2018 Molecular Imaging Instrumentation Conference. Prof. Michael (Mengsu) Yang, Head and Chair Professor in the BMS, co-chaired the workshop...

A signing ceremony was held on 8 December 2017 for an agreement on student exchange between BMS and College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taiwan...

Our first cohort of BSc Biomedical Sciences students and three of our PhD students graduated in November 2017...

A $500-million donation from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust to CityU will be used to build a top-notch facility for One Health in Hong Kong. It is the largest single donation received by the University in its 33-year history...

This year, there are 56 research students in the cohort – the largest ever! This rapidly brings the total number of research students in the Department to 170+ in 3 years...

Congratulations to Prof. Shuk Han Cheng and her team in winning the 2017 Team Award for Teaching Excellence from the University Grants Committee (UGC) for the groundbreaking Discovery-enriched Curriculum (DEC)...

Interview with Prof. Michael (Mengsu) Yang on biochips & early cancer detection

BMS held its second annual Research Gala at the Hong Kong Science Park on 5 June 2017. There were over 80 poster presentations by students and staff members. More than 130 BMS colleagues and students attended the Gala...

Dr Mingliang He was invited to give a presentation on Development of Target-based Anticancer Peptides at seminar Belt & Road Innovative Tech Transfer Projects on 27 April 2017...

Prof. Michael (Mengsu) Yang won the 2016 WuXi PharmaTech Life Science and Chemistry Award for his outstanding contributions in scientific research...

This was our first event co-organised with the Hong Kong Institute of Medical Laboratory Sciences (HKIMLS). We had a full house in a large lecture theatre with participants of MLTs from local hospitals/medical laboratories, research scientists and students...

(Chinese version only)

BMS organised a study tour to Japan from 17 to 20 May 2016 with 12 participating students. During the study tour, the biomedical students visited a Japanese IVD (In Vitro Diagnostic device) Medical Company (Sysmex Corporation) and Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster...

BMS organised its first Research Gala at the Hong Kong Science Park on 20 June 2016. It aims to provide an opportunity for the research students and staff of the Department to present their work to faculty members and fellow colleagues...

BMS has organised a student summer exchange visit to Tianjin University, one of most prestigious universities in China...

Prof. Michael (Mengsu) Yang Won 2015 Higher Education Outstanding Scientific Research Output Award (Science and Technology) from the Ministry of Education...

A research proposal led by Prof. Jufang He has received a total of $5.4 million for a three-year project titled Neuronal Mechanism of Cholecystokinin-facilitated Cross-modal Learning and Memory...

Dr Terrence Lau and Dr Eddie Ma who received The President’s Awards (TPAs) were honoured at a tea reception on 3 February...

Several faculty members paid a visit to the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University in Ithaca, USA...

To strengthen the already established links with the State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy of Sichuan University, BMS faculty members paid a visit to the State Key Laboratory in Chengdu in mid-October 2015...

Dr Xin Wang contributed to the development of a new molecular classification system for colorectal cancer (also commonly known as large bowel cancer), with highly significant potential for treatment and prognosis...

Students won a gold medal at an international competition in the US with their novel gene-based remedy to tackle lactose intolerance...

A new batch of PhD students joined BMS on 1st of Sep. In the past year, the Department has successfully recruited 35 new PhD students through the BMS PhD Programme and Interdisciplinary PhD Programme in Veterinary Science...

Two state-of-the-art pieces of research equipment will be purchased by CityU in collaboration with other local universities thanks to a grant worth over HK$12 million from the Collaborative Research Fund...

Professors from the State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy visited BMS on 1 June 2015. The first joint research meeting between the two institutions was held at CityU on the same day...

A Grand Prix at the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva was bestowed upon the technology of testing toxins using fish embryos. This technology was originally developed by Prof Shuk Han Cheng and her research team...

Prof. Ada Yonath, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry in 2009 from Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, visited CityU and BMS on 21 April 2015...

The Ishidate Prize in Pharmaceutical Education for year 2014 has been awarded to Dr Hon Yeung Cheung, who has devoted over the last 25 years to equipping students with pharmaceutical skills and knowledge...

A CityU team, formed by undergraduate students from BCH and MBE and led by BCH and BMS faculty members including Dr David Chiu and Dr Terrence Lau, has won a Gold Medal from their first time participation of the International Genetic Engineering Machine (iGEM) competition in Boston, USA...

BMS faculty members visited the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute Limited (NAMI) located at the beautiful seaside campus of Hong Kong Science Park...

Prof. David Ho, Chief Executive Officer of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center and the Irene Diamond Professor at the Rockefeller University, has visited BMS on 12 November 2014...

Prof. Jufang He and his team have identified the neuromodulator which plays a crucial role in memory formation. The findings may help develop drugs that can alleviate or even reverse the memory loss process caused by ageing or forms of dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease...

The new Department of Biomedical Sciences in the College of Science and Engineering will be set up next January. The aim is to nurture highly educated and skilled professionals and researchers in the field of biomedicine, utilise the results of basic research in healthcare and nursing business, and cooperate with the School of Veterinary Medicine under preparation to enrich its pre-clinical veterinary medicine programme...