HKU-Pasteur Research Pole

30/04/2026

💫 Spatial Exposomics Links Pesticide Mixtures to Cancer Risk in Peru, Promoting Carcinogenesis Without Direct DNA Damage

📃 🌳 🧪 A new study in Nature Health links environmental exposure to agricultural pesticides with increased cancer risk.

Combining environmental modeling, a nationwide cancer registry and molecular analyses, researchers from the IRD (National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, France), the Pasteur Network (HKU-Pasteur Research Pole and the Institut Pasteur in Paris, France) and Peru’s Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas INEN clarify how pesticide mixtures may contribute to certain cancers.

➡️ Pesticides are a major public-health concern because they persist in food, water and the environment and often occur as complex mixtures. Demonstrating a causal link between environmental pesticide exposure and cancer is difficult due to chronic, mixed exposures and limitations of conventional approaches. A new study published in Nature Healthby researchers from the IRD (National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, France), the HKU-Pasteur Research Pole (Hong Kong SAR, China), the Institut Pasteur (Paris, France) and the National Institute of Neoplastic Diseases (INEN, Peru) provides robust evidence tying environmental pesticide mixtures to an increased cancer risk.

>>> More at https://hkupasteur.hku.hk/post/spatial-exposomics-links-pesticide-mixtures-to-cancer-risk-in-peru-promoting-carcinogenesis-without

MEDIA RELEASEHKU-Pasteur Research Pole, Hong Kong, April 2026Hong Kong, 27/04/26A new study in Nature Health (published on 01 April 2026) links environmental exposure to agricultural pesticides with increased cancer risk.Combining environmental modeling, a nationwide cancer registry and molecular an...

16/01/2026

✨ 2025 Fellow Spotlight from HKU-Pasteur Research Pole fellowship programme ✨

“The Institut Pasteur exposed me to new ways of learning and thinking.”

Through the testimony of Hogan Wai, we highlight the impact of the HKU-Pasteur Research Pole Fellowship on the academic and personal journeys of young researchers.

His experience at the Institut Pasteur perfectly reflects what the programme aims to offer:
🔬 immersion in a world-class scientific environment,
🌍 exposure to diverse research cultures,
🧠 and a lasting transformation in how science is approached, learned, and practiced.

Training the next generation of scientists, fostering knowledge circulation, and building sustainable bridges between Hong Kong and Paris are at the core of our mission.

👉 Read his full story here:

https://hkupasteur.hku.hk/post/hogan-wai-the-institut-pasteur-exposed-me-to-new-ways-of-learning-and-thinking

Consulat Général de France à Hong Kong et Macao Pasteur Network Campus France Hong Kong Institut Pasteur

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Hogan Wai spent 3 months in Paris at the Institut Pasteur as part of the 2025 HKU-Pasteur Research Pole Fellowship Program, joining the Fungal Biology and Pathogenicity Unit, under the supervision of Dr Christophe D’Enfert.Why did you apply for the HKU-PRP Fellowship?I applied for the HKU-PRP Fell...

16/01/2026

France-Hong Kong research ties: From 19th-century plague to the fight against latest virus

France and Hong Kong share deep historical roots, dating to the early days of the port city, with the late 19th-century Tai Ping Shan plague marking a pivotal junction in their scientific story.

Tasked by the French government and the Institut Pasteur in Paris, microbiologist Alexandre Yersin sailed to Hong Kong to probe the outbreak’s cause.

Holed up in a thatched hut, roughly where Kennedy Town stands today, he identified the plague bacillus, went on to put down roots in Asia, and devoted his life to microbiology education and research.

Fast-forward to the 21st century, and the connection endures.

In 2000, the Consulate General launched scholarships for Hong Kong and Macau students heading to France for further studies, naming them after Yersin.

That same year, the HKU-Pasteur Research Centre, now HKU-Pasteur Research Pole, opened, nurturing the next generation in biomedicine.

For over a century, the Institut Pasteur's global network has been training young scientists in public health and infectious diseases, like Isaac, a PhD student who is currently conducting research on the Covid-19 virus.

Isaac joined the HKU-Pasteur fellowship programme, spending three months at the Institut Pasteur in Paris immersed in a lab brimming with microbiology talent.

The programme is open to postgraduate, PhD or post-docorate students enrolled at Hong Kong or Macau universities, offering accommodation and living allowances, round-trip flights for France, and health insurance.

Aspiring to exchange ideas with researchers at the Institut Pasteur? Don’t miss the 25 February deadline, details at: https://hkupasteur.hku.hk/post/call-for-applications-hku-pasteur-research-pole-fellowship-2026

The HKU-Pasteur Research Pole Fellowship is run jointly by the French Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macau, HKU Pasteur Research Pole, the Pasteur Asia Foundation, the Hong Kong Chapter of the French Légion d’honneur association and Institut Pasteur Paris .

法國香港科研合作 追溯至十九世紀末疫症

法國和香港往來源遠流長，最早追溯至開埠初期，而十九世紀末的太平山鼠疫，更是兩地在科研歷史上的交會點。

受命於法國政府及巴黎巴斯德研究所，微生物學家葉赫森 Alexandre Yersin 啟程至香港調查疫症起因。

他在一間茅屋中埋頭研究，位置約莫是今日的堅尼地城，而最終找到致病桿菌；其後在亞洲落地生根，為微生物學教育及研究貢獻畢生。

時間快轉到二十一世紀，這份連結從未消逝。

2000年，總領事館為負笈法國的港澳學生設立獎學金，並以葉赫森命名。

同年，香港大學─巴斯德研究中心正式成立，為生物醫學的後起之秀提供土壤。

法國巴斯德研究所透過全球網絡，百多年來在公共衛生、傳染病學等範疇培育年青科學家，例如正研究 Covid-19 病毒的博士生 Isaac。

Isaac 曾參與香港大學─巴斯德研究中心獎學金計劃，赴巴黎巴斯德研究所交流三個月，在匯集微生物學精英的實驗室潛心研究。

計劃正接受就讀香港或澳門大學的研究生或博士後研究員報名，包括法國住宿及生活資助、香港或澳門往返法國的機票及健康保險等。

有志到巴黎巴斯德研究所與科研人才交流，請把握機會在2月25日前報名，詳情瀏覽：https://hkupasteur.hku.hk/post/call-for-applications-hku-pasteur-research-pole-fellowship-2026

香港大學─巴斯德研究中心獎學金計劃由法國駐香港及澳門總領事館、巴斯德亞洲基金、法國榮譽軍團勳章協會香港分會、巴黎巴斯德研究所共同推出。

Video produced by Dora Choi, Patrick Wai


France Diplomatie French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs HKU-Pasteur Research Pole Institut Pasteur Campus France Campus France Hong Kong

21/11/2025

📢 HKU-Pasteur Welcomes College de France Lectures! 🎓

We are honored to host Prof. Lluis Quintana-Murci for a series of inspiring lectures on genetics, evolution, and infectious diseases. 🔬🌍

📅 Monday, November 24: Dissecting the factors that drive variation in human immune responses (3:00 PM - 4:30 PM)

📅 Wednesday, November 26: Using genomics to understand human history and adaptation to environmental pressures (3:00 PM - 4:30 PM)

👉 Read more about this event here:
https://www.hkupasteur.hku.hk/post/college-de-france-lectures-lluis-quintana-murci

As part of the celebrations for the 25th anniversary of the HKU-Pasteur Research Pole, we are honored to host a series of lectures by Lluis Quintana-Murci, distinguished Professor at the Institut Pasteur and Collège de France (Paris, France). Professor Quintana-Murci's work at the intersection of g...

19/11/2025

🤝 Strengthening Scientific and Cultural Ties Between Hong Kong and France 🌍

HKU-Pasteur’s Co-Directors, Professor Leo P**n and newly appointed Dr. Eric Deharo, met their partners from the Consulat Général de France à Hong Kong et Macao.

We were delighted to meet Johanna Bouyé, the new Consul for Education, Science and Culture, and Camélia Aissat, Deputy Consul for Culture, Education, and Science and Scientific and University Attachée. Together, we highlighted HKU-Pasteur’s pivotal role in strengthening academic partnerships, research collaborations, and exchanges between France and Hong Kong.

A special thanks to Mrs. Christile Drulhe, Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, for the warm welcome extended to Dr. Deharo. 👏

HKU-Pasteur’s Co-Directors, Professor Leo P**n and newly appointed Dr. Eric Deharo, recently hosted a strategic meeting with representatives from the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau. This exchange reaffirmed the strong collaboration between the HKU-Pasteur Research Pole and Fran...

18/11/2025

Exploring Hong Kong’s Biodiversity with Inspiring Collaborators 🌿🦋

Yesterday, HKU-Pasteur Co-Director Eric Deharo had the privilege of visiting the 香港生物多樣性博物館 Hong Kong Biodiversity Museum , the city’s first museum dedicated exclusively to biodiversity. 🪴

This remarkable initiative is led by Benoit Guénard, Associate Professor at the School of Biological Sciences, HKU. 🙌

The museum is managed by a passionate team from HKU’s School of Biological Sciences, supported by scientists and partners committed to advancing biodiversity research.

Among these partners is Tommy Tsan-Yuk Lam, member of the HKU-Pasteur Research Pole and Centre for Immunology & Infection - C2I. 🔬

We look forward to deepen these collaborations in our shared mission to protect biodiversity and promote scientific innovation. 🔭

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Eric Deharo visited the impressive Hong Kong Biodiversity Museum, established and led by Benoit Guénard, Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences at HKU and Director of the Hong Kong Biodiversity Museum.

17/11/2025

Exciting News from HKU Pasteur Research Pole!

We are thrilled to welcome Doctor Eric Deharo as our new Co-Director, alongside Professor Leo P**n! 🎉

Eric brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for fostering confidence and enthusiasm in science.

His vision will strengthen our mission to advance research and education in infectious diseases, by « supporting and mentoring young scientist is to foster confidence and passion for science, encouraging sharing of ideas and collaborations.» 🔭

For him, « the key challenges we face at HKU-Pasteur Research Pole include (..) addressing societal needs by making vaccine, diagnostics and treatments affordable for all. And providing clear, accurate and helpful informations for policy makers and then combatting misinformations and fake news.»

📽️ Watch his introduction video and learn more about his inspiring journey: https://www.hkupasteur.hku.hk/post/eric-deharo-fostering-confidence-and-passion-for-science

We are excited to introduce Dr. Eric Deharo as new Co-Director of HKU-Pasteur. In this pivotal role, Dr. Deharo will work closely with Prof. Leo P**n to enhance our research initiatives and foster innovative collaborations that drive advancements in public health and infectious disease research.Eric...

03/11/2025

🦠 Resurgence of zoonotic highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus in Cambodia

📑 A new correspondance from Pr. Vijaykrishna Dhanasekaran in the The New England Journal of Medicine sheds light on the alarming re-emergence of avian influenza A(H5N1) in Southeast Asia. This resurgence raises serious concerns for global health due to the virus’s zoonotic potential and its capacity for rapid spread.

🔬 The article underscores the need for strengthened epidemiological surveillance and proactive monitoring of zoonotic spillovers to mitigate future outbreaks.

🔗 https://www.hkupasteur.hku.hk/post/resurgence-of-zoonotic-highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-a-h5n1-virus-in-cambodia

New correspondance from Dr. Vijaykrishna Dhanasekaran on the New England Journal of Medicine, this correspondance investigates the resurgence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus infections in Cambodia after nearly a decade of no reported human cases.To the Editor:After a decade...

31/10/2025

🌟Congratulations to Dr. Carolyn Cohen for receiving the prestigious Harnessing Airway Immunity for Next-Gen Vaccines post-doc poster prize, awarded by the Science Cluster of the Novo Nordisk Foundation ! 🌟

This recognition was presented during the 32nd Science Cluster Conference, held from 22–26 September 2025 in Denmark, which brought together different stakeholders in airway immunology and vaccine development, including current and past HKU-Pasteur PhD students Ms Janice Jia, Dr Maireid Bull and Dr Akhee Jahan. The conference focused on the transformative potential of airway-targeted immune responses to revolutionize how we prevent respiratory infectious diseases.

🔬Carolyn's poster "First SARS-CoV-2 infection elicits antibodies with higher FcR engagement and avidity in children than adults" explored the systemic antibody immune response in children compared to adults, finding that adults' but not children's response may be driven by cross-reactive immune response to common cold coronaviruses. The work is also recently published in Nature.

28/08/2025

🎉 Congratulations Ruopeng!

👨‍🎓Dr Ruopeng Xie was awarded the Li Ka Shing Prize for 2023–24 🏅in recognition of the academic excellence of his PhD thesis, “Phylodynamics of respiratory viruses: implications for public health.”

This prestigious prize is one of the highest distinctions awarded by The University of Hong Kong to outstanding PhD graduates each year.

🔗 More information >>>>

Dr Ruopeng Xie was awarded the Li Ka Shing Prize for 2023–24 in recognition of the academic excellence of his PhD thesis, “Phylodynamics of respiratory viruses: implications for public health.” This prestigious prize is one of the highest distinctions awarded by the University of Hong Kong to ...

31/07/2025

🔬Restoration of the human skin microbiome following immune recovery after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

📑 New publication for HKU-PRP You Che and collaborators on Cell Host & Microbe that explores the human immune system’s critical role in affecting the skin microbiota.

🔗 Visit our website if you are interested in collaborations with You Che’s group!

New publication for You Che and collaborators on Cell Host & Microbe that explores the human immune system’s critical role in affecting the skin microbiota.AbstractThe human skin microbiome is intricately intertwined with host immunity. While studies have elucidated microbial influences on immunit...