Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology - PolyU

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Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology (ABCT) is a multi-disciplinary department that embraces chemistry, biology, biochemistry, biochemical engineering and food science.

A look back at our Croucher Summer Course - Synchrotron RadiationThis June (1 June – 5 June), the Department of Applied ...
16/06/2026

A look back at our Croucher Summer Course - Synchrotron Radiation

This June (1 June – 5 June), the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University successfully hosted a 5‑day Croucher Summer Course - Synchrotron Radiation, an intensive programme that took participants from fundamentals to frontier applications.

Led by Prof. Benedict Lo Tsz-woon (Associate Professor, PolyU Presidential Young Scholar, 2022 Young Innovative Researcher Awardee, and 2025 NSFC Young Scientists Fund-Type B recipient), the workshop featured a distinguished faculty of leading synchrotron beamline scientists and internationally recognised professors in X‑ray techniques, catalysis, and energy materials.

Participants were equally high‑calibre, including postdoctoral fellows, assistant/associate professors, and PhD candidates from top institutions across Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong, all specialising in advanced materials, clean energy, and sustainable catalysis.

The curriculum covered:
✔️ Physics & fundamentals of synchrotron radiation
✔️ Advanced X‑ray characterisation techniques
✔️ Hands‑on data treatment and analysis
✔️ Applications in catalytic & clean energy materials
✔️ Strategic research ecosystem navigation

A special highlight was the on‑site visit to the High Energy Photon Source (HEPS) in Beijing — a 4th‑generation synchrotron facility — giving participants first‑hand insight into the future of synchrotron science.

The course was fully booked and has now concluded. Thank you to all attendees, instructors, and the Croucher Foundation.

🔗 Learn more:
https://projects.croucher.org.hk/summer-courses/synchrotron-radiation-3

The Success of the 2026 International Conference on Innovations in Cancer Immunotherapy: Bridging Basic Research and Cli...
15/06/2026

The Success of the 2026 International Conference on Innovations in Cancer Immunotherapy: Bridging Basic Research and Clinical Translation

The 2026 International Conference on Innovations in Cancer Immunotherapy: Bridging Basic Research and Clinical Translation was successfully held in TU201 on June 10, 2026. This meeting brought together distinguished speakers from around the world to exchange ideas, share breakthroughs, and advance innovation in the rapidly evolving field of cancer immunotherapy. Thank you to Prof. Terence Lee, Professor and Associate Head of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, for leading this remarkable event.

We are honored to welcome 11 renowned speakers from Harvard University, Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Westlake University, who shared many exciting and unpublished findings. In addition, the conference attracted over 200 participants from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and other local institutions.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our sponsors, especially for the strong support of the Faculty of Science, whose backing helped make this event a great success.

🎉🏆 Big congratulations to our Department Head, Prof. Larry Chow, and Associate Professor, Prof. Ben Ko!They have both be...
11/06/2026

🎉🏆 Big congratulations to our Department Head, Prof. Larry Chow, and Associate Professor, Prof. Ben Ko!

They have both been awarded PolyU’s inaugural "Top 10 Research & Innovation Stories of the Year”! This recognition celebrates impactful research that drives progress in Hong Kong and beyond.

Prof. Larry Chow is leading a groundbreaking Advanced Therapy Product (ATP) Laboratory – a state-of-the-art, PIC/S GMP-compliant facility dedicated to cell therapy, gene therapy, and regenerative medicine. The team is now focusing on manufacturing cell therapy products for spinal cord injury patients using HLA-matched umbilical cord blood. What makes this truly unique is PolyU's one-stop approach: the ATP Lab provides cutting-edge precision medicine, while the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences offers post-surgery rehabilitation training. This integrated model brings new hope to paralysis patients, addressing a medical need that currently has no effective cure. Prof. Chow’s work also supports Hong Kong’s vision to become an international health and medical innovation hub. 🧬

Prof. Ben Ko has uncovered, for the first time, the target and mechanism of tetrandrine (a compound from traditional Chinese medicine). His team discovered it works by blocking sphingosine transport and inhibiting calcium channels – opening exciting new avenues for treating viral infections (like Ebola and COVID-19) and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, as well as certain metastatic cancers. This research modernizes natural products for therapeutic use. 🧠

We are immensely proud of their dedication to advancing science and improving lives. Please join us in celebrating their well-deserved success! 👏

✨ Relive the Success of the 2nd International Symposium on Chemical and Biomedical Imaging ✨We are proud to announce tha...
05/06/2026

✨ Relive the Success of the 2nd International Symposium on Chemical and Biomedical Imaging ✨

We are proud to announce that the 2nd International Symposium on Chemical and Biomedical Imaging (CBMI-II) was successfully held by the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology (ABCT) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

📖 About Chemical & Biomedical Imaging – The Journal
Chemical & Biomedical Imaging is a prestigious, peer-reviewed open access journal published by ACS Publications in collaboration with Nanjing University. The journal is dedicated to publishing cutting-edge research on all aspects of chemical and biomedical imaging, an interdisciplinary field at the intersection of chemistry, physics, biology, materials science, engineering, and medicine.

🎤 Symposium Highlights
A heartfelt thank you to our distinguished Chair, Prof. Xing Bengang, Chair Professor of Chemical Biology, for leading this remarkable event. We were also honoured to have Prof. Raymond Wong, Dean of the Faculty of Science, and Prof. Larry Chow, Head of Department, who delivered inspiring speeches at the opening ceremony and actively participated in the plenary sessions and oral presentations.
The symposium brought together nearly 300 participants from around the globe, including Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, Japan, Korea, Singapore, France, and the United States.

🏞️ Post-Symposium Activity
On the second day, our guests enjoyed a delightful trip to Sai Kung. They set off from the pier to Hap Mun Bay (Half Moon Bay) by boat, followed by a scenic 40-minute hike on the island. The day concluded with a wonderful seafood dinner by the sea — a perfect taste of Hong Kong's natural beauty and local flavours.

🙏 Acknowledgment
We deeply appreciate all the speakers, participants, and supporters who made this symposium a great success. Welcome again to Hong Kong and PolyU — we look forward to seeing you at future events!

🏆 Historic Achievement in Life Science ResearchWe are delighted to announce that ABCT PhD students Dr Rainbow Leung Wing...
01/06/2026

🏆 Historic Achievement in Life Science Research

We are delighted to announce that ABCT PhD students Dr Rainbow Leung Wing Hei and Dr Martina Lei Mang Leng from our department has won the Grand Prize and First Prize at The 12th Hong Kong University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition.

Under the supervision of Prof. Terence Lee Kin-wah and Prof. Clarence Wong Tsun-ting, their project — "Therapeutic efficacy of peptide-linked chimeric antigen receptor macrophages (pCAR-M) in solid tumors" — developed a peptide-linked CAR-Macrophage platform addressing 92% of all cancers.

Out of 753 projects and 2,116 participants, this marks the first time a PolyU team has received an award in the Life Science category. The team has also launched a biotech startup, Limited, supported by the PolyU KTEO MicroFund 2025–2026.

This achievement comes as our department transitions into the Division of Life Sciences this July. It also aligns with the National 15th Five-Year Plan supporting Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology hub.

Congratulations to the entire team for bringing honour to our department and PolyU. We look forward to this new chapter and remain committed to advancing life science research and education — contributing to scientific discovery, innovation, and the training of future leaders in the field.

The 12th Hong Kong University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition Award Ceremony Highlights:
https://iec.newgen.org.hk/act-album/%e7%ac%ac12%e5%b1%86%e9%a6%99%e6%b8%af%e5%a4%a7%e5%ad%b8%e7%94%9f%e5%89%b5%e6%96%b0%e5%8f%8a%e5%89%b5%e6%a5%ad%e5%a4%a7%e8%b3%bd-%e9%a0%92%e7%8d%8e%e5%85%b8%e7%a6%ae%e8%8a%b1%e7%b5%ae/

Awarding List:
https://www.hkchallengeplus.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/%E7%AC%AC12%E5%B1%86%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E5%A4%A7%E5%AD%B8%E7%94%9F%E5%89%B5%E6%96%B0%E5%8F%8A%E5%89%B5%E6%A5%AD%E5%A4%A7%E8%B3%BD-%E5%BE%97%E7%8D%8E%E5%90%8D%E5%96%AE2026.pdf
Press:
https://bau.com.hk/web/article/1510649141236396032/web/content_1510649141236396032.html
https://www.wenweipo.com/a/202605/31/AP6a1b4d36e4b0b49ad1bd6608.html

🎉 A Night to Remember – ABCT Alumni Wine Tasting 2026 🍷We are delighted to announce that the ABCT Alumni Wine Tasting Ni...
28/05/2026

🎉 A Night to Remember – ABCT Alumni Wine Tasting 2026 🍷

We are delighted to announce that the ABCT Alumni Wine Tasting Night was successfully held on 22 May 2026 ✨

The evening was opened by our Head of Department, Prof. Larry Chow, who delivered both an inspiring opening speech and a warm closing address. In his sharing, he expressed his sincere hope that our department will continue to grow stronger, and that all ABCT alumni will always stand together as one family — supporting one another across industries and stages of life 🏡💪

A highlight of the night was the presentation of the 2025 Outstanding Alumni Award (Professional Achievement) by the Department of ABCT, PolyU. The award was proudly presented by Prof. Chow to Mr. Cheng Foon Yu. In his heartfelt acceptance speech, Mr. Cheng shared that ABCT taught him not only academic knowledge, but also how to be a good person — a value he carries with him every day 💫

The night brought together ABCT alumni and faculty, who reconnected with familiar faces and cherished teachers, while also making new friends among fellow graduates. Laughter, stories and precious memories filled the room from start to finish 🥂

To every alumnus who joined us that night — welcome home.
To those who couldn’t make it this time — ABCT will always welcome you back with open arms.
Once an ABCTer, always an ABCTer. 💜

Prof Ma Cong, Associate Professor at the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology (ABCT), The Hong Kong Pol...
22/05/2026

Prof Ma Cong, Associate Professor at the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology (ABCT), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, shared ground-breaking research on using artificial intelligence to combat antimicrobial resistance at the Asian Summit on Global Health (ASGH), held May 11–12.

Speaking at a forum titled "Digital Health and AI-Empowered Healthcare Transformation," Prof Ma detailed how his team is leveraging generative AI to revolutionise antibiotic discovery. Traditional antibiotic development has stagnated since the 1980s, but AI can generate hundreds of thousands of novel molecular structures in just 10 minutes, slashing early-stage R&D from several years to a few months.

Prof Ma noted that two of his team’s drug candidates targeting drug-resistant infections, such as Helicobacter pylori and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, have already entered preclinical safety evaluation.

Beyond drug discovery, Prof Ma highlighted the evolution of Hong Kong's medical AI landscape from diagnostic support to "early prediction." He cited AI applications in lung, stroke, and eye imaging that have significantly reduced waiting times, as well as AI-driven genetic risk assessments shifting the focus from treatment to prevention.

He emphasised that Hong Kong possesses unique advantages for developing "AI+Healthcare," including strong research capabilities, robust intellectual property protection, and upcoming regulatory support to be provided by the new Centre for Medical Products Regulation (CMPR).

Crucially, he stated that AI is not meant to replace doctors but to provide reliable support for more precise clinical decisions. His presentation underscored PolyU’s commitment to translating research into real-world health solutions, reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as a leading international healthcare innovation hub.

Organised by the Student Affairs Office of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the 2025/26 Cultural Diversity Practice...
22/05/2026

Organised by the Student Affairs Office of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the 2025/26 Cultural Diversity Practice Award acknowledges and commends outstanding initiatives launched by PolyU’s faculties, schools, departments and student bodies to cultivate an inclusive campus atmosphere. The award honours exemplary practices that respect and embrace students’ varied cultural backgrounds and diverse viewpoints.

Our Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology Student Association (ABCTSA), has shown steadfast dedication to promoting cultural diversity and inclusiveness on campus, setting an exemplary benchmark for other PolyU student organisations.

In recognition of its remarkable efforts, ABCTSA has been conferred the 2025/26 Cultural Diversity Practice Award under the Faculty/School/Departmental Associations category.

We extend sincere congratulations to all ABCTSA members for their devoted efforts in fostering a more inclusive, cohesive and harmonious departmental community!

Data explosion in AI era: PolyU leads breakthroughs in protein-based data storage, delivering high storage capacity, str...
22/05/2026

Data explosion in AI era: PolyU leads breakthroughs in protein-based data storage, delivering high storage capacity, strong stability and encryption capabilities

Facing the massive volumes of data generated by AI training and smart devices, Prof. Zhongping YAO, Associate Head and Professor of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Dr Cheuk-chi NG, Research Assistant Professor of the same department, and Prof. Chung-Ming Francis LAU, Associate Dean (Global Engagement) of the Faculty of Engineering and Professor of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, have achieved a world-first breakthrough: using engineered proteins to store digital data, and completing the full process from data storage to retrieval in de novo designed unnatural proteins.

Previously, the team used peptides (short amino acid chains) as data carriers, but they had limited storage efficiency and high production costs. Now, they have innovatively turned to proteins. Proteins feature much longer amino acid sequences, delivering higher storage efficiency and capacity. They can also be mass produced via bacteria at low cost, and preserved stably in powder or solution form – outperforming DNA in stability.

Two major challenges they overcame:
1. Data bearing proteins tend to be unstable and difficult to express.
2. The full amino acid sequence must be accurately reconstructed to retrieve the encoded data.

Their innovative solution: Inspired by natural collagen, they designed a protein “backbone” template. By embedding data encoded amino acid sequences into this stable template, they successfully expressed the target proteins in E. coli, and retrieved the data using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC MS/MS) combined with custom algorithms.

Impressive results:
• 30 times higher storage density than the peptide based method
• Only 10% of the production cost
• Enabled random access and cryptographic protection capabilities

The research findings have been published in Nature Communications, marking a major step toward sustainable, high capacity and highly stable data storage for the AI era.

Source: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/en/media/media-releases/2026/0514_polyu-leads-breakthroughs-in-protein-based-data-storage/

Warm congratulations to Prof. Ge Jingjie, Assistant Professor of ABCT, on receiving the PolyU Young Innovative Researche...
19/05/2026

Warm congratulations to Prof. Ge Jingjie, Assistant Professor of ABCT, on receiving the PolyU Young Innovative Researcher Award 2026!

PolyU has announced the recipients of the Young Innovative Researcher Award (YIRA) 2026, recognising six rising scholars for their outstanding academic research achievements. Now in its fifth year, the award honours young researchers under the age of 35 with exceptional potential, supporting them in pursuing high-impact, interdisciplinary research. By providing dedicated research funding and personal recognition, the award empowers recipients to advance forward-looking research, translate academic findings into practical societal applications, and grow into future leaders in global research and innovation.

🏆 Prof. Jingjie Ge (ABCT) – Award-winning Project:
Designing Low-cost, High-efficient Anodic Catalysts for Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Production
Her research focuses on the atomic-precision design of low-cost nanocatalysts to enable large-scale green hydrogen production through water electrolysis, paving a new way for sustainable energy development.

Once again, heartfelt congratulations to Prof. Ge Jingjie! We look forward to her leading the team to keep breaking new ground, achieving more remarkable results in cutting-edge research, and contributing further innovative strength to green energy and sustainability.

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