SEEN AND HEARD AI DOCTOR IN YOUR POCKET A software system that can turn an ordinary mobile phone into a medical-grade stethoscope was awarded a Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury at the 49th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva. Vitogram uses AI to collect and analyse heart sounds for early valvular heart disease detection. Preliminary analysis of the first 363 patients in a clinical study revealed that the phone-based AI model could detect significant valvular disease with an accuracy rate of 81 % – similar to a traditional electronic stethoscope. Its success also bodes well for its use in personalised health management, heart disease screening, use of telemedicine and remote disease monitoring. A start-up company, Vitome Ltd, has been established to commercialise the technology and Vitogram has been registered as a medical device with the US Food and Drug Administration. It was developed by a team led by Professor Joshua Ho Wing Kei in the School of Biomedical Sciences, who calls it an “AI doctor in your pocket”. “Detection and analysis of heart sounds is just the first application of Vitogram. We are developing additional sound-based AI systems that fully harness this under-appreciated modality in the field of digital health, and we are running clinical studies to fully validate the applicability of our various digital health systems,” he said. SUPPORT+ FOR CANCER PATIENTS SUPPORT+ is an initiative by HKUMed’s Department of Clinical Oncology, led by Professor Wendy Chan Wing Lok, to support advanced cancer patients and their families. It offers comprehensive information in three languages on cancer management, palliative care, and social support resources through a mobile app, dedicated website and active social media engagement. The content is tailored for patients and caregivers of various cancer types and was created in collaboration between the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Social Sciences. Registered users, primarily patients and caregivers from the Hospital Authority, can record symptoms on the app and communicate directly with palliative care nurses. SUPPORT+ has been instrumental in aiding families through challenging times. “Our goal is to enhance home care during the arduous journey of cancer. Over the past year, more than 1,300 families have found our service invaluable. We plan to integrate advanced technologies, including AI, and add more videos and animations to enrich user experience and expand our reach,” said Professor Chan, adding that SUPPORT+ remains dedicated to evolving and meeting the needs of cancer patients and their families, ensuring effective care management and robust support. HKU discoveries and capabilities were recognised this year internationally and in major funding exercises. RAISING THE PROFILE Professor Chen Zhiwei, Chair Professor of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Suen Chi-Sun Professor in Clinical Science and Director of HKU’s AIDS Institute, received two large grants in 2024 that are propelling the development of new treatments for liver cancer and HIV, respectively. Under the government’s new Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus (RAISe+) Scheme to promote collaboration and the commercialisation of research, Professor Chen received support for a promising antibody drug he developed against cancers and infections, and he has formed a start-up Orimmune to take the drug to clinical trials with industry partner, Immuno Cure. Professor Chen also received a Theme-based Research Scheme grant this year to advance a therapeutic vaccine he developed that has potential for ART-free HIV-1 control. Working again with Immuno Cure, as well as the Chinese University of Hong Kong and participating hospitals in Mainland China, the vaccine will undergo an Investigator Initiated Trial and phase two clinical trial. “These are two big projects to be happening at the same time, but we have already built our teams and we have support from the company and the hospital teams. The beauty of this work is that we identified targets and created new therapies, over more than a decade of work. We are doing first-in-class new drug discovery and clinical development,” he said. The project titled ‘Research and development of the lead Δ42PD1 antibody drug as an immunotherapy against cancers and infections’ led by Professor Chen Zhiwei (centre) was one of the three projects awarded funding under the HKSAR Government’s inaugural RAISe+ Scheme. Vitogram achieves 97% accuracy in estimating heart rate and 81% accuracy in detecting significant valvular heart disease. The SUPPORT+ team had booths in different hospitals to promote cancer awareness and prevention. 42 TECH TRANSFER AND KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE 43 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2024
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