35 34 HKU ANNUAL REPORT 2025 TECH TRANSFER AND KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE BETTER VACCINES Two intranasal influenza vaccines developed at HKU that can offer protection to a broad range of virus subtypes were awarded Gold Medals and the Saudi Innovation Excellence Prize at the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva held in April 2025. The vaccines, developed under the leadership of Professor Leo Poon Lit-man, Daniel C K Yu Professor in Virology, Chair of Public Health Virology and Managing Director of the Centre for Immunology & Infection, offer protection for humans against multiple human and avian virus subtypes, including emerging viruses. They also address the limitations of seasonal vaccines that require annual updates and often struggle against new strains. The use of an intranasal delivery format helps overcome vaccine hesitancy due to fears associated with injections. Meanwhile, a research team led by Professor Honglin Chen of the State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine and Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics, has developed a nasal spray-delivered H5N1 avian influenza vaccine that provides robust protection after a single dose. The vaccine has potential as a critical reserve to help curb transmission early on in future H5N1 outbreaks. It was funded by the Information and Technology Commission and is based on a platform developed with Wantai BioPharm in 2022 for a COVID-19 nasal spray vaccine. SMART GARMENT MAKING The HKU-developed SewingDX, an advanced sewing system that can sew fabric panels into three-dimensional (3D) shapes, was named one of the ‘Top 10 Emerging Clothing Technologies to Watch in 2025 and Beyond’ by StartUs Insights, a global AI-driven platform that maps innovation and emerging technologies and companies around the world. SewingDX is a spin-off of the Centre for Transformative Garment Production (TransGP), a collaborative research centre of HKU and Tohoku University with Professor Norman Tien, Taikoo Professor of Engineering and Chair Professor of Microsystems Technology in HKU’s Faculty of Engineering, as Managing Director. SewingDX was the only technology featured in StartUs Insights’ top 10 that came from outside the US, UK and Europe, and it has attracted attention from both the garment and automotive sectors. Its patented innovations range from AI-guided stitching and edge tracking to automated tension control, enabling the automation of complex sewing tasks traditionally performed by skilled workers. The system also reduces operation time by 50% to 75%, making it an attractive option for industry in the face of labour shortages and an ageing workforce. HKU-GROWN CANCER CURE The first anti-cancer drug invented in Hong Kong has obtained orphan drug designation from the US Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency, which is given to drugs that show promise for treating rare diseases. The drug Oral-ATO was developed by a team led by Professor Gill Harinder Harry Singh of the Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine and has been shown in clinical trials to be an effective cure for acute promyelocytic leukaemia. The drug has had an unusual development trajectory, starting in 1997 when Professor Kwong Yok-lam, Chair of Haematology and Haematological Oncology, and Emeritus Professor Cyrus Kumana produced a formulation of arsenic trioxide for patients. There was scant funding for research translation at this time, but they persisted and passed the baton along to multiple generations of HKU scholars. The result is a drug that is not only highly effective in both treating patients and preventing relapses, with an overall survival rate of up to 97%, but also about one-tenth the cost of other regimes. Further studies of the drug will be conducted in the US and Europe with industry partners. HKUMed has achieved a significant breakthrough in developing needle-free, live-attenuated influenza vaccines with broad protection against human and avian virus subtypes. Fixture-free 3D sewing automation with puckering-free operation in 14 seconds, reducing time by 50% to 75%. The State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases at HKU and Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics successfully developed a nasal spray H5N1 avian influenza vaccine. Leveraging cutting-edge AI, computer vision, and robotics to automate complex 3D sewing tasks previously handled by skilled workers only. HKUMed researchers have invented an oral formulation of arsenic trioxide for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukaemia, with a 97% cure rate. Innovations from HKU scholars are earning awards and recognition for their achievements in bringing improvements to health and industry. Groundbreaking Ideas
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