HKU Coordinating Two New Theme-based Research Scheme Projects

Project Coordinator: Professor Benjamin Cowling, School of Public Health
Approved funding: HK$55.6M

Influenza is major threat to global public health. Hong Kong – as a travel hub at an epicentre of zoonotic and pandemic emergence – is particularly challenged by emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, especially influenza. Over the past 15 years, the research team has established a world-leading multi-disciplinary influenza research programme in Hong Kong, contributing to public health responses locally and globally. “In this TRS project,” Professor Cowling said, “we will build on this foundation and further strengthen our capacity to address important research questions with a long-term mission to achieve more effective and efficient control of influenza.”
 

Project Coordinator Professor Benjamin Cowling

“Our overall aim is to improve options for the control of pandemic and seasonal influenza through a greater scientific understanding of the mechanisms underlying individual and population immunity. This includes complementary research on virology, immunology, epidemiology, and vaccinology.”

The research team is multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional, comprising a world-leading group of researchers in influenza research with expertise in basic sciences, clinical, and epidemiological research and a proven track record of successful collaboration. “It is really important that we have these types of large collaborative thematic research projects in Hong Kong,” Professor Cowling said. “We could each do our own projects by ourselves, with some impact, but if we work together on this type of larger project we can have a much greater impact because of the potential for synergy between our disciplines.”

Project Coordinator: Professor Chung-mau Lo, Department of Surgery
Approved funding: HK$50M
 

The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, high incidence of liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma-HCC), and shortage of deceased organ donors in Hong Kong burdens both individuals and the healthcare system. Over the past two decades, the HKU team and collaborators have successfully built a world-renowned liver transplantation centre, pioneering living donor liver transplantation using the right lobe liver graft. “We have established a very strong consortium with strong clinical, translational and basic science for transplant oncology and immunology,” Professor Lo said. 
 

Project Coordinator Professor Chung-mau Lo

Recurrent diseases and liver graft injury are key challenges after transplantation. In this new project, the team aims to improve the long-term outcomes of liver transplantation by tackling HCC recurrence and HBV reactivation through exploring underlying mechanisms, identifying efficacious biomarkers, and developing new treatments by integrating basic, translational and clinical research. “Our multidisciplinary collaborative project will not only strengthen our local and regional excellence, but also enhance Hong Kong as an internationally leading centre in liver transplantation,” Professor Lo said.

Alongside generating scientific publications and patents and providing training opportunities for future research talents, the research will also develop a unique computer modelling system essential for both disease prognoses and therapeutic guidance. Drug target discoveries and new therapeutic strategies will offer collaboration opportunities with local industries. Ultimately, the development of novel immunotherapies will benefit the recipients’ long-term outcomes, with both societal and economic impact.