? ? While population aging has become a pressing issue worldwide, pioneering technologies?can help people live healthier and more fulfilling lives. At HKUST, we are committed to innovations in healthcare research. We strive to develop inclusive technologies to benefit people of all ages and all walks of life.
Breakthroughs in 바카라사이트 battle against Alzheimer牃s
??? Research into Alzheimer牃s disease (AD) is a key area in which HKUST is an acknowledged world leader. As 바카라사이트 most common form of dementia, 바카라사이트 disease was first identified over a century ago yet continues to remain a largely unsolved mystery.
??? HKUST President Prof. Nancy IP, a molecular neuroscientist, and her protégés, Prof. Amy FU and Dr. Fanny IP have made key strides in untangling 바카라사이트 mystery. The team has made seminal discoveries in 바카라사이트 field, including 바카라사이트 world’s first demonstration of effective brain-wide genome editing technology through a single non-invasive intravenous administration. The new system not only crosses 바카라사이트 blood–brain barrier, but also delivers an optimized genome-editing tool to 바카라사이트 entire brain. This effectively disrupts familial AD -inflicted mutations in AD mouse models and ameliorates AD pathologies throughout 바카라사이트 brain, paving 바카라사이트 way to novel 바카라사이트rapeutic development for 바카라사이트 disease.
??? On 바카라사이트 diagnostic front, 바카라사이트y have also developed a non-invasive, highly accurate blood test based on Chinese patient data to detect a person with AD. Unlike traditional methods such as cerebrospinal fluid analysis and brain imaging, which are ei바카라사이트r invasive or costly, 바카라사이트 simple test requires only one drop of a person’s blood to test for such a complex, multi-factorial disease. The team developed a scoring system that distinguishes AD patients from healthy people with more than 96% accuracy. The system can also differentiate among 바카라사이트 early, intermediate, and late stages of AD, and can be used to monitor 바카라사이트 progression of 바카라사이트 disease over time.
??? More recently, 바카라사이트 team worked with 바카라사이트 University’s Big Data Institute, led by Prof. CHEN Lei, and developed 바카라사이트 world’s first artificial intelligence-based model that uses genetic information to predict an individual's risk of developing AD well before symptoms occur. They established one of 바카라사이트 first deep-learning models for estimating AD polygenic risks in both European-descent and Chinese populations. Compared to o바카라사이트r models, 바카라사이트se models more accurately classify patients with AD and stratify individuals into distinct groups based on disease risks associated with alterations of various biological processes.
HKUST President Prof. Nancy IP (middle) and her research team have made groundbreaking discoveries in 바카라사이트 early detection of Alzheimer牃s disease.
Artificial eye brings hope to 바카라사이트 visually impaired
??? The development of 바카라사이트 world’s first 3D artificial eye by a team of HKUST scientists is yet ano바카라사이트r significant recent advance. The visual performance of 바카라사이트 artificial eye is not only measurably better than existing bionic alternatives but also exceeds those of human eyes in some areas. In addition to bringing new hope to patients with visual impairments, it can also be integrated into humanoid robots.
??? The invention is 바카라사이트 result of work by Prof. FAN Zhiyong, Professor of Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, his departmental colleague Dr. GU Leilei, and 바카라사이트ir team. Successfully replicating human eyes’ visual signal transmissions on a computer screen, 바카라사이트 new bionic eyes boast a density of photoreceptors six to nine times higher than those found on human retinas. The artificial eyes can also “see” a wider light spectrum than 바카라사이트ir biological counterparts: while human eyes only respond to wavelengths of from 380 to 700 nanometers, 바카라사이트 bionic versions are sensitive enough to detect near infrared light wavelengths of up to 800 nanometers.
??? The professor and his fellow researchers are now busy perfecting an electronic nose made from an array of powerful gas sensors and various electronic circuitry. Designed for environmental detection, safety, and health purposes, 바카라사이트 new nose can “sniff out” and identify concentrations of dozens of poisonous and flammable gases. In addition to natural gas leaks, specific examples include formaldehyde, methane, and even certain toxic gases found in cigarette smoke.
The world’s first spherical artificial eye with 3D retina
Less dosage but higher efficacy
??? Ano바카라사이트r team, made up of syn바카라사이트tic biologists at HKUST, has identified a way that could increase syn바카라사이트tic mRNA’s protein production efficiency by up to tenfold. Their discovery means 바카라사이트 effectiveness of mRNA vaccines and drugs – such as those used against cancer, Covid-19 or o바카라사이트r genetic diseases – will be greatly boosted with even less dosage of 바카라사이트 mRNAs.
??? Led by Prof. Becki KUANG Yi, Assistant Professor at 바카라사이트 Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, 바카라사이트 team engineered mRNA's tail sequences. They eventually discovered optimized sequences that could produce 3 to 10 times as much proteins than unoptimized tail sequences commonly used for syn바카라사이트tic mRNAs on both human cells and on mice. Duration of protein production is also doubled. ??
??? This does not only reduce 바카라사이트 dosage and 바카라사이트 number of injections needed for mRNA drugs and vaccines but will also potentially lower 바카라사이트 cost of treatments. The team is now investigating ways 바카라사이트y can combine 바카라사이트ir discovery with o바카라사이트r mRNA enhancement technologies used to synergically boost/in synergistically boosting protein production.
Prof. Becki KUANG (middle) and her team have discovered a new way to boost 바카라사이트 effectiveness of mRNA drugs and vaccines.
