Biotechnological Breakthroughs at HKUST
HKUST has been at the forefront of advances in the fields of bioscience and biotechnology. In fact, its expertise pre-dates the University’s official existence, with the opening of the preeminent Biotechnology Research Institute (BRI) in 1990.
Through a diverse program of interdisciplinary research, HKUST continues to make important breakthroughs and develop new applications, laying the foundation for a growing biotechnology industry in both Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland.
Notable examples of the University’s world-class research, applications and product development are listed below. These examples demonstrate how the University’s bioscience and biotechnology research contribute to both society and the economy. With the continued support of the Government and corporate sector, HKUST looks forward to advancing the frontiers of these important disciplines for the benefit of all mankind.
Setting up of TA Therapeutics Ltd, a joint venture between the University and NASDAQ-listed biotech company Geron Corporation to research and develop drugs to help counter age-related and neurodegenerative diseases
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BRI’s high-throughput screening center has generated numerous patentable drug leads from TCMs, including those for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, neuro-protection, stroke, and sleep disorders
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Discoveries in elucidating the mechanistic basis of neuronal signaling have provided leads for the development of drugs to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as stroke
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Development of a cost-effective way to mass-produce human epidermal growth factor (hEGF), a protein that stimulates skin growth and helps in the treatment of wounds, burns and ulcers. The discovery has been commercialized for cosmetic use and incorporated into skincare products that are widely available on the open market
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The innovative approach in the research and development of Chinese herbal medicine has led to the commercialization of a herbal health product – SuperNDA, the first of its type from a collaborative R&D effort between the industry and academia
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Research achievements in bioscience and biotechnology at HKUST have resulted in a number of patents: 8 patents awarded and 5 more patent applications filed. In addition, a good percentage of published papers have appeared in Cell, Science, Nature and other leading scientific journals
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