Research with impact Good research can also help others by improving health outcomes. But that requires a bridge between the bench and the bedside. Over the past couple of years, HKUMed has been boosting our ability to translate research results into benefits for patients. This starts, firstly, with the right talent to support that goal. The SBME is one example because it is dedicated to training people who can translate research results. We also have our Technology Transfer Unit, or TTU, which is lighting a fire under staff and students across the Faculty to think more ambitiously about how they can apply their ideas to help patients. Let me give you some examples of TTU’s work. Last autumn, TTU launched a flagship programme, HKUMedXelerate, to identify and support research with translational and commercial potential. Some 64 applications were received from both basic and clinical researchers, and the top five were awarded up to $1.5 million each under the HKUMed Tam Wing Fan Innovation Start-up Grant, to advance their innovations. That grant, by the way, is funded by the generosity of Mrs May Tam. The winning projects showcased our breadth of expertise – such as a NanoPowder nasal spray for pre-hospital ischemic stroke management, a telerehabilitation platform powered by AI, and an AI system for discovering antibody oligonucleotide conjugates (AOC) related to neuromuscular diseases. These projects are the product of years of persistent research and translational work, and they embody our commitment to advancing patient care. Our efforts, however, have not stopped at funding alone. We continue to create opportunities for our innovators to connect with partners beyond Hong Kong. One such example was a four-day industry immersion visit to Jiangsu, where participants engaged with a range of potential partners from across the border. 9 STATE OF THE FACULTY ADDRESS 2026
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