FEATURE Coronaviruses have emerged repeatedly throughout history to pose threats to human health – the next pandemic is not a question of ‘if’ but ‘when’. Professor Jasper Chan Fuk-woo, Deputy Chairperson, Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, is among those hoping to forestall that threat and thereby make the world better prepared than it was for COVID-19. Professor Chan recently received a Research Fellowship Scheme (RFS) grant to investigate emerging variants and sub-variants of SARS-CoV-2, the culprit virus of COVID-19; to understand the long COVID development; and to unearth new broad-spectrum anti-coronavirus strategies for future variants. The research addresses ongoing mutations of SARS-CoV-2 with uncertainites about its evolution and variant differences. The mechanisms behind long COVID are not well understood, highlighting the need for treatments that remain effective despite viral changes. ‘You may have heard of monoclonal antibodies that were developed in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and neutralised SARS-CoV-2. But once the virus mutated, these were no longer useful. So we are trying to develop broad spectrum, pan-coronavirus acting treatments,’ he elaborated. Professor Chan is leveraging his research expertise in emerging infectious diseases. About 12 years ago, he began working on Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus and developed various models related to coronaviruses. He has also been an integral team member of microbiologists led by Professor Yuen Kwok-Yung that set up the Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology at the HKU-Shenzhen Hospital since it opened in 2012. These two paths merged in 2020 when the team was the first in the world to document human-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from patients at that hospital. This was named by The Lancet as one of 34 landmark papers (and the only one led by HKSAR-based scholars) in its 200-year history. As Assistant Dean (Global Engagement), he is also dedicated to enhancing the Faculty’s global outreach capabilities. Professor Chan said a key reason for their success is the team’s focus on both clinical and basic scientific expertise and exposure. This is important not only for research output but for training new generations of researchers, which is also a component of the RFS award. ‘One of the cornerstones of the department’s success in tackling emerging infectious diseases is recognising the need for the energy and innovation of young people alongside our senior researchers. We are excited to have attracted very bright talents from around the world,’ he said. Students are attracted by the quality of the Department of Microbiology for infectious diseases and microbiology – as well as the high quality of research facilities at HKUMed and the department’s unique approach of bringing laboratory researchers into the clinic and vice versa, for better patient care. As all these pieces come together, Professor Chan is hopeful of developing a treatment that can target components common to all coronaviruses, in either oral or intranasal forms, to minimise mortality and morbidity of the next pandemic. Preparing for the Next Pandemic ‘We cannot guess which coronavirus will emerge next. But whatever it is, we want to have some treatments in our freezer that are ready to use so we can be better prepared than we were in the recent pandemic.’ Professor Jasper Chan Fuk-woo 10
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