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Research teams from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) recently achieved a remarkable success at the National Disruptive Technology Innovation Competition 2025, winning three prestigious awards. Among over 2,200 competing projects, the team led by Professor Patrick Tang Ming-kuen from the Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology at CU Medicine received one of the top 10 excellence awards, the first Hong Kong team in history to earn this highest honour. The research team utilised artificial intelligence (AI) technology to discover a super anti-cancer immune cell, opening a new and hopeful path for effectively treating cancers that have long been considered untreatable with current immunotherapies. Additionally, teams led by Professor Michael Chan from the School of Life Sciences and Professor Lu Yi-chun from the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering each secured a merit award, reaffirming CUHK’s leadership in scientific innovation.

Professor Sham Mai-har, CUHK’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research), said: “I am immensely proud of our research teams for their outstanding performance in the National Disruptive Technology Innovation Competition. These accolades not only highlight the innovative spirit and exceptional capabilities of our researchers but also underscore CUHK’s unwavering commitment to translating cutting-edge technologies into real-world benefits. We will continue to attract top talent and generate impactful research outcomes for Hong Kong and the world.”

Super anti-cancer immune cell discovered using AI

The research team led by Professor Tang has discovered a super immune cell using AI. The powerful, previously unknown immune cell is capable of naturally hunting down and destroying solid tumours – the culprits behind the vast majority of global cancer deaths, including lung, pancreatic and liver cancers. The research project aimed to address the significant challenges faced by existing immunotherapies, which struggle with solid tumours due to penetration issues, high costs and side effects. The team used powerful AI technology to analyse thousands of cancer samples at the single-cell level, therefore unexpectedly revealing an unreported T-cell type with built-in “GPS” and “battle-ready” functions. These novel T-cells exhibit an ever-seen anti-tumour capacity: actively recognising cancer cells, deeply penetrating the solid tumour fortress, and maintaining powerful cancer-killing capabilities in harsh, suppressive microenvironments.

Importantly, the team developed a platform for the large-scale, rapid production of these novel T-cells from a patient’s blood sample within days. The mass produced “Super” T-cells can precisely bypass normal tissue and avoid triggering a “cytokine storm” (cytokine release syndrome). This makes fast, safe and affordable immunotherapy for solid tumours a possible goal. This innovation received top-tier national recognition, winning the most prestigious honorary Excellence Award in the competition. The project was further selected as a direct grant by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, which will provide direct funding to accelerate the translation of this disruptive innovation from the laboratory to clinical application, bringing new hope to patients with solid tumours.

Pioneering an intracellular enzyme self-immobilisation technology in bacteria

The research team led by Professor Chan has developed a groundbreaking intracellular enzyme self-immobilisation technology that significantly enhances the stability and durability of enzyme catalysts within bacteria. Conventional chemical manufacturing methods often generate substantial pollution, while biosynthetic approaches, though more environmentally friendly, typically suffer from low purity and production efficiency. Professor Chan’s team engineered a method that fuses target enzymes with endogenous self-crystallising proteins within bacteria cells. This innovation enables the immobilised enzymes to retain over 98% of their catalytic activity even after more than 100 days of continuous use, while also reducing cofactor consumption and production costs. The technology has already been successfully applied in the laboratory synthesis of high-value chemicals such as nylon precursors and chiral pharmaceutical intermediates. It represents a major breakthrough in overcoming key technical barriers to industrial enzyme applications and holds immense potential to transform the biomanufacturing value chain.

Innovative sulphur-based flow battery breaks through lithium-ion limitations

The research team led by Professor Lu has successfully developed a sulphur-based flow battery that offers high safety, low cost and long lifespan. Using an aqueous electrolyte, the battery eliminates flammability risks and significantly reduces production costs. Its innovative ion-exchange membrane technology enables a service life of up to 15 years. As global demand for clean energy surges, the need for large-scale, long-duration energy storage solutions is growing rapidly. However, lithium-ion batteries face several limitations, including scarce raw materials, flammability risks and recycling challenges. This breakthrough sulphur-based technology presents a promising alternative for renewable energy storage and off-grid power applications, contributing meaningfully to carbon neutrality goals.