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The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has been awarded a total of HK$15.94 million to carry out research projects in two distinctive areas to tackle global societal and environmental challenges, from the 2025/26 Research Impact Fund (RIF) by the Research Grants Council (RGC).

The project “Consolidating clinical translation of the first locally developed advanced therapeutic product (ATP) – engineered osteochondral tissue (eOCT) for treating patients with traumatic cartilage injuries”, led by Professor Barbara Chan Pui from the School of Biomedical Sciences, aims to transfer the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) validated production process of the eOCT back to Hong Kong and conduct an exploratory clinical efficacy trial. It has received HK$8.8 million.

The project “Development of an in-situ sensing platform for deep-sea exploration”, coordinated by Professor Ren Wei from the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, who is also Assistant Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Engineering, will develop high-sensitivity deep-sea detection technologies, overcoming scientific and technical bottlenecks in ocean exploration. It has been awarded HK$7.14 million.

Professor Sham Mai-har, CUHK’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research), said: “These funded projects exemplify CUHK’s leadership in interdisciplinary innovative research. The University will continue to support research teams, foster global partnerships, and promote the translation of academic excellence into impactful solutions, thereby further strengthening Hong Kong’s position as an international innovation and technology hub and making enduring contributions to national development and societal progress.”

“Consolidating clinical translation of the first locally developed advanced therapeutic product (ATP) – engineered osteochondral tissue (eOCT) for treating patients with traumatic cartilage injuries

Cartilage injuries severely impair joint function and quality of life, while current surgical treatments are either ineffective or cause significant side effects. ATPs hold promise but existing options like autologous chondrocyte implantation and mesenchymal stem cell injections fail to consistently regenerate high-quality hyaline cartilage. Building on over a decade of research, supported by multiple funded projects and patents, the research team has developed an eOCT, a single implantable graft that mimics native joint structure, using patients’ own bone marrow stem cells. Preclinical studies have demonstrated outcomes superior to current therapies. With previous RIF support, the research team bridged translational gaps and proceeded with a first-in-human (FIH) safety trial by partnering with a GMP facility in Singapore, completing validations, manufacturing clinical batches and successfully implanting eOCT in four patients. Preliminary results show good safety and promising functional improvements. The current project aims to transfer the validated manufacturing process back to Hong Kong and conduct an exploratory efficacy trial on eOCT, paving the way to subsequent clinical trials and registration of the first locally invented, developed and manufactured ATP for cartilage repair.

“Development of an in-situ sensing platform for deep-sea exploration”

Exploring the deep sea, Earth’s last frontier, is vital for understanding the origins of early life, sustainable resource development and ecosystem dynamics. Dissolved gases such as CO₂, CH₄ and H₂S, along with their isotopes, reveal hidden chemical and biological processes. However, conventional methods relying on discrete seawater sampling fail to capture fine-scale spatial and temporal variations. The research team will develop a novel sensing platform by integrating fibre-enhanced photothermal gas sensors with manned submersibles. These miniature sensors, based on hollow-core fibres and fibre-tip cavities, enable high-sensitivity detection with microlitre-scale samples. Encased in titanium-alloy vessels, the system will undergo rigorous laboratory and simulated deep-sea testing. Field deployment will target cold seeps and hydrothermal zones, including a trial at the Haima cold seep (1,400 m) and expeditions to hadal trenches (up to 10,000 m). The platform will provide unprecedented insights into dissolved gas distributions, biogeochemical cycles and global climate processes. Led by CUHK, the collaborative research team involves the Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Harbin Institute of Technology (Weihai), Leibniz University Hannover, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and LaSense Technology Limited.

The funding results of Research Impact Fund 2025/26 are available at:

https://www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/funding_opport/rif/funded%20research/rif2526.html