HKUMED @ BIOHK 2026
Driving the Next Era of Biomedical Innovation
Welcome to HKUMed at BIOHK 2026
Top 5 Innovative Projects
HKUMedXelerate is an annual flagship innovation challenge launched in 2025 by HKUMed Technology Transfer Unit.
Supported by the Tam Wing Fan Innovation Start-up Grant, the programme empowers researchers to transform medical discoveries into practical healthcare solutions, offering up to HKD 1.5 million per winning team to advance transformative patient care.
SmartRehab: An Accessible and Affordable AI-Powered Telerehabilitation Platform
Led by Prof. Gary Lau from the Department of Medicine, SmartRehab is an award-winning AI-powered telerehabilitation platform that enables personalized home recovery without external sensors. Validated against gold standard, it delivers real-time feedback, tracks adherence, and supports diverse motor exercises. Already adopted across 11 institutions in 7 countries, it makes rehabilitation more accessible, affordable, and scalable worldwide.
SightTorch: AI-Powered System for Diagnosis and Management of Eye Diseases
Led by Prof. Christopher Leung, from the Department of Ophthalmology, SightTorch is an AI-powered eye care system combining deep-learning diagnosis with intelligent home monitoring to tackle specialist shortages and long waiting times. In cooperation with Orbis, it has screened more than 5,000 Hong Kong residents for glaucoma, and targets early detection, large-scale clinical trials and territory-wide deployment.
Revolutionising Pre-hospital Ischemic Stroke Management: NanoPowder Nasal Spray
Led by Prof. Aviva CHOW, from the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, this project offers a world-first, portable emergency treatment for ischemic stroke. Using 'nano-in-micron' technology, NanoPowder Nasal Spray delivers neuroprotection directly from nose-to-brain, bypassing the blood-brain barrier. When administered 30 minutes after stroke, it reduces brain damage by 80% in mice. This award-winning innovation shifts stroke care from hospital to prehospital, buying vital time for treatment.
Liver-in-Cube: New Generation of Bionic Organ
Led by Prof. Nancy MAN Kwan, from the Department of Surgery, Oncoimmunostics focuses on precision diagnostics and therapeutics by applying 3D bioprinting technology and AI to construct the patient-derived biomimetic disease microenvironment "Organ-in-Cube", which is the world’s first 3D-bioprinted pathologically bionic New Approach Methodology. “Organ-in-Cube” provides a fast, reliable pathway to personalized treatment selection while enabling standardized, high-throughput drug efficacy and toxicity evaluation.
Next Generation Intranasal Live-Attenuated Vaccine for Broad Influenza Protection
Led by Prof. Leo Poon, from the School of Public Health, C2iVax is developing an innovative intranasal live-attenuated influenza vaccine that protects broadly across human and avian influenza viruses, avoiding the need for annual reformulation. Delivered as a needle-free nasal spray, it raises mucosal immunity at the respiratory tract where influenza establishes infection and improves acceptability among individuals with needle anxiety.
Centre for Health AI Research and Translation (CHART)
CHART champions AI innovations that drive real-world medical breakthroughs for patients, carers, and the community.
HKUMed Data Commons
A Faculty-level central repository of available research datasets to enhance research collaboration and expand potential of datasets so meticulously developed
AI Core
Enables all AI and digital health systems to be developed and deployed to a high standard and to ensure inter-operability
Office of Research Translation & Industry Engagement
Facilitates clinically validated technology to be readily turned into sustainable community impact
Youth Development
Nurtures the next generation of ethical, innovative, and skilled healthcare professional and biomedical innovators who can lead the future of digital health
Nurturing Future Talent
Empower your research journey with world-class postgraduate degrees at Asia's premier medical faculty.
- Master of Medical Sciences (MMedSc)
- Master of Biomedical Innovation
- Master of Clinical Research and Product Development (MCRPD)