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The Faculty of Medicine of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CU Medicine), Microbiota I-Center (MagIC), and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) joined hands to host the Microbiome Summit 2023 (the Summit) at Hong Kong Science Park today. Over 20 international top-notch academic leaders and pharmaceutical industrial partners highlighted the applications of the gut microbiome and discussed the potential of Hong Kong as an innovation and technology hub for the microbiome industry in the Asia-Pacific region.

Clinical applications of the gut microbiome 

The human gut is our “second brain”. There are more neurons in the gut than that of the spinal cord. Neurotransmitters produced by the gut bacteria not only influence our digestive functions but also a variety of health conditions such as immunity, allergies, obesity, colon cancer, autism, depression and dementia. 

Recent advances in biotechnology have successfully utilised the gut microbiome in a number of important clinical conditions. For example, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of an oral gut microbiome formulation to treat a recurrent and potentially lethal condition called Clostridium difficile infection. In CU Medicine, the very first microbiome-based diagnostic test for early colorectal cancer and recurrent colorectal adenomas has been commercialised. CU Medicine envisages that advances in biotechnology will facilitate the isolation of next-generation probiotic bacteria with specific health benefits against colorectal cancer, diabetes, obesity, autism, and dementia. 

CU Medicine pioneers clinical applications of the gut microbiome

CU Medicine is a global leader in gut microbiome research. Based in the Hong Kong Science Park, Microbiota I-Centre (MagIC) is an international centre of excellence, that has been working closely with HKSTP and its biomedical ecosystem to promote relevant translational research.

As the only FMT centre in Asia being recognised by the UK, CU Medicine has already performed a high volume of FMTs, equal to one-third of all FMTs done in Europe. Over the past two decades, CU Medicine has developed a number of non-invasive diagnostic cancer tests approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for use in Mainland China. Other non-invasive diagnostic tests in the research team’s pipeline include autism, long-Covid and Crohn’s disease. Since 2019, the team has established a network of hospitals in Mainland China to collect the world’s largest cohort of 100,000 maternal and fetal samples and enable better understanding of how early-life gut microbiome influences health outcomes. 

Hong Kong as a regional hub for the microbiome industry

Professor Francis Chan, Dean of CU Medicine, stated, “Hong Kong is well equipped to become a regional hub of the microbiome industry with our world-class researchers, advanced technology and intellectual property protection. The microbiome market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30 to 40 percent per year. We urge the government to streamline the regulatory approval of our innovations in the Greater Bay Area. Specifically, we advocate the establishment of a regional medical products administration office to expedite the approval of our innovations to be used in the Greater Bay Area. I believe such a statutory body would effectively attract pharmaceutical companies and talent, and build Hong Kong into a new pharmaceutical innovation hub.

Recently, the Hong Kong government promulgated the ‘Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint’, which proposes strategies in terms of land, talent, and capital. We advocate the establishment of a modern version of ‘Noah’s Ark’ to process and store gut microbiome biosamples in the Lok Ma Chau Loop Area.”

Mr Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP, said, “We are honoured to co-organise the Microbiome Summit with CU Medicine and MagIC, and to promote Hong Kong’s research achievements in the gut microbiome to the Greater Bay Area and even the Asia-Pacific region. HKSTP has been working closely with stakeholders from the government, industry, academic and research sectors to provide I&T talents with comprehensive ecosystem support for translational research in the healthcare landscape, from bench to bedside, to benefit society. Over the past five years, the number of biomedical companies in the Science Park has grown from 50 to approximately 180, reflecting the continued strong growth of the biomedical technology sector.

We will seize the opportunity of the national 14th Five-Year Plan and the HKSAR Government’s Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint, assisting more I&T enterprises to go global and consolidate Hong Kong’s role as a bridge connecting the Mainland and the world.”

At the Summit, top-notch researchers and international industrial partners discussed strategies to transform Hong Kong into an R&D hub for the booming microbiome industry.