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Two scholars from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) have been honoured with the 2024 Croucher Tak Wah Mak Innovation Awards by the Croucher Foundation. Professor Lai Hei-ming, Assistant Professor (Clinical) in the Department of Chemical Pathology from the Faculty of Medicine, and Professor Lyu Hairong, Vice-Chancellor Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry from the Faculty of Science, received the awards in recognition of their excellent scientific research achievements.

Project name: From spatial multi-omics to systems biophysics and 3D tissue diagnostics

Professor Lai is a dedicated researcher focusing on integrating advanced 3D digital pathology into clinical practice. The innovations led by Professor Lai’s team culminated in the creation of the first scalable 3D tissue multiplexed molecular mapping pipeline, a patented technology that prompted the founding of a spin-off company. They focus on developing precision diagnostics in oncology and rheumatology by harnessing the power of 3D digital pathology.

With the support of the Croucher Foundation, Professor Lai’s team will continue the research project with three objectives, aiming to revolutionise tissue analysis and advance biological research. The first objective focuses on developing an advanced 3D digital pathology platform that increases tissue detail by a million-fold. The second is to revolutionise traditional pathology. Unlike the time-consuming, error-prone 2D sectioning process currently used to understand tissue structure, Professor Lai’s patented technology is able to present the tissue in 3D images without destroying the sample. This technology will help scientists and doctors accurately understand the structure of normal and pathological tissues, for example by studying the changes in kidney diseases, cancers, rheumatological and immunological diseases, and brain disorders, with the hope of unveiling biological mysteries and inspiring novel therapeutic approaches. The third objective involves creating an open-source virtual tissue bank by digitising whole tissue samples, which will support the education of clinicians and students, provide resources for researchers, and empower artificial intelligence algorithm development, particularly in the precise quantification of parameters and biomarkers in cancer tissues.

Please click here for Professor Lai’s biography.

Project name: Deep involvement of boron into synthetic chemistry: methodologies and applications

The surging global demand for fine chemicals poses a significant challenge for synthetic chemistry, which aims to innovate methodologies and generate new compounds. This is particularly crucial in drug discovery, where extensive chemical synthesis is necessary to create compound libraries, manipulate natural products and optimise lead compounds. Organic chemists are dedicated to advancing synthesis by developing new synthetic methods. These efforts are crucial to generate new substances continuously and efficiently, simplify synthetic processes, and curb resource and time wastage, as well as environmental impact. Professor Lyu’s expertise in the chemistry of boron, a flexible chemical element, has fuelled her drive to address these challenges through boron-based strategies.

With the support of the Croucher Foundation, Professor Lyu’s team will focus on developing a wide range of innovative boron-based reagents. They simplify the process of incorporating boron into organic molecules. Boron is notable for its versatility, easily transforming into various functional groups. This feature is particularly beneficial for modifying the structures of complex molecules at later stages of their development, which is crucial for rapidly generating extensive collections of potential drugs. Additionally, the team will create new boron-based synthetic approaches for the efficient and streamlined synthesis of functional organic molecules. This research is expected to advance boron chemistry and synthetic organic chemistry, potentially revolutionising the drug discovery process.

Please click here for Professor Lyu’s biography.