HKBU researchers awarded research funds from Pneumoconiosis Compensation Fund Board (PCFB)
Professor Lyu Haitao from the School of Chinese Medicine (SCM) and Professor Allen Cheung Ka-loon from the Department of Biology have been awarded research grants of about HK$1 million each from the Pneumoconiosis Compensation Fund Board (PCFB) for their projects exploring Chinese medicine treatment for pneumoconiosis and inhibiting the growth of pleural mesothelioma.
Professor Lyu, in collaborations with Dr Zhang Jiaxin and Dr Liu Jingjing, is leading a research project titled “Functional metabolomics investigation of Licorice and Dried Ginger Decoction treating experimental pneumoconiosis”. The project aims to elucidate how this traditional Chinese medicine formula modulates metabolic pathways to mitigate lung fibrosis. The findings are expected to provide novel scientific evidence for its clinical application and establish a foundation for future drug development targeting pneumoconiosis-associated pulmonary fibrosis.
Separately, the research project “Defining the mechanism by which Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cells induce pyroptosis in pleural mesothelioma and combination immunotherapy with CD8+ T cells” led by Professor Cheung with Professor Lung Hong-lok from the Department of Chemistry, aims to address pleural mesothelioma—an aggressive cancer often diagnosed at late stages and with limited treatment options.
The project studies the mechanisms behind Vdelta2 T cell-induced pyroptosis and explore the synergy between Vdelta2 T and CD8+ T cells. By employing a pleural mesothelioma mice model, it will validate the combination of Vdelta2 T and CD8+ T cells to inhibit tumor growth.
For the research project details, please see:
