Joint team of HKBU School of Chinese Medicine and Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital wins first prize of 2023 Shanghai Medical Science and Technology Award

We are thrilled to share the marvellous news that Professor Zhang Ge, Associate Dean (Research) of Chinese Medicine, and Dr Wang Luyao, Research Assistant Professor of the Teaching and Research Division of the School of Chinese Medicine, joined hands with experts from Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital and awarded the First Prize of the 2023 Shanghai Medical Science and Technology Award.

Their awarded project "Molecular Mechanisms and Clinical Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Hereditary Bone Diseases" established a diverse family resource repository of genetic bone diseases (almost 2,000 families and 5,000 cases), achieving a molecular diagnostic rate of 59.1%. The clinical phenotype spectrum and pathogenic gene mutation spectrum of major types of hereditary bone diseases in the Chinese populations were delineated, offering valuable insights for diagnosis, treatment and research.

The Team developed a nucleic acid aptamer named “Apc001” that promotes bone formation in mice with osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare hereditary bone disease. Apc001 received orphan drug designation and paediatric rare disease designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The Shanghai Medical Science and Technology Award was established by the Shanghai Medical Association in 2002. It aims to promote the innovative development and transformation of medical science and technology, advancing the high-quality development of Shanghai’s healthcare industry.

Our heartfelt congratulations to the joint team being awarded this distinguished honour, acknowledging our researchers’ achievements in drug discovery.