News & Stories

With the rapid aging of Hong Kong's population, it is projected that by 2039, individuals aged 65 or above will account for over 30% of the total population, making early intervention for cognitive health an urgent necessity. This demographic shift highlights the critical need for effective strategies to address cognitive decline in the elderly.One of these strategies is to promote the detection of Alzheimer's disease at the community level. But this approach faces numerous obstacles. High testing costs, invasive procedures, and a lack of public awareness about the importance of early detection have hindered accessibility. Caring for our communityRecognizing these challenges, the NeuroCare Community Project was launched to bridge this gap. This project supports early and proactive intervention at the community level to delay the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, thus alleviating pressure on caregivers and society at large.

Boundless: What recent discovery has the HKUST research team made regarding the human enzyme DICER?Prof. Nguyen: Our discovery is genuinely groundbreaking. We found that the enzyme DICER, which is crucial for gene silencing, possesses a "dual-pocket" mechanism for measuring RNA. This is significant because it changes our understanding of how DICER interacts with RNA strands.Boundless: What exactly is “gene silencing”?Prof. Nguyen: Good question. Gene silencing means reducing or eliminating the expression of a specific gene. This process may occur naturally in cells or be induced artificially. Gene silencing is used to prevent the production of proteins from a targeted gene. This technique helps researchers study the function of a gene, investigate disease mechanisms, and develop gene-based therapies.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today launched the NeuroCare Community Project (the Project), a five-year initiative to enhance early detection of Alzheimer’s risk for Hong Kong’s elderly who need support. Working with over 40 community centers under more than a dozen non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and in collaboration with Tung Wah College (TWC), the Project aims to screen 6,000 community-dwelling elderly aged 60-75, shifting the focus from late-stage diagnosis to proactive, community-based care.With the rapid aging of Hong Kong’s population, it is projected that by 2039, individuals aged 65 or above will account for over 30% of the total population, making early intervention for cognitive health an urgent necessity. 

A research team from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has made a breakthrough discovery in understanding the molecular machinery of RNA silencing. The team uncovered how the human enzyme DICER achieves highly precise processing of microRNAs (miRNAs), advancing gene regulation research and offering new insights into the mechanisms underlying cancer, immune disorders, and genetic diseases. 

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) won a total of 62 accolades at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva (Geneva Inventions Expo). This resounding success underscores the University's exceptional capabilities in "AI + X" interdisciplinary innovation and its commitment to translating cutting-edge research into real-world impact.

Researchers at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) School of Engineering have achieved a major breakthrough in computational neural engineering. They have developed a novel reinforcement learning-based generative model to predict neural signals, creating an artificial information pathway that effectively bypasses damaged brain areas. This groundbreaking research opens up new possibilities for neural rehabilitation in patients suffering from motor or cognitive impairments caused by conditions such as stroke or spinal cord injury. Their study, titled “A generative spike prediction model using behavioral reinforcement for re-establishing neural functional connectivity”, has been published in the prestigious journal Nature Computational Science.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with various chronic diseases and cancers, including neurodegenerative diseases and metabolic syndrome. Gently extracting a single mitochondrion from within a living cell—without causing damage and without the guidance of fluorescent makers—has long been a challenge akin to threading a needle in a storm for scientists.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has demonstrated outstanding research leadership in the 2025/26 Collaborative Research Fund (CRF) and Research Impact Fund (RIF) under the University Grants Committee (UGC)'s Research Grants Council (RGC). The University secured funding for 13 projects under the CRF and RIF, with grants totaling more than HKD77 million. The achievement places HKUST first among all UGC-funded universities in both the number of funded projects and total funding received. This accomplishment highlights HKUST's strength in pioneering interdisciplinary and cross-institutional research, as well as its exceptional capacity for knowledge transfer in translating cutting-edge research outcomes into real-world impact that enhances societal well-being.