Autumn Issue, 2017

Seven Breakthroughs in Healthy Ageing New Cartilage Regeneration Technology  “ The unique part of our work is that we provide a 3-dimensional environment so cartilage cells can grow into native-like cartilage tissue with the appropriate structural organisation. One of the advantages of this technology is that a simple minimal invasive procedure can take bone marrow cells so we don’t need to hurt the patient’s own cartilage. We hope this technology can be developed to treat early degeneration in the joints so that we can reduce invasive joint replacement surgery for the elderly. ” Professor Barbara Chan 陳佩 Department of Mechanical Engineering Next Generation Bone Implant for the Elderly “ Our team is developing a hi-tech screw that holds together the fragments of bone and the main difference in our case is that we are using a soft polymer as we discovered that materials that were softer were able to maintain a really firm yet gentle hold on bones while they’re healing. Then the polymer is able to expand and spread out the stress on the bone so that you don’t end up having many small fractures that can eventually add up to a failure of the implant. In the future, even if more people have osteoporosis, the implants that they are getting are safer and more effective. ” Sloan Kulper (PhD Year5) and faculty members Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology The Magic of Chinese Yam for the Treatment of Menopausal Syndrome “ I extract a bioactive protein from Chinese yam. Chinese yam can increase the secretion of estrogen in women’s ovaries and without the side effects such as the increased risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer. So it is a safer alternative to hormone replacement therapies. In 2016, we got the US patent based on our discoveries. The clinical trials will be launched soon. We hope in the future our product can be developed as health supplements and drugs which can help women who suffer from menopausal syndrome. ” Dr Stephen Sze 施祖榮 School of Chinese Medicine Ageing is a well-recognised global challenge. Researchers at HKU are conducting cutting-edge research in gerontechnology to meet the challenges, and are actively pursuing technology transfer opportunities with industry to turn their findings into real applications. 34 From Research to Solutions