治療眼疾的突破
由三名科大生物材料研究員組成的研究團隊開發全球首創的可注射凝膠，使蛋白質藥物緩慢釋放，預期可用於治療眼疾如黃斑病變及糖尿眼。現今，這些病患者多年來需要接受每月的藥物注射，治療方案並不理想。
團隊成員及科大生物醫學工程學部博士研究員余渝表示︰「藥物經配製成可注射凝膠後會慢慢釋放藥力，可能成為一項有效而且藥效持久的治療。」
生物醫學工程學部副教授周迎指出病人只需每年注射一次可注射凝膠，而無需承受每月注射的痛苦。同時，這項創新技術有助減低醫療開支及持續注射的風險。
展望將來，研究團隊將於三至四年內展開人體臨床實驗。長遠而言，隊伍希望這項治療技術可應用於中國及其他貧困地區，幫助有需要的病人獲得廉價和有效的治療。
這項嶄新突破令研究團隊成立的公司NovaMatrix Ltd.在科大第五屆100萬元創業計劃中奪得季軍。這項年度計劃旨在推動創業文化及發掘擁有最佳商業前景的方案。
About The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (www.ust.hk) is a world-class research university that focuses on science, technology and business as well as humanities and social science. HKUST offers an international campus, and a holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy to nurture well-rounded graduates with global vision, a strong entrepreneurial spirit and innovative thinking. HKUST attained the highest proportion of internationally excellent research work in the Research Assessment Exercise 2014 of Hong Kong’s University Grants Committee, and is ranked as the world’s best young university in Times Higher Education’s Young University Rankings 2019. Its graduates were ranked 16th worldwide and top in Greater China in Global University Employability Survey 2018.
