Events

Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (HKCeND) showcased its latest research and development innovations at the HKUST Unicorn Day on 13 June 2025. HKCeND representatives presented groundbreaking advancements in the diagnostics and therapeutics of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s disease. They engaged with a diverse range of stakeholders, exchanging insights and exploring collaboration opportunities. Moreover, one of its research projects, ’Development of Genome-editing Strategy for Familial Alzheimer’s Disease Therapy’ was featured in the DeepTech pitching session. As one of the largest entrepreneurial events in Hong Kong’s higher education sector, HKUST Unicorn Day 2025 brought together nearly 1,300 global investors, industry leaders, and representatives from government and academia across more than a dozen countries. Over 100 HKUST-grown institutions and startups showcased their deep-tech innovations, highlighting their technological expertise and creativity. The event included dynamic technology showcases, engaging pitching sessions, and the inaugural ’International Pavilion’, providing a vibrant platform for in-depth discussions and fostering global collaboration and investment opportunities. This initiative empowers the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, turning bold ideas into reality and redefining possibilities. As a key player in the biotechnology and healthcare sector, HKCeND is committed to driving translational impact by developing innovative diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases.

Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (HKCeND) showcased its groundbreaking advancements in the development of diagnostics and therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s disease, at the Asia Summit on Global Health (ASGH) held on 26 and 27 May 2025, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The core team members from University College London, a valued research collaborator of HKCeND, including Prof. John Hardy, participated in this premier event. This summit highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts in advancing global healthcare. During the inaugural plenary session titled ’Shaping a More Equitable and Sustainable Health System’, Prof. Nancy Ip, President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Center Director of HKCeND, joined an esteemed panel of international leaders to address the pressing challenges facing global healthcare systems. They shared invaluable experiences and forward-looking insights to inspire the global healthcare field. Prof. Ip stated, ’The complex health challenges of our time—from pandemics to workforce shortages—demand unprecedented collaboration. We must accelerate innovation-to-impact by nurturing talent, advancing translational research, and building partnerships to make quality healthcare a universal right.’ In the fireside chat titled ’Dialogue with Global Pioneer in Health’, Prof. John Hardy, recognized as the ’father of Alzheimer’s disease genetic studies’, shared his visionary insights into the future of neurodegenerative disease research and treatment. He highlighted that advancements in Alzheimer’s could be achieved quite quickly through improvements in earlier diagnosis and the development of innovative drugs. ASGH, Asia’s premier event on health innovation and investment, is jointly organized by the HKSAR Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The summit serves as an exceptional platform for diverse stakeholders—including policymakers, healthcare experts, leading academic and research institutions, industry leaders, and investors from around the world—to exchange insights and explore collaborative opportunities. At HKCeND, our team is dedicated to transforming the healthcare landscape of neurodegenerative diseases, starting with Alzheimer’s disease. We focus on developing innovative diagnostics, prognostics, and clinical interventions for neurodegenerative diseases that enhance the quality of life for the aging population worldwide.

Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (HKCeND) showcases its groundbreaking ’Blood Test for Early Detection and Personalized Management of Alzheimer’s Disease’ at the Hong Kong Science Museum’s special exhibition, ’Innovative Pathway: Hong Kong’s New Era of Industry’, from 11 April to 2 July 2025. As the global aging population grows, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) poses significant challenges for patients, caregivers, and healthcare systems. This innovative multi-protein blood test provides a highly accurate, non-invasive, and cost-effective solution for the early detection and monitoring of AD. Combined with proprietary machine learning algorithms, the test simultaneously measures the levels of 21 AD-associated blood protein biomarkers involved in multiple crucial biological processes. It enables early and precise detection of AD and its early stage, mild cognitive impairment, with accuracy rates exceeding 96% and 87% respectively, as well as accurate indications of brain pathology progression. Furthermore, this multidimensional approach achieves a comprehensive evaluation of an individual’s disease status, providing critical insights for patient stratification and the development of personalized treatment. The test aids in identifying suitable patients for drug treatments and clinical trial studies, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes and improving the quality of life for the aging population worldwide. Presented in collaboration with the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Federation of Hong Kong Industries (FHKI), and organized by the Hong Kong Science Museum and FHKI, this exhibition features over 50 exhibits across five sections, including Industry Cornerstone, Research and Development, Smart Manufacturing, Industry 4.0, and 2030 Vision. It vividly illustrates how local researchers and industry leaders are innovating to address real-world challenges, while inspiring creative thinking among young people and promoting STEM education. For more details about the exhibition, please visit the Hong Kong Science Museum’s website.

Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (HKCeND) participated in the highly anticipated InnoHK Summit 2023, held at Hong Kong Science Park on 6 December 2023. Prof. Nancy Ip, Center Director of HKCeND, took the stage to share the groundbreaking research and development (R&D) breakthroughs in the field of Alzheimer’s disease. The inspiring presentation of Prof. Ip shed light on the key advancements of the Center in developing innovative diagnostic tests and therapeutic strategies, aimed at addressing the global health threat of Alzheimer’s disease, which is associated with an aging population. The interactive booths at the summit created a vibrant atmosphere, allowing the HKCeND team to engage in insightful exchanges and showcase their R&D achievements to visitors. ’This summit not only provided an exceptional platform for us to share our impactful R&D breakthroughs, but also facilitated us to exchange with world-class experts, innovators, and industry leaders. It further fuels our drive to revolutionize diagnostic and therapeutic solutions for Alzheimer’s disease,’ said Prof. Ip. As a research center under the InnoHK initiative, the Center remains committed to fostering global research collaboration, driving scientific and technological advancements, and translating R&D outcomes into tangible solutions. ’With a relentless pursuit of innovation and a top-notch team, we strive to bring impactful healthcare solutions that benefit society,’ added Prof. Ip. The InnoHK Summit 2023, organized by the Innovation and Technology Commission and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, attracted more than 800 prominent academics, scientists, representatives of renowned institutes and industry leaders from Hong Kong and around the world. The summit showcased the latest innovations and developments of 28 InnoHK centers and unpacked innovation and technology (I&T) trends and opportunities through panel discussions with top experts from the industry and academia.

Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (HKCeND) participated in the Asia Summit on Global Health (ASGH) on 17 May 2023 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The team showcased their latest research breakthroughs and cutting-edge innovations in the field of Alzheimer’s disease. At the event, the team exhibited the first multi-biomarker-based simple blood test for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, which can detect, diagnose and monitor the disease with an accuracy of more than 96%. This novel solution would revolutionize the large-scale screening and detection of the disease, enabling timely and personalized interventions. In parallel, the team also shared insights on gene therapy, in particular, the promising genome-editing strategy for familial Alzheimer’s disease. This breakthrough provides immense potential to be translated into a new treatment strategy for familial Alzheimer’s disease, offering hope for patients and their families worldwide. Themed “Reimagining the Future of Healthcare”, the ASGH 2023 is a premier platform for health innovation and investment, bringing together all the stakeholders from around the world to exchange insights, explore opportunities and collaborate on the diverse and dynamic healthcare sector. At HKCeND, the team is committed to advancing research in neurodegenerative diseases and delivering healthcare solutions that benefit society.

Our Assistant Center Director Prof. Tom Cheung was invited by Education Bureau to deliver a lecture titled ’SS Enriching Knowledge Series for Biology: Biotechnology’ in Hong Kong Science Park on 10 Mar 2023. Prof. Cheung introduced some techniques of biotechnology and their applications to the secondary school biology teachers. Followed by the lecture, Prof. Cheung and Dr. Ashley Suen led the teachers for a tour of our research facilities. We are delighted for the opportunity to share our vision and research achievements, particularly in genome-editing technology and early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.

The team of Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (HKCeND) participated in the Asia Summit on Global Health (ASGH) jointly organized by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council on 10-11 November 2022, showcasing major R&D breakthroughs in the healthcare sector. The team, led by Dr. Fanny Ip, Chief Scientific Officer of HKCeND, demonstrated their world-class and impactful research achievements in developing early diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, the ASGH has provided an important platform for the team to exchange insights and explore collaboration opportunities with key industry players and investors. Spearheaded by The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), HKCeND was established in 2020 under the government-funded InnoHK initiative. The team is dedicated to translating cutting-edge research into innovative healthcare solutions that bring hope to millions of patients worldwide.

The HKUST Industry Engagement Day was successfully held today (7 November), with the participation of hundreds of industry players, potential investors, academics, government officials, entrepreneurs, and HKUST researchers. By demonstrating HKUST’s passion and capability in research and development, the event aims to engage industry partners with HKUST researchers to explore collaboration and technology transfer opportunities, thereby driving Hong Kong’s innovation and technology (I&T) development. As one of the research laboratories established by HKUST, Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (HKCeND) is honored to participate in this event. The HKCeND representatives showcased promising research breakthroughs in the early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Apart from the demonstration of research inventions, Dr. Fanny Ip, Chief Scientific Officer of HKCeND, was invited to speak at a thematic session on medical and biotechnology. She shared her insights into molecular diagnostics for Alzheimer’s disease.

The InnoHK Launch Ceremony, organized by the Innovation and Technology Commission of the HKSAR Government, was held on 25 May 2022 at the Hong Kong Science Park. Professor Nancy Ip, Center Director of Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (HKCeND) and core members were honoured to attend the ceremony. The ceremony marks a new milestone in the government’s commitment to promoting Hong Kong’s innovation and technology (I&T). Being one of the R&D centres under the Health@InnoHK cluster, HKCeND aims to become the world’s leading research center focused on neurodegenerative diseases.