News
SCM celebrates success at Silicon Valley Festival with 1 gold medal and 1 silver medal
14 August 2025
The School made a remarkable debut at the Silicon Valley International Invention Festival, organised by the International Federation of Inventors’ Associations, which took place from 8 to 10 August in the United States. Two projects stood out among innovations from over 30 countries and regions, winning one gold medal and one silver medal.
Gold Medal
“Metabolic modulation of intratumoral cholesterol with engineered bacteria for the treatment of colorectal cancer” led by Professor Wong Hoi-leong Xavier, Professor of Teaching and Research Division (CMTR)
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide, with few effective treatments available, especially for drug-resistant cases. The team has developed an innovative microbial therapy named CHOX that targets excess cholesterol which fuels CRC grow. CHOX reduces the harmful cholesterol and turns it into 4-cholesten-3-one (4-C-3), a natural compound to fight cancer by inhibiting two key pathways that drive CRC, thereby overcoming resistance to current treatments. The laboratory models have showed that CHOX exhibits potential anti-cancer effects and excellent safety profile, offering new hope for patients who have exhausted conventional treatment options.
Professor Wong Hoi-leong Xavier (left) and his PhD student Mr Wu Jiayan (right).
Silver Medal
“Development of Justicia Chinese Medicinal Plants as Antiviral Veterinary Products” led by Professor Zhang Hongjie, Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) and Chair Professor of CMTR
The team evaluated over 3,000 plant extracts from the Lingnan region in mainland China and first identified Justicia medicinal plants as strong antiviral candidates against influenza viruses. Extracts from Justicia species demonstrated effective inhibition of H5N1 virus replication without causing harm to host cells. These active compounds showed broad antiviral activity at low concentrations, targeting a range of viruses including H5N1, Japanese encephalitis, Zika, HIV, SARS-CoV-2, and Ebola. They block a key step in viral infection, preventing viruses from entering host cells. Botanical formulations containing these ingredients were demonstrated to be safe and highly effective, making them promising for development as animal feed additives and veterinary antiviral treatments.
Professor Zhang Hongjie
The School has garnered widespread recognition for its innovative translational research, receiving numerous prestigious accolades at international innovation and invention exhibitions in recent years. These remarkable achievements underscore the exceptional research capabilities of our research teams and highlight our commitment to translating research into practical applications that drive real-world impact.