Press releases

Osaka University is starting a Phase I clinical trial (first in human) for refractory prostate cancer using an astatine-labeled drug ([At-211]PSMA-5). This trial aims to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of the new alpha therapy. Previous trials for thyroid cancer have been successful. The trial addresses the high unmet needs of prostate cancer patients and leverages Japan's ability to manufacture astatine. This innovative therapy promises fewer side effects and no need for hospitalization, potentially benefiting patients globally.

Besting almost 200 teams from over 20 countries, students from Ateneo de Davao University have just become the first ever Filipinos to successfully qualify for the prestigious international Spaceport America Cup.

A new study by Duke-NUS Medical School (Duke-NUS) and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has found that compared to non-volunteers, older adults who volunteer feel more supported by their social networks, which in turn leads to an improvement in their quality of life.

Springer Nature’s latest survey, focused on Japan, shows a high proportion of Japanese researchers have access to research integrity training and builds on results from previous surveys that highlight data training as the greatest unmet need.

An urgent call for increased international support and collaboration for science in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) has been released in a declaration by the International Science Council (ISC) SIDS Liaison Committee at the 4th international conference on SIDS in Antigua and Barbuda.

Asia Research News monitors the latest research news in Asia. Some highlights that caught our attention this week are how catching up on sleep in big chunks does not completely pay our sleep debt, a biodegradable paper placed on the brain to help with neurological diseases, and a dinosaur that shows the transition between scales and feathers.

New genetic tool developed by Duke-NUS could help investigate brain function and psychiatric disorders.

The Council of Lingnan University, in consultation with the Court, has approved the appointment of Mr Ernest Chan Chi-man as the Vice-President (Administration) of Lingnan University for a term of five years, effective from 28 October 2024. Mr Chan will report to the President and provide strategic oversight and planning of the University’s administrative resources and operations. Benefiting from diverse management experience in the public, corporate and academic domains, he will directly oversee the operations of three administrative units, namely the Finance Office (FO), the Office of Campus Development and Management (OCDM), and the Human Resources Office (HRO), and may take on further responsibilities.

Novel real-time PCR method might become diagnostic tool targeting emerging bacterium responsible for food poisoning outbreaks

Bicycle sharing has become a green travel option for city dwellers in recent years. However, the initial launch of the service in Hong Kong was met with controversies, such as road obstruction and random parking. Locobike is currently the only bike-sharing brand in Hong Kong, and its success is attributed to the team’s focus on proper fleet management. Through the use of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), Locobike can accurately locate its bikes and provide the team with real-time instructions on how to deploy and maintain them. This strikes a balance between social responsibility and the public’s need for mobility and helps society reduce carbon emissions in the long term.

Harpswell’s sixth ASEAN Women’s Leadership Summit will kick-off in Penang on June 1, 2024.

Researchers from Osaka University have found that a specific pattern of brain activity, known as “sharp-wave ripples,” is associated with thoughts that wander from the present situation. This activity begins in the hippocampus, a crucial brain region for memory formation and recall, and is linked to more vivid and less desirable thoughts. A better understanding of the relationship between sharp-wave ripples and these kinds of thoughts might be helpful for treating related conditions.

The 2024 Pujiang Innovation Forum, organised by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, was successfully held in Hong Kong on 27 April 2024. During the Forum, City University of Hong Kong (CityU) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) signed a strategic cooperation agreement, announcing their plans to support the development of start-ups of both institutions in Hong Kong and Shanghai. This will be achieved through the provision of space and incubation, as well as developmental and promotional support in the Mainland for start-ups incubated by CityU’s HK Tech 300 programme. The agreement also covers active exchange and collaboration with the Academy of Innovation at CityU and enhancing the effectiveness of scientific research results transformation at both universities.

Researchers have harnessed artificial intelligence to identify multicomponent metal oxide electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction. The breakthrough will make it easier for future researchers to identify the materials needed to address sustainable energy demands.

Researchers at Osaka University analyzed data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study and found that socioeconomic status (SES) transitions affect dementia risk. Specifically, upward SES mobility is greater associated with reduced dementia risk and extended healthy aging with dementia-free lifespan, while downward mobility increases risk. The study of 9,186 participants found that lifestyle, comorbidities, and social factors mediate this relationship, highlighting the importance of SES in cognitive health and preventing dementia.

Achievement of stereoselective up-conversion processes using a chiral donor/acceptor pair in the presence of synthetic saponite

Promising results of helium plasma jet therapy on rats after surgery widen scope of method’s medical applications

To improve innovation and technology education, Lingnan University and Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, have announced a partnership and recently held a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony at Lingnan University. The MoU, a milestone in their collaboration, was signed by Prof Leng Mingming, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Chair Professor of Operations and Risk Management of Lingnan University, and Mr Leo Liu, Vice-President of International Business and General Manager of North APAC Region at Alibaba Cloud.

- First listing on the UK-based university ranking organization Times Higher Education’s (THE) Young University Rankings - Ranked the highest among this year’s newly listed universities (33rd in the world), demonstrating its excellence in education and research worldwide

DGIST-Yonsei University-Korea University Collaborative research team has developed a suture-type electronic component that can wirelessly monitor vital signs in the body This new technology is expected to be easily applicable in orthopedic/medical rehabilitation, including personalized rehabilitation

Lingnan University held the Lingnan University Institute for Advanced Study (LUIAS) conferment ceremony today (20 May). Prof Alain Bensoussan, Lars Magnus Ericsson Chair and the Director of International Centre for Decision and Risk Analysis (ICDRiA) at the University of Texas at Dallas, had the title of Lingnan Fellow conferred upon him, and Prof Joshua Mok Ka-ho, Vice-President and Lam Man Tsan Chair Professor of Comparative Policy of Lingnan University, and Prof Tsui Kwok-leung, Professor of the Grado Industrial and Systems Engineering of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), were named Senior Lingnan Scholars in recognition of their important achievements in scholarly accomplishments.

Calculations consider how a dozen metals such as titanium combine with nitrogen or carbon to form bonds

Researchers from Osaka University found that the tyrosine kinase Csk plays a crucial role in regulating germinal center B cell signaling. Csk deletion in a mouse model led to increased ROS production and apoptosis, thereby inhibiting B cell affinity maturation.

- Replacing conventional long-time heat treatments with pulsed, instantaneous light to improve the electrical conductivity of next-generation PbS Quantum Dot solar cells while suppressing defect formation - Reduced build time and maximized efficiency with pulse-shaped fabrication - Published the research results in an online paper in the international journal, “Small” (IF: 13.3)

- The DGIST·Kookmin University joint research team identifies triboelectricity as a source of soft mechanoluminescent complex and proposes a mechanism for light emission - Emits bright light even under light stress and is durable; increased expectation for new applications upon identifying the cause

DGIST: Contribute to the creation of a self-sustaining digital innovation ecosystem by collaborating with Daegu Metropolitan City to successfully promote the "National Digital Innovation District" and foster local digital innovation companies and talents

An oblong-shaped receiver significantly increases the amount of charge harvested from ultrasound-based wireless power transfer

- Professor Sanghyun Park’s research team in the Department of Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering successfully developed a novel AI model that can effectively utilize medical images from multiple healthcare institutions with the knowledge distillation technique based on federated learning - Findings were published in Medical Image Analysis (MedIA), one of the top journals in medical AI

- Ensure price competitiveness and reliability by using the phenomenon of dye reacting with beta rays instead of expensive semiconductors and carbon isotope treatment technology for anodes - Provide a power technology that has been available for decades without the need for recharging. It excels in the era of on-device and AI, being more cost-competitive and efficient than traditional betavoltaic cells - Published the findings in the Journal of Power Sources, one of the most prestigious international journals in the field of electrical and electronic engineering

The finals of the 2023/24 Territory-wide Junior Secondary Chinese History and Culture Quiz, organised by the Hong Kong Government Education Bureau (EDB) and co-organised by the Hong Kong and South China Historical Research Programme (HKSCHRP) of Lingnan University, were held on campus today (18 May). Officiating guests were Ms Teresa Chan Mo-ngan, Deputy Secretary of the EDB,and Prof Lau Chi-pang, Associate Vice-President (Academic Affairs and External Relations) and Co-ordinator of the HKSCHRP. ProfVincent Leung Sueh-han, Head and Associate Professor of the Department of History at Lingnan University, Prof Tam Ka-chai, Associate Professor of the Department of History at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), Dr Fan Wing-chung, Senior Lecturer of HKBU, and Dr Law Yuen-han, Lecturer I at the Department of History at HKBU, judged the competition.