HKUMed MFN v26i1

showed vaccine potential for both influenza and coronaviruses, but it was not until COVID-19 that it received funding support for further development. By the end of January last year, Professor Chen and his team had synthesised the RBD of SARS-CoV-2 virus from scratch and successfully inserted it into their vaccine model. The international Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and the Hong Kong government took note and offered funding, while Professor Chen was able to arrange collaborations with Xiamen University and Hualan- Bio, Wantai and Chang Chun BK corporations. ‘This vaccine is a marvellous piece of success that demonstrates both innovation and cohesive teamwork between basic scientists, clinician scientists and clinicians,’ Professor Yuen said. Among the senior colleagues supporting Professor Chen, Professor Yuen has provided the ‘It is being considered a second-wave vaccine that could boost immunity after people are vaccinated with other vaccines, or even if they are infected directly with the virus.’ չ姽氋蕑〳⟃鋕⛓捀痧✳岚氋蕑〳䥰欽倴 䱺珏Ⱖ➮氋蕑䖕欩䧴䠮厪倞ⱟ氻嫬䖕䱺珏 欽⟃㟞䓽⯝氋⸂պ – Professor Chen Honglin ꤫듳ꩯ來䱇 SARS-CoV-2 sample isolated from a Hong Kong patient, the development of the hamster model for virus challenge in vaccine testing, critical advice, and facilitated its development with various bodies; Professor Chen Zhiwei has provided valuable advice and help in immunology work; and Dr Wang Pui has overseen the planning, designing and execution of the project’s experimental plans. ‘It has been a fascinating journey,’ said Dr Wang. ‘We never thought of the outcome when we started developing our prototype bivalent vaccine a few years ago. We just hope that it can now contribute to solving the pandemic problem.’ Professor Chen Zhiwei has even grander ambitions. ‘Our vaccine will be essential for inducing protection at the site of virus entry – currently, few vaccines in emergency use have such advantage. We would like to see this vaccine platform technology developed to fight other human diseases, too, including HIV/AIDS and cancer.’ As for Professor Chen Honglin, his world over the past year has narrowed to his home and office as he has been absorbed in attending Zoom meetings with funders and arranging testing and logistics to bring the vaccine to the wider world. Results from the current clinical trials will be known later this year. It is all a remarkable turn of circumstances given he initially studied the Epstein-Barr virus in nasopharyngeal cancer and switched to influenza after joining HKU in 2003. He remains a little wistful about how the vaccine has eclipsed his other academic interests. ‘People say to me, now you have more opportunities, more funding. But I like working on influenza because it’s planned, and you can do everything step by step. And I have more time to think,’ he said. Development of New Vaccines 氋蕑灇涮玑䎸 Exploratory Stage 䱳程㻜뀿ꥣ媯 Preclinical stage 荆䎯⵹鑑뀿ꥣ媯 Clinical Trials 荆䎯鑑뀿 Evaluation & Decision 鐱呍⿻对㹁 Commercial Manufacturing 欰欴 23