Warm congratulations to Professor Leo Poon Lit man, our Co-Director and Chair Professor of Public Health Virology at the School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, and his research team on being awarded a Gold Medal at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva for their project, “A Broad-spectrum Live-attenuated Mucosal Vaccine against Beta-coronaviruses”.  Presented at one of the world’s largest and most prestigious innovation exhibitions, the award recognises the team’s outstanding scientific leadership and their significant contribution to advancing global preparedness against future coronavirus threats.

Building on this internationally recognised work, the research team, led by Professor Poon and supported by multiple partners including The Hong Kong Jockey Club Global Health Institute (HKJCGHI), LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Centre for Immunology & Infection, and HKU-Pasteur Research Pole, has developed a novel broad spectrum live attenuated vaccine targeting beta-coronaviruses. By reprogramming codon usage across the SARS CoV 2 genome, the vaccine preserves the original viral protein sequences while significantly reducing virulence. In animal models, a single intranasal dose provided strong protection against multiple SARS CoV 2 variants, SARS CoV 1, and other human coronaviruses, while inducing robust mucosal immunity in the respiratory tract and effectively blocking viral transmission. These findings highlight a promising strategy for strengthening pandemic preparedness against future coronavirus threats. The groundbreaking study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) [link to the publication].

This achievement underscores HKJCGHI’s commitment to supporting cutting edge research that translates scientific innovation into practical solutions for global health challenges. The work also demonstrates the power of partnership in advancing next generation vaccine strategies with the potential to prevent outbreaks and curb transmission, strengthening pandemic preparedness and enhancing global resilience against emerging infectious disease threats.

👏 A truly proud moment for scientific innovation and global health — with sincere thanks to all partners for their invaluable collaboration and support.