On 12 May 2025, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Global Health Institute (HKJCGHI) announced to establish a reference laboratory for global health diagnostic products at the School of Public Health of the University of Hong Kong (HKU SPH) with support from the Gates Foundation. Led by Professor Leo Poon Lit-man, Co-Director of HKJCGHI, this initiative aims to accelerate the development of affordable and effective in vitro diagnostic (IVD) products on major infectious diseases, including malaria, tuberculosis, AIDS, and other respiratory diseases, to address the unmet needs of Low or Middle-Income Countries (LMIC) markets.

 

This collaboration will achieve the aims by sourcing clinical samples for product evaluation and providing recommendations on clinical studies to IVD developers. Additionally, a biobank of clinical samples will be established at HKUMed to facilitate IVD validation.

 

Looking ahead, HKJCGHI will create a knowledge exchange platform to host seminars and international conferences on IVD innovation, product development, validation, and clinical studies. This platform aims to establish an international network for clinical studies and product dissemination in LMICs.

 

About the Hong Kong Jockey Club Global Health Institute (HKJCGHI)
 

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Global Health Institute (HKJCGHI) is a partnership between the University of Hong Kong (HKU), the University of Cambridge (UCAM), and the International Vaccine Institute (IVI). Established on 1 March 2024, with support from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the Institute aims to enhance global pandemic preparedness through vaccine research, development, and implementation. HKJCGHI leverages the IVI’s global field sites and vaccine expertise, HKU’s leadership in virology and epidemiology, and UCAM’s strength in optimising human immune responses. It unites world-leading scientists to foster collaboration and innovation in vaccine research and trains future global health leaders. More at https://hkjcghi.org