The University of Hong Kong (HKU) garnered a total of 12 awards at the Special Edition 2022 Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days. Research teams from the Faculties of Architecture, Dentistry, Engineering and Science, and the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine secured 4 Gold Medals, 7 Silver Medals and 1 Bronze Medal with their inventions in the event. 

As one of the most prestigious innovation exhibitions, the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva (IEIG) is a remarkable annual global event which is devoted exclusively to inventions and innovations. This year’s competition was held in a virtual format in March 2022, where over 780 inventions from 25 countries and regions were evaluated by a panel of professional judges from around the world. The results were announced yesterday (March 28).

HKU has received a total of 41 awards including three prestigeous Gold Medals with Congratulations of the Jury and 15 other gold medals since its first participation in the event in 2018.

Congratulations to Prof. Julian Tanner and Dr. Lee Wei Lim won silver medals at the Special Edition 2022 Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days​ and their award-winning inventions are:

Prof. Julian Tanner
Professor and Associate Director (Teaching and Learning), School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine
Invention: Nucleic Acid Aptamers for Malaria Diagnosis
This invention employs DNA aptamers that recognise two important malaria biomarkers and can be applied to clinical diagnosis of malaria through integration with a microfluidic system which can be observed with mobile devices. Being easily synthesised and manufactured, the aptamers can serve as an alternative to antibodies in a more robust and less expensive manner. It was developed by a research team led by Professor Julian A. Tanner from the School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine of HKU.

Dr. Lee Wei Lim
Assistant Professor, School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine 
Invention: NevGro® - a Dietary Supplement for Brain Health
NevGro® is a dietary supplement for enhancing brain health and the compounds are extracted from Hericium erinaceus or the monkey head mushroom via an innovative aqueous extraction technique. The research team found that administration of NevGro® alleviated depressive-like symptoms through stimulating the growth of brain cells in the hippocampus, a brain region which is responsible for emotion, learning and memory. The study further revealed its neuroprotective effects against ataxia, by protecting the brain cells from degeneration in the cerebellum, which controls body coordination and motor function. This product is co-invented and developed by Ms. Cheng Poh Guat, CEO of Ganofarm R&D Private Limited, Dr. Wong Kah Hui from Universiti Malaya, as well as Dr. Lim Lee Wei and Chong Pit Shan from the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of HKU.