The fourth HUST-CUHK Innovative Medical Forum was held on Dec 27 in Wuhan, themed on the intersection of regenerative medicine and smart healthcare and bringing together experts and scholars from Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK), and Shenzhen University, with nearly 100 faculty and students participating in academic exchange.

At the opening ceremony, Sheng Jingbo, Deputy Director of HUST’s Office of Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan affairs, highlighted that the forum has become a high-level institutional platform for academic collaboration between the two universities. Professor Wang Lin of Wuhan Union Hospital emphasized that medical progress relies not only on clinical skills but also on the development of advanced technologies and precise treatment strategies. The forum aims to promote cutting-edge medical research, encourage interdisciplinary innovation between medicine and engineering, and advance smart and precision medicine to better address public health challenges.

During the academic sessions, Professor Zhang Li from CUHK presented the latest advances in magnetic microrobots for targeted drug delivery and minimally invasive surgery, and discussed their clinical translation prospects. Professor Wang Lin from HUST presented innovations in silk fibroin regenerative materials and their applications in repairing skin, skeletal muscle, nerve, and cardiovascular tissues, highlighting their potential clinical applications.

Professor Wang Zheng from HUST reported on innovations in precision diagnosis and treatment of colorectal tumors and outlined future collaboration opportunities. Professor Song Xin from CityUHK introduced multifunctional bioinspired microspheres for drug delivery and blood purification, while Researcher Li Zhengxing from CUHK presented on nature-inspired biohybrid microrobots.

Professor Wang Ben (Shenzhen University) discussed recent applications of magnetically controlled micro-robots in precision medicine, and Professor Chen Wei from HUST showcased bioinspired microneedle patches and oral smart pills as platforms for personalized medicine.

The Q&A sessions featured lively, in-depth discussions, demonstrating participants’ strong interest and research enthusiasm for interdisciplinary and innovative healthcare integration. During the roundtable discussion, scholars exchanged ideas on integrating clinical needs with technological innovation and reached preliminary agreements on collaborative research and talent development.

The HUST-CUHK Innovative Medical Forum has been held annually since 2022, with over 300 scholars and students participating in bilateral exchanges.