News Express: Dennis Lo Yuk Ming gives talk at UM on prenatal and cancer liquid biopsies

新聞快訊:盧煜明於澳大談產前和癌症液體活檢


 

盧煜明
Dennis Lo Yuk Ming

 


盧煜明於澳大談產前和癌症液體活檢

澳門大學今(19日)舉辦榮譽博士講座。澳大榮譽博士盧煜明以“向產前和癌症的液體活檢前沿推進”為題,討論了液體生物檢測領域的現況和未來發展。講座吸引一眾專家學者、業界人士、科研人員及澳大學生參與。

澳大健康科學學院院長鄧初夏介紹,盧煜明是非侵入性檢測的開拓者,他利用母親的血漿中含有高濃度的胎兒DNA,研發出一套有別於以往入侵性的刺穿羊胎水的產前檢查新技術,成為醫學界的重大突破,為全球數百萬孕婦實現了安全、高效的產前檢測方法。盧煜明更把這項產前DNA檢測技術拓展到另一個新的領域:癌症篩查。他的突破性創新為學術界、行業和社會作出了重大貢獻,獲得社會不同領域人士的高度認可和贊同。

講座上,盧煜明介紹了他的創新核心技術——液體活檢,這是一種分析血漿中游離DNA的技術,它被用作為胎兒染色體異常和單基因疾病的非侵入性篩查工具。他展示了其團隊如何將該技術轉化,研發了一種能有效早期偵測多種癌症的血液測試。他還提及發展該診斷技術的過程,以及將液體活檢由實驗室帶到臨床應用的挑戰和影響。最後,盧煜明鼓勵學生要拓展自己的知識層面,除了書本上的知識外,亦能面向世界,多與人交流,吸收不同範疇的知識。他亦提到科研上要取得一定成績必然經歷無數痛苦的失敗,這是每個研究者都會遇到的歷練,重點是搞懂失敗的原因。

講座為與會者提供了重要的學習與交流平台,激發學生對尖端研究領域的興趣和熱情,展示研究和技術創新的典範,從而促進澳門學術創新和科技人才的培養。

澳門特區政府政策研究和區域發展局局長張作文,澳門仁伯爵綜合醫院代表、婦產科主任醫生方慧瑩,澳大副校長許敬文及馬許願、傳訊總監張惠琴,澳門科技大學副校長譚廣亨等嘉賓出席講座。

欲瀏覽官網版可登入以下連結:
https://www.um.edu.mo/zh-hant/news-and-press-releases/press-release/detail/57408/


Dennis Lo Yuk Ming gives talk at UM on prenatal and cancer liquid biopsies

The University of Macau (UM) held a Doctor honoris causa Lecture today (19 December). Dennis Lo Yuk Ming, honorary doctor of UM, gave a talk titled ‘Pushing Forward the Frontiers of Prenatal and Cancer Liquid Biopsies’ to discuss the current and future developments of the field of liquid biopsy. The event attracted many experts, scholars, industry practitioners, researchers, as well as UM faculty members and students.

Chuxia Deng, dean of UM’s Faculty of Health Sciences, introduced Prof Lo as a pioneer in non-invasive testing who developed a new prenatal testing technique by utilising the high concentration of foetal DNA in maternal plasma, achieving a breakthrough in the medical field. The new technique can replace the traditional invasive method of amniocentesis and provide safe and efficient prenatal testing for millions of pregnant women around the world. Prof Lo even further applies the relevant technique to a new field—cancer screening. His groundbreaking innovations have made significant contributions to academia, industry, and society, and have been highly recognised and appreciated by people from different sectors of society.

During the talk, Prof Lo introduced his innovative technique, liquid biopsy. Liquid biopsy is a technique for analysing cell-free DNA in blood plasma and is used as a non-invasive screening tool for foetal chromosomal abnormalities and single-gene disorders. He also explained how he and his team transformed this technique to develop a blood test that is effective in the early detection of multiple types of cancer. In addition, he discussed the process of developing the diagnostic technique, as well as the challenges involved in applying liquid biopsies to clinical practice and the subsequent impact. At the end of his talk, Prof Lo encouraged students to broaden their knowledge. He emphasised that in addition to gaining knowledge from textbooks, students should engage with the world, communicate with others, and absorb knowledge from different fields. He also noted that it is inevitable for researchers to encounter countless failures before achieving significant research results, and the key to success lies in understanding the reasons behind those failures.

The talk provided an important learning and exchange platform for participants. It also stimulated students’ interest and passion for cutting-edge research areas and presented a model for research and technological innovations, thereby promoting academic innovation and the cultivation of technology talent in Macao.

Those attending the talk also included Cheong Chok Man, director of the Policy Research and Regional Development Bureau of the Macao SAR Government; Fong Wai Ieng, representative of Conde S Januário Hospital and chief of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the Health Bureau of Macao; Michael Hui and Rui Martins, vice rectors of UM; Katrina Cheong, director of the Communications Office of UM; and Tam Kwong Hang, vice president of the Macau University of Science and Technology.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/press-release/detail/57408/