UM develops new AI model for virtual screening to enhance mRNA lipid nanoparticle delivery systems

The research team led by Ouyang Defang, associate professor in the Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, and the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Macau (UM), has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model for virtual screening of mRNA lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery systems. This breakthrough is set to increase the efficiency of AI-driven mRNA drug development. The research, titled ‘Artificial intelligence-driven rational design of ionisable lipids for mRNA delivery’, has been published in the international journal Nature Communications, and an international patent has been filed.

LNPs have proven effective for mRNA delivery, as demonstrated by the COVID-19 vaccines. However, their key component, ionisable lipids, has traditionally been optimised through inefficient and costly experimental screening. Therefore, the research team developed an AI model and used virtual screening to facilitate the rational design of ionisable lipids by predicting two key properties of LNPs, apparent pKa and mRNA delivery efficiency. Nearly 20 million ionisable lipids were evaluated through two iterations of AI-driven generation and screening, yielding three and six new molecules, respectively. In mouse test validation, one lipid from the initial iteration, featuring a benzene ring, showed comparable performance to the control DLin-MC3-DMA (MC3). Notably, all six lipids from the second iteration equalled or outperformed MC3, with one exhibiting efficacy similar to a superior control lipid SM-102. Furthermore, the AI model is interpretable in terms of structure-activity relationships. This study demonstrates the immense potential of AI technology in the development of mRNA drug products, which can improve the efficiency of drug development.

The study was conducted in collaboration between UM and Fudan University. Ouyang Defang is the co-first corresponding author of the study, with UM postdoctoral fellow Wang Wei and PhD student Wu Yiyang as co-first authors. The research was supported by UM (File No: MYRGCRG2022-00008-ICMS, ICMS/RTO/EP160/2023), Science and Technology Development Fund of the Macao SAR (File No: 0071/2024/RIA1, 005/2023/SKL), Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission (File No: SGDX20210823103802016), Zhuhai Science and Technology Innovation Bureau (File No: ZH22017002210010PWC), National Natural Science Foundation of China (File No: 32301174). The research was also supported by the Shanghai Zhangjiang mRNA Innovation and Translation Center, Fudan Center for mRNA Translational Research, and Shanghai RNACure. The full text of the study is available at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-55072-6.

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/60209/

UM honorary doctor Lawrence Juen-yee Lau gives talk on China in the global economy

The University of Macau (UM) held a Doctor honoris causa Lecture titled ‘China in the Global Economy’ today (16 January). Lawrence Juen-yee Lau, recipient of the Doctor of Education honoris causa degree from UM and former vice-chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), was the speaker. The talk was well attended by scholars, UM faculty and students, people from various sectors of the community, and the public.

In his speech, Huen Wing Ming, second vice chair of the University Council, highlighted Prof Lau’s academic achievements, as well as his contributions to economic development, economic growth, and the East Asian economies. He also mentioned Prof Lau’s achievements during his tenure as vice-chancellor of CUHK, such as the internationalisation of the university and the establishment of CUHK-Shenzhen. Notably, Prof Lau took part in the establishment of the Dr Stanley Ho Medical Development Foundation in 2005.

During the talk, Prof Lau reviewed the history of the Chinese economy and its development since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and illustrated China’s evolving role in various sectors of the global economy. He discussed China’s progress in intangible assets (human capital and R&D capital) and the increased international use of the renminbi. He also provided a long-term outlook for China’s economy up to 2050. In addition, Prof Lau engaged with the audience in the Q&A and discussion session moderated by Yu Jun, dean of the UM Faculty of Business Administration.

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/60201/

UM scholar gives talk on myths and practices of miniaturised energy harvesting techniques

The University of Macau (UM) held the 23rd UM Scholar Research Forum today (15 January), with Law Man Kay, professor in the UM Institute of Microelectronics and laboratory infrastructure coordinator of the State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, as the speaker. Prof Law gave a talk titled ‘Myths and Practices of Miniaturized Energy Harvesting Techniques’ and shared his research findings. The talk attracted a full house.

During the talk, Prof Law shared his research on energy harvesting circuits and systems. He explained how various forms of ambient energy, such as light and vibration, can be converted into usable electrical energy to power electronic devices or sensors. He also highlighted the challenges and opportunities in implementing power systems in miniaturised electronic devices.

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/60194/

UM rector attends Annual Presidents Meeting on Building World-Class Universities in Harbin

Yonghua Song, rector of the University of Macau (UM), attended the Annual Presidents Meeting on Building World-Class Universities and Annual Presidents Forum of Association of University Presidents of China held in Harbin today (10 January). The event brought together presidents of member universities of the Association of University Presidents of China (C9 League+) to discuss ways to build world-class universities with Chinese characteristics.

Leaders of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China, Heilongjiang Province and Harbin, as well as the president of Harbin Institute of Technology, delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. During the event, university leaders had discussions on topics such as ‘The Mission and Responsibility of World-Class Universities in Building a Strong Nation Through Education’, ‘Practical Pathways for World-Class Universities to Promote Integrated Development of Education, Science, and Talent’, and ‘The Role and Value Contribution of World-Class Universities in Shaping New-Quality Productivity’, and shared their insights into the development of world-class universities.

Rector Song gave a presentation titled ‘Innovation and Development of the University of Macau in Response to the Needs of the New Era’. He analysed the development background and needs of the new era, and UM’s characteristics and experiences in interdisciplinary integration and the integrated development of education, science and talent in the context of digitisation. He also introduced UM’s innovative practices and teaching activities in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

Initiated by the members of C9 League+, the Annual Presidents Meeting on Building World-Class Universities aims to promote the development of world-class universities in China and enhance exchanges between universities. Members of the C9 League+ are Peking University, Tsinghua University, Harbin Institute of Technology, Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Nanjing University, Zhejiang University, University of Science and Technology of China, Xi’an Jiaotong University, the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and UM.

Wang Chunming, director of the UM Global Affairs Office, also attended the event.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/campus-news/detail/60152/

UM releases macroeconomic forecast for Macao 2025

The Centre for Macau Studies and the Department of Economics of the University of Macau (UM) have released the macroeconomic forecast for Macao 2025. The global economic outlook faces downward risks due to the significant slowdown in China’s economic growth and the uncertainties brought about by various countries’ economic policies. The research team predicts that Macao’s baseline GDP growth in 2025 will be 7.7%, while the baseline forecasts for other major economic variables are: exports of services will grow by 7.6%; private consumption expenditure will increase by 3.1%; the inflation rate will be 1.1%; the overall unemployment rate will be 1.8%; the unemployment rate of Macao residents will be 2.3%; and the Macao SAR Government’s current revenue will be MOP 111.8 billion.

Macao’s economy gradually returned to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of visitor arrivals began to recover in 2023. In the first quarter of 2024, the pace of recovery was good, with the total number of visitor arrivals reaching 8.88 million, a huge increase of 79.4% year-on-year. However, in the second quarter of 2024, the pace of growth began to slow down. The total number of visitor arrivals was 7.84 million, an increase of only 17.1% year-on-year. In the third quarter of 2024, the growth of visitor arrivals continued to slow. The overall number of visitor arrivals was 9.20 million, an increase of only 11.1% year-on-year. Among them, the number of visitor arrivals from mainland China reached 6.68 million, up 14.7% year-on-year; the number of visitor arrivals from Hong Kong was 1.79 million, down 6.0% year-on-year; while the number of visitor arrivals from other regions reached 0.73 million, up 31.7% year-on-year. Due to the slowdown in the growth of visitor arrivals, real exports of services in the third quarter of 2024 were MOP 72.0 billion, up 1.3% year-on-year, of which real gaming expenditure of non-residents was MOP 42.9 billion, up 11.2% year-on-year; while real non-gaming expenditure of non-residents was MOP 20.1 billion, down 14.5% year-on-year.

In terms of domestic demand, both private consumption and investment grew steadily. In the third quarter of 2024, real private consumption expenditure amounted to MOP 28.9 billion, an increase of 1.9% year-on-year. Among them, real consumption expenditure on food, beverages and tobacco and abroad showed promising growth, rising by 5.2% and 5.9% respectively; while real consumption expenditure on consumer goods was weaker, declining by 2.7% year-on-year. Gross fixed capital formation was amounted to MOP 16.0 billion, an increase of 16.0% year-on-year.

Prices remained stable, with the consumer price inflation rate from January to November 2024 at just 0.8%. The largest component, food and non-alcoholic beverages, had an inflation rate of 1.2% (the inflation rate for eating out and takeaway was 2.4%). The second largest component, housing and fuel, had an inflation rate of 0.5%.

The labour market remained tight, with the overall unemployment rate at 1.7% in both the second and third quarters of 2024, and the unemployment rate of Macao residents at 2.3%. The overall median monthly employment earnings in the third quarter of 2024 was MOP 18,000, exceeding the MOP 17,000 recorded in the same period of 2019, while the median monthly employment earnings of Macao residents was MOP 20,500, also higher than the MOP 20,000 recorded in the same period of 2019.

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s forecast in October 2024, the global economy is expected to grow by 3.2% in both 2024 and 2025. Overall, the world is expected to maintain stable economic growth; however, uncertainties brought about by various countries’ economic policies has led to downside risks to the global economic outlook. The US economy is expected to grow by 2.8% in 2024 and 2.2% in 2025, while the euro area economy is expected to grow by 0.8% in 2024 and 1.2% in 2025. Mainland China’s economic growth has slowed significantly due to the negative impact of structural change and continued weak expectations, with a growth rate of 4.6% in the third quarter of 2024, and future trade frictions with the US may add more uncertainty to the economy. The Chinese central government tried to boost private consumption and investment through more proactive fiscal and financial policies. These developments in external and internal demands also slowed the economic growth of Hong Kong, another major services export market of Macao, with a growth rate of only 1.8% in the third quarter of 2024.

As various unstable factors continue to affect Macao’s economic growth, the baseline forecasts for major economic variables for 2025 are as follows:

• Macao’s GDP will grow by 7.7%.
• Exports of services will grow by 7.6%.
• Private consumption expenditure will grow by 3.1%.
• Gross fixed capital formation will grow by 8.0%.
• Consumer prices (as measured by the GDP deflator) will rise by 1.5%; and the CPI (composite) inflation rate will be 1.1%.
• Median monthly employment earnings will increase by 0.7%.
• The unemployment rate will be 1.8%, and the unemployment rate of Macao residents will be 2.3%.
• The Macao SAR Government’s current revenue will be MOP 111.8 billion.

About the Macroeconometric Structural Model of Macao

The Macroeconometric Structural Model of Macao is a quarterly simultaneous-equations econometric model which covers seven blocks of Macao’s economy: consumption, investment, external trade, prices, government, labour market, and monetary sector. It includes 87 equations and 301 variables. Time series data start from the first quarter of 1998 and is updated once new data are available. Its results provide the community with a timely understanding of the state of Macao’s economy and support prudent decision-making. The model was founded by the late Prof Sir James Mirrlees, Nobel laureate in economic sciences and honorary doctor of social sciences of the University of Macau (UM), and faculty members in the Department of Economics of UM. The research team includes Chan Chi Shing, Ho Wai Hong, Kwan Fung, and Gary Wong Ka Kei. The project is now managed by the Centre for Macau Studies of UM.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/presss-release/detail/60115/

UM, Shaanxi Normal University jointly hold first cross-border symposium on study of Chinese author Jia Pingwa’s literary works

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities (FAH) of the University of Macau (UM), the Jia Pingwa Institute of Culture and Art, and the School of Chinese Language and Literature of Shaanxi Normal University jointly held the first cross-border symposium on the study of Jia Pingwa’s literary works on 1 December. The symposium aimed to enhance the influence of and attention to the works of Chinese author Jia Pingwa in the field of literary studies in Macao. It took the form of presentations and reviews.

The symposium, held at the Jiang Dou Bookshop of the Jia Pingwa Institute of Culture and Art in Xi’an, attracted nearly 50 participants, including scholars and doctoral students from UM and Shaanxi Normal University. The event was initiated by Zhu Shoutong, director of the Centre for Chinese History and Culture at UM and chair of the Macau Association of Literary and Artistic Critics; and Li Jikai, professor in the School of Chinese Language and Literature, director of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Humanities, and doctoral supervisor at Shaanxi Normal University. Jia Pingwa, chairman of the Shaanxi Writers Association and a renowned author, also attended the symposium.

During the symposium, doctoral students presented their innovative perspectives and insights through presentations, which were then commented by professors. Participants also discussed the dissemination and significance of Jia Pingwa’s works in different cultural contexts at home and abroad.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/presss-release/detail/60060/

Forum on sustainable blue economy for carbon neutrality in GBA held at UM

The High-level Forum on Integrated Ocean Management and Sustainable Blue Economy for Carbon Neutrality in the Greater Bay Area, jointly organised by the University of Macau (UM) and the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED), was held at UM on 6 January. Leading experts and industry representatives discussed the development directions of integrated ocean management and sustainable blue economy in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). They also focused on the synergy between ‘heading towards carbon neutrality’ and China’s ‘dual carbon’ goals with the transition of the blue economy, and the development blueprint for the GBA.

In his opening remarks, UM Rector Yonghua Song mentioned that UM established the Department of Ocean Science and Technology in 2022 and has been dedicated to ocean science research, making it a key focus for the university’s research development. The university has also actively promoted research collaboration between domestic and international research institutes in ocean science within the GBA. UM will continue to cultivate talent in the field and contribute to the development of the blue economy in the GBA.

The forum included presentations and panel discussions. Experts and industry representatives engaged in in-depth discussions on various topics related to the blue economy, ocean management and carbon neutrality, promoting regional cooperation and providing important guidance and policy recommendations for ocean development in the GBA.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/presss-release/detail/60059/

UM holds training course on Constitution and Basic Law for faculty and staff

The University of Macau (UM) held the fourth edition of the training course on the Constitution and the Basic Law for faculty and staff of residential colleges. The opening ceremony was held at Cheng Yu Tung College of UM on 6 December. Speaking at the event, UM Vice Rector Mok Kai Meng said that the training course was specially designed for faculty and staff of residential colleges to enhance the university’s education on the two laws and to ensure the quality development of national education within the residential colleges.

Emeritus Professor Lok Wai Kin in the Faculty of Law (FLL), who served as an instructor for the training course, delivered a lecture. He explained the background of the ‘one country, two systems’ policy, and discussed its successful implementation in Macao and future directions.

The training course was attended by college masters, associate masters and fellows of residential colleges, as well as faculty of FLL and staff of the Rector’s Office.

To read the news on UM’s official website, please visit the following link:
https://www.um.edu.mo/news-and-press-releases/presss-release/detail/60050/