UM research team proposes new approach to treating muscle atrophy

A research team led by Kathy Luo Qian, professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) at the University of Macau (UM), has developed new models of muscle atrophy using sensor zebrafish. The study shows that atrophied muscles can improve overall muscle mass and strength by increasing the size of individual muscle cells, ultimately improving patients’ mobility and health. These findings offer new insights and ideas for the treatment of muscle atrophy. The research has been published in the internationally renowned journal Advanced Science.

Muscle atrophy can occur as a result of a number of conditions, including aging, prolonged bed rest, starvation, nerve injury, or diseases such as cancer, leading to reduced mobility. Over the past few decades, many methods have been used to treat muscle atrophy, including exercise, electrical stimulation, ultrasound therapy, and nutritional therapy. However, the results of these methods are not satisfactory. In muscle atrophy, the reduction in muscle mass can be attributed to either the death of muscle cells or the shrinkage of individual muscle fibres. Understanding this is therefore crucial to the treatment of diseases associated with muscle atrophy and to improving health outcomes.

To accurately detect muscle cell apoptosis, the research team developed a method for real-time tracking of muscle cell apoptosis in live zebrafish. They specifically expressed a genetically encoded fluorescent protein sensor in the muscle tissues of zebrafish. The sensor emits green fluorescence in live cells and blue fluorescence in apoptotic cells. Using these sensor zebrafish, the team found that in starvation-induced muscle atrophy, muscle cells shrank significantly but did not die. These atrophied muscle cells survived by engulfing their own cellular components, a process known as autophagy. When the zebrafish were refed, the autophagic vacuoles disappeared, indicating that muscle atrophy is reversible.

Zebrafish typically live for three to five years. To study aging-induced muscle atrophy, the research team followed zebrafish with fluorescent sensors for five years. They found that in aged zebrafish with muscle atrophy, muscle cells remained viable despite a 57% reduction in diameter. Gene expression analysis revealed a significant downregulation of apoptosis-related genes and an upregulation of autophagy-related genes.

The study found that in muscle atrophy caused by starvation and aging, muscle cells do not die but remain alive through autophagy. It also suggests that increasing the size of individual muscle cells can increase overall muscle mass and strength, ultimately improving patients’ mobility and health.

Prof Luo is the corresponding author of this study, and Jia Hao, a postdoctoral researcher in FHS, is the first author. PhD graduates Wu Renfei and Yang Hongmei also contributed to the research. The study received important support from the Animal Research Core and the Biological Imaging and Stem Cell Core of FHS. The research was funded by UM (File No.: MYRG2020-00121-FHS and MYRG2022-00025-FHS), the Science and Technology Development Fund of the Macao SAR (File No.: 0147/2020/A3, 044/2021/APD, and 0004/2021/AKP), and the Ministry of Education Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, UM (File No.: SP2021-00001-FSCPO and SP2023-00001-FSCPO). The full text of the research article is available at https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/advs.202416811.

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/60751/

Delegations from leading mainland universities visit UM to explore new cooperation opportunities

Delegations from a number of leading universities in mainland China visited the University of Macau (UM), including UM’s strategic partners such as Peking University and Tsinghua University, as well as partner institutions from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Alliance, the Jiangsu-Hong Kong-Macao University Alliance, and the Shandong-Hong Kong-Macao University Alliance for Innovation. UM representatives had in-depth discussions with each delegation to explore new opportunities for future development and deepen cooperation with the mainland universities.

Fang Fang, vice president of Peking University, led a delegation to visit the Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences and the Ministry of Education Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, UM. Yang Bin, vice president of Tsinghua University, led a delegation to visit the residential colleges. Zhou Zhi-Hua, vice president of Nanjing University, delivered a speech as part of UM’s University Lecture Series. Zhou Jianghong, vice president of Zhejiang University, led a delegation to visit the State Key Laboratory of Internet of Things for Smart City. Shan Zhiwei, vice president of Xi’an Jiaotong University, led a delegation to visit the Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering. During their visits to the University Gallery and meetings with UM Rector Yonghua Song, the members of each delegation gained insights into UM’s achievements in research and innovation, talent cultivation, and international development, as well as the university’s development plan for the UM campus in the Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. They all spoke highly of UM’s campus development and academic and research achievements. They also expressed hope to further strengthen their strategic partnership with UM.

Li Shucai, president of Shandong University, and his delegation had in-depth discussions with the Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, with the hope of strengthening cooperation in the field of pharmacy. Zhang Junfeng, president of Ocean University of China, led a delegation to visit the State Key Laboratory of Internet of Things for Smart City and the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine. Zhang expressed hope that the two universities will continue to promote cooperation in ocean research under the China-Portuguese Speaking Countries Ocean Research Alliance, so as to contribute to ocean research between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Jiang Hong, secretary of the Party Committee of Southern University of Science and Technology, led a delegation to visit the UM Wu Yee Sun Library. Jiang expressed hope that the two universities will continue to strengthen their strategic partnership, especially in joint training of talent, to build the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area into a hub for high-calibre talent.

In addition, UM, in collaboration with South China Agricultural University, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and City University of Hong Kong, established the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau University Joint Laboratory of Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, with a plaque unveiling ceremony held during the visit of Xue Hongwei, president of South China Agricultural University, to UM. Li Kejian, president of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Yao Hequan, vice president of China Pharmaceutical University, led their respective delegations to visit the Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences and held in-depth discussions with UM representatives on further cooperation in Chinese medicine. Zhu Shiping, vice president of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), led a delegation to visit UM and gained insights into the university’s campus development and recent development.

All the delegations look forward to fostering deeper cooperation with UM, especially in seizing the development opportunities presented by the UM campus in the Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. Together with UM, they aim to promote the development of higher education in China, produce more research achievements and cultivate more outstanding talent for the country, and contribute to the establishment of an international centre for innovation and technology and an international hub for high-calibre talent, thereby promoting the development of world-class universities with Chinese characteristics.

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/60731/

UM receives donation from Dr. Stanley Ho Medical Development Foundation for AI development

Following the donation of MOP 10 million to establish the ‘Set Sail for New Horizons, Create the Future’ Grant in 2021, which aims to support researchers at the University of Macau (UM) in their scientific pursuits and international exchanges, the Dr. Stanley Ho Medical Development Foundation has made a further donation of MOP 10 million this year to support the university in conducting research on artificial intelligence (AI) applications to further drive innovation and development in related fields.

The signing ceremony of the donation agreement was held at UM. Yonghua Song, rector of UM, Lau Veng Lin, chair of the Executive Committee of the University of Macau Development Foundation (UMDF), and Huen Wing Ming Patrick, chairman of the Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors of the foundation, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective parties, under the witness of Lam Kam Seng Peter, chair of the Trustees Committee of UMDF, and Tse Chi Wai Daniel, vice chair of the Trustees Committee of UMDF.

Rector Song thanked the foundation for its long-standing support of UM. The university will leverage its strengths to advance the research, application, and popularisation of AI, enhance the role of AI in promoting frontier science and interdisciplinary research, continuously improve its research and innovation capabilities, and provide solid support for social progress and technological development.

Also present at the ceremony were Rui Martins, Ge Wei, and Mok Kai Meng, vice rectors of UM; Leung Kai Chun Chris, secretary of the University Council of UM; Carol Wong, director of the Rector’s Office of UM; Cindy Lam, director of the Alumni and Development Office of UM; members of the Trustees Committee of UMDF; and members of the Dr. Stanley Ho Medical Development Foundation.

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/60718/

UM Career and Internship Fair offers over 3,000 job opportunities

The University of Macau (UM) held the Career and Internship Fair 2025 today (26 March). More than 110 companies and organisations from different sectors in Macao and other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area participated in the fair, offering over 3,000 job opportunities. The university also organised a series of career guidance activities to help graduating students find jobs.

Speaking at the event, UM Vice Rector Mok Kai Meng thanked the participating companies and organisations for their continued support of UM and their recognition of UM graduates. He encouraged the students to seize the opportunities presented by the development of Macao and Hengqin and industrial transformation, to uphold and carry forward UM’s motto ‘Humanity, Integrity, Propriety, Wisdom, and Sincerity’, and to pursue their goals and aspirations with innovative thinking and professionalism.

Lao Pak Fai, a fourth-year student in the Faculty of Business Administration at UM, said that the Career and Internship Fair offered job opportunities in a variety of sectors, including those provided by companies in the Greater Bay Area. He believes that the fair can help students plan their future development. Mio Weng Kei, a fourth-year student in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at UM, said that she had attended recruitment talks and workshops organised by UM before looking for a job. She agrees that these activities have helped her improve her job hunting skills and gain confidence in her job search.

According to UM’s Further Studies and Employment Survey of 2023/2024 Graduates, nearly 85% of graduates secured employment or pursued further studies within three months of graduation. The median monthly income of employed graduates is MOP 15,000. In terms of employment distribution, the top five sectors are education (20%), hotel and catering (18.2%), banking, finance and insurance (9.9%), trade, wholesale and retail (9.6%), and entertainment and gaming (7.9%). Graduates who pursued further studies attended prestigious institutions such as the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, University College London, the University of California, Berkeley, Columbia University, the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney, the University of New South Wales, the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Peking University, Tsinghua University, and the University of Hong Kong.

The Career and Internship Fair is an annual recruitment event at UM that aims to help graduating students seek job opportunities and provide a platform for current students to find summer internships. This year’s fair offered job vacancies in different sectors, including banking and finance, information technology, hospitality and tourism, and retail and trade, enabling UM students from different academic backgrounds to secure job offers that align with their qualifications. In addition, UM organised a series of career guidance activities, such as recruitment talks, career training workshops, ‘Resume Clinic’, and mock interview sessions, to help graduating students hone their job hunting and interview skills.

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/60709/

13th CPPCC National Committee Vice-chairperson and China Soong Ching Ling Foundation Chairperson Li Bin visits UM

A delegation, including Li Bin, vice-chairperson of the National Committee of the 13th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and chairperson of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, visited the University of Macau (UM) on 21 March 2025 and was warmly received by UM Rector Yonghua Song. Li gave full recognition of UM’s development and expressed hope that the university will produce more research results and nurture more outstanding talent.

Song expressed gratitude for the country’s continued support of UM, and gave the delegation a detailed overview of the university’s current development and the vision for the UM campus in the Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. He also highlighted UM’s commitment to nurturing talent who love the country and Macao and building China into a leading country in education.

The delegation also visited the University Gallery, the Rare Book Collection Room of the Wu Yee Sun Library, and the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine to gain insight into UM’s latest achievements, talent cultivation, research advancements, and the construction of the UM campus in the Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

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/60693/

Delegation from University of Technology Sydney visits UM

A delegation led by Leo Mian Liu, pro-vice-chancellor of the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), visited the University of Macau (UM) today (20 March) and was warmly received by Yonghua Song, rector of UM. The two parties held in-depth and productive discussions on strengthening cooperation between the two universities, promoting joint research projects, and expanding talent development initiatives. UM and UTS also reached a consensus on the establishment of a joint PhD degree programme.

Song gave the delegation with a detailed overview of UM’s current development, the vision for the UM campus in the Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, and the achievements of the partnership between UM and UTS. He also expressed hope to deepen cooperation with UTS, strengthen student and academic exchanges, and cultivate talent with a global perspective.

Liu said that UTS looks forward to strengthening its partnership with UM to promote research development and academic innovation. He noted that during Song’s visit to UTS last year, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the two universities, which laid a solid foundation for further cooperation. He expressed hope that UTS and UM will join hands to nurture talent with global perspective and research capabilities.

The delegation also visited the University Gallery, the Wu Yee Sun Library, the Currency Museum and the ISCG Gaming Laboratory of the Faculty of Business Administration. They also held discussions with representatives from the Faculty of Business Administration and the Faculty of Science and Technology to gain a deeper understanding of UM’s recent research achievements, talent cultivation models, strategic research layout, and plans for the UM campus in the Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

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/60599/

UM Macao Humanities Forum explores Confucianism and Confucius

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities (FAH) of the University of Macau (UM) held the Macao Humanities Forum on 20 February 2025, where Chen Zhi, president and chair professor of Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University United International College (UIC), delivered a lecture titled ‘Was Confucius the founder to the Ru school, or did the Ruists exist before Confucius?’. The lecture attracted a large audience of faculty and students.

Speaking at the event, Joaquim Kuong, assistant dean of FAH, noted that Confucian thought is an important part of Chinese culture, and that the concepts such as ‘education for all without discrimination’ proposed by Confucius, and the ‘doctrine of the mean’ advocated by Confucianism remain profoundly inspiring in the 21st century. Zhang Jian, associate dean of FAH, introduced Prof Chen’s academic background and achievements, as well as his international reputation as a scholar of Chinese literature, Chinese history, and Sinology. Prof Chen’s research covers the study of classical Chinese literature, early Chinese culture and history, ancient Chinese poetry, excavated documents and ancient scripts, and the intellectual history of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Prof Zhang added that the lecture aimed to discuss various issues related to Confucianism and Confucius, bridging literature, philosophy, and classical studies, while combining ancient and modern perspectives as well as Chinese and Western thought, thus broadening the audience’s academic horizons.

Prof Chen began by exploring the distinction between ru (Confucian), ruzhe (ru scholars), rujia (the ru school of thought), and ruxue (Confucianism). He posed a question as indicated by the title of the lecture ‘Was Confucius the founder to the Ru school, or did the Ruists exist before Confucius?’. Drawing on ancient records, Prof Chen traced the historical evolution of ru, pointing out that the term originally denoted neither a tradition nor a philosophy, but rather a profession, a social group, or a social class that existed long before Confucius. He also noted that modern scholarship has also explored the distinction between ru and rujia.

Prof Chen emphasised that understanding Confucius’ role in transforming ru from a profession into a philosophical system is central to the study of intellectual history. Recent archaeological discoveries, such as the tomb of the Marquis of Haihun, provide new material for the study of Confucius and his era, which will further enhance the study of Confucianism. Questions such as whether ru represented the mainstream of the intellectual class in Confucius’ time and the subsequent changes in the social status of the ru school are expected to be further clarified.

During the Q&A session, UM faculty and students engaged in in-depth discussions with Prof Chen on a variety of topics, including the social status of the ru school in the early Han dynasty; religious practice during the Shang and Zhou dynasties and the shift in focus to the secular world during the Zhou dynasty; Zhuangzi’s criticism of ru scholars as ‘hypocrites’; the dual identity of ru scholars as descendants of the Shang dynasty and residents of the Zhou dynasty; and the importance of academic development during the Han dynasty in positioning Confucianism within Chinese intellectual history. Prof Chen emphasised the importance of archaeological research, particularly the study of ancient Chinese shamanism and medical systems, in uncovering insights into intellectual history, and he encouraged aspiring scholars to conduct research in this field and contribute new findings to the academic community.

This was the fourth lecture of the Macao Humanities Forum for the 2024/2025 academic year. Each year, the forum invites prominent scholars in different fields of the humanities to share their latest research findings with students and faculty members in Macao. Previous lectures of the forum have covered a wide range of topics, including literature, linguistics, history, translation, and arts.

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/60551/

Tsinghua University students visit UM for exchanges

A delegation of 19 students and faculty from Weixian College of Tsinghua University, all from engineering and materials science disciplines, participated in an exchange programme at Lui Che Woo College (LCWC) of the University of Macau (UM) from 9 to 13 February 2025. The exchange programme aimed to enable them to learn about UM and its unique residential college system, and promote cultural exchange and enhance student leadership.

The exchange programme combined academic exchange, cultural exploration, and team-building activities, fully demonstrating the important role of UM’s residential college system in the holistic development of students. Students from Weixian College said that the programme enabled them to gain deeper insights into UM’s residential college system, and to explore the possibility of integrating a similar system at Tsinghua University to further promote student leadership and whole-person development.

During the programme, LCWC College Master Desmond Lam Chee Shiong gave the Tsinghua delegation a detailed introduction to the facilities, features, and characteristics of the college. LCWC’s college fellows and affiliates, including Assistant Professor Shieh Jin-Jy from the Faculty of Education, Assistant Professor Zhang Hongcai from the Faculty of Science and Technology, and Assistant Professor Miao Kai from the Faculty of Health Sciences, delivered academic talks and tea sessions to discuss the unique role of residential colleges in nurturing well-rounded talent. Student leaders from LCWC also shared their experiences in areas such as pastoral care, event organisation, floor management, and college development.

In addition, Weixian College students and faculty participated in a series of experiential activities, including a coffee workshop and lunch gatherings at LCWC, friendly table tennis matches, and workshops on Muay Thai and Latin dance. They visited UM’s University Gallery and Wu Yee Sun Library to gain a deeper insight into the university’s educational philosophy and research facilities. The delegation also visited some of Macao’s iconic landmarks to explore the city’s world cultural heritage and trace the footsteps of historical figures. These activities showcased the distinctive feature of the residential college system in promoting interdisciplinary interaction and building strong friendships. They also highlighted how residential colleges cultivate interpersonal networks and a sense of belonging among the college members through communal meal education and creative activities.

UM’s LCWC and Tsinghua University’s Weixian College are sister colleges. The exchange programme laid a solid foundation for future cooperation between the two colleges.

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/60496/

Consul General of Canada in Hong Kong and Macao leads delegation to visit UM

A delegation led by Charles Reeves, Consul General of Canada to Hong Kong and Macao, visited the University of Macau (UM) on 18 February 2025 and was warmly received by Rui Martins, vice rector of UM. The two parties held discussions on cooperation between the two places.

Martins gave the delegation an overview of UM’s internationalisation, research achievements, academic offerings, and student enrolment. He mentioned that in recent years, UM has established student exchange programmes and research collaboration with several renowned higher education institutions in Canada, and the university will continue to explore closer partnerships with top universities in Canada. He added that UM offers the International Student Scholarship to attract outstanding international students to study at UM. Several students from Canada are currently studying at UM.

Reeves spoke highly of UM’s development of disciplines, and highlighted the contributions of the Centre for Macau Studies to Macao society, as well as the Department of Integrated Resort and Tourism Management’s alignment with the city’s development needs. He mentioned that the Consulate General of Canada to Hong Kong and Macao will help facilitate cooperation between UM and higher education institutions in Canada. He also invited UM representatives to visit Canadian universities in the future to create more opportunities for cooperation between institutions on both sides.

The delegation also visited the University Gallery to learn about UM’s current development and the vision of the UM campus in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

The delegation also included Consul Laurel Rasmus and Vice-Consul Janet MacPhee of the Consulate General of Canada to Hong Kong and Macao. Wang Chunming, director of the Global Affairs Office of UM, also accompanied the delegation during the visit.

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/60463/