The HKU-Pasteur Research Pole is delighted to announce the new edition of its Immunology Course co-organised with the Centre for Immunology & Infection . Quantitative Immunology: From population to individual immunity NOVEMBER 15-20, 2026 Deadline for Applications: 30 June 2026 The 12th HKU-Pasteur Immunology Course will explore the frontiers of quantitative immunology to describe the function of the immune system in health and disease at a population and individual level. T

HKU–Pasteur Research Pole is pleased to highlight a new publication co-authored by Dr. Eric Deharo, Co-Director of the Pole, in Nature Health : Honles, J., Cerapio, J.P., Monge, C. et al. Mapping pesticide mixtures to cancer risk at the country scale with spatial exposomics. Nature Health (2026). Published on 1 April 2026, this study led by Stephane BERTANI proposes a new framework for understanding how environmental pesticide exposure may contribute to cancer risk in real-w

Co-Director Eric Deharo travelled to Vientiane to establish the foundations of a new collaborative project to be led by HKU Pasteur’s You Che , focusing on nutritional interventions and microbiome dynamics. During the visit he met with local partners from the Faculty of Pharmacy (Vientiane) , the Pierre Fabre Foundation , the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF ), and the Institut Pasteur du Laos to discuss project design and partnership roles. An opportunity to co

The HKU-Pasteur Research Pole was pleased to host Dr Lukasz Kedzierski , Senior Research Fellow and Group Leader from the University of Melbo urne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity for a seminar exploring the complex interplay between viral co-infections and immune responses, as well as the mechanism s underlying influenza vaccine failure. Dr Kedzierski’s research sits at the intersection of immunology, virology and translational medicine. His work se

A new publication in Nature Lab Animal   from Professor Leo Poon's team  demonstrates that the emerging SARS‑CoV‑2 Omicron EG.5 and JN.1 variants induce enhanced pathogenicity in K18‑hACE2 mice, overcoming limitations of early Omicron models and enabling more robust preclinical assessment of vaccines and antivirals.   Abstract : The reduced pathogenicity of early SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants in human ACE2-expressing K18-hACE2 mice has posed challenges for assessing vaccine

On Friday 20 March 2026 , the HKU-Pasteur Research Pole , in collaboration with the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macao , hosted a panel discussion entitled “Women in Science: Career Paths, Challenges and Equal Opportunities,”  as part of the initiative “Science Talks are Women Talks”  marking International Women’s Rights Day . The event brought together members of the academic community, researchers, students, and invited guests for an engaging and thoughtful

We are proud to celebrate Zaolan Liang , PhD student in Professor Sook San Wong’s laboratory  at the HKU–Pasteur Research Pole, who has received the HKU Foundation Publication Award 2025 . This distinction recognises her publication: “ A(H2N2) and A(H3N2) influenza pandemics elicited durable cross-reactive and protective antibodies against avian N2 neuraminidases” (Liang et al., Nature Communications , 2024). Her work provides important insights into immune responses to influ

On 12 March 2026, the HKU–Pasteur Research Pole had the pleasure of welcoming a group of outstanding young students for a visit organised with the Hong Kong Laureate Forum (HKLF), as part of the “Exploring New Horizons 2026”  programme. The visit began with a welcome and introduction by Dr Wuji Zhang , who presented the mission, research focus, and collaborative environment of HKU–Pasteur Research Pole. This was followed by an engaging Q&A session, during which students had t

New publication for HKU-Pasteur’s Wuji Zhang ! Published in EMBO Molecular Medicine , the study explores how the human immune system responds to influenza vaccination and natural infection by dissecting the molecular features of influenza‑specific B cells. Using single‑cell RNA sequencing, the team compared responses to influenza A and B viruses and uncovered striking differences—particularly a strong interferon‑driven signature in B cells from influenza B patients. Their fin

Join us for a panel discussion organised by HKU-Pasteur Research Pole  in collaboration with the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau , in the framework of International Women’s Rights Day  and the initiative “Science Talks are Women Talks.” This event aims to highlight the experiences and perspectives of women in research and to foster an open discussion on career trajectories, challenges encountered in academic environments, and equal opportunities in scientif

Please join us for a seminar from Dr Lukasz Kedzierski , Group Leader, Kedzierska Laboratory, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne: Date and time: 24 March 2026, 4:30pm - 6:00 PM Venue : Seminar Room 2, G/F, HKJC Building for Interdisciplinary Research, 5 Sassoon Road Viral co-infections can profoundly alter immune responses, influencing both disease severity and vaccine efficacy. Using a novel

Dr. Eric Deharo and Kiara Perry recently had the pleasure of meeting with representatives from Université Paris-Saclay , including Guillaume Garretta , Director of International and European Relations; Dorine Bonte , Assistant Professor in Virology and Head of the International Relations Office of the Faculty of Pharmacy; and Jane Brégier John , in the framework of APAIE held in Hong Kong The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss strategic priorities in international co

Many thanks to   Nick Chung , Regional Strategic Development Officer at the Pasteur Network , for his engaging and insightful presentation on the Network’s activities and the many opportunities it offers for collaboration, research development, and capacity building across its global community. HKU-Pasteur Research Pole is very proud to be part of this dynamic international network, working together to advance scientific excellence and global health impact. We were also ple

In this talk, Julian Stargardt examines health challenges and global change and how in a carbon-based global economy the right to economic and social development implies the right to pollute – a key issue in climate and pollution reduction and mitigation policies, especially for emerging economies. Julian discusses how pollution and environmental degradation as by-products of industrial agriculture and manufacturing may imply a globalization of liability for pollution and he

Ever wondered what it’s like to come face-to-face with the world’s most elusive predators and rarest blooms? Join us for an electrifying evening with Nathanael Maury and Somchit Sudavanh —the visionary explorers behind the viral global hit TV show, Snake Tracker (20M+ viewers). These world-class conservationists are stepping off the screen and onto the stage to take you deep into the heart of Laos and beyond. Event Highlights: Stunning Photography Exhibition: Breathtaking

On 9 February 2026 , HKU-Pasteur Research Pole had the pleasure of welcoming Deborah Gebregzabher , PhD student from the University of Melbourne , for a research seminar. Her presentation, entitled “Defining the role of OLAH during severe respiratory viral disease” , explored the molecular and immunological mechanisms underlying host responses to severe respiratory viral infections. The talk provided valuable insights into the role of OLAH in disease progression and highlight

Congratulations to Dr Zhang, Research Assistant Professor of HKU-SPH and the HKU-Pasteur Research Pole, for winning “ The Chancellor's Prize for Excellence in the PhD Thesis 2025 ” by the University of Melbourne . His thesis, "Understanding human immunity to influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections and vaccinations," has received this prestigious recognition for its significant impact on public health research.    The Chancellor's Prize is awarded each year up to six outstanding c

The vaccine not only prevents severe disease, but also effectively blocks viral transmission in animal models, offering a promising strategy for pandemic preparedness against future coronavirus threats. A research team at the LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), has developed a novel live-attenuated vaccine candidate, cb1, capable of generating broad immunity against a wide range of beta-coronaviruses with a single intranasal dose. The vaccine not on

We had the privilege of hosting Markus Ollert , Director of the Department of Infection & Immunity, and Ulf Nehrbass , CEO of the Luxembourg Institute of Health   and former CEO of the Institut Pasteur of Korea  🌍. The Luxembourg Institute of Health is currently working to establish a comprehensive clinical database hub in collaboration with multiple research centers across Europe. During the visit, discussions highlighted a strong interest in developing partnerships with th

The HKU Pasteur Research Pole is pleased to welcome  Mia Baud , who has recently joined the team to carry out her Master’s thesis project. Mia is currently pursuing a  Master of Science in Molecular Microbiology  at Leibniz University of Hannover . She will be spending the coming year at the HKU Pasteur Research Pole in  Dr. You Che’s laboratory , with the support of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Her research focuses on the skin microbiome of elderly individual