The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and Wuhan Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology have officially inaugurated the Medical-Engineering Joint Innovation Center at HKUST. This milestone marks a new era of interdisciplinary collaboration, combining the strengths of engineering, artificial intelligence (AI), and clinical medicine to accelerate medical technology innovation for global healthcare advancement.

Launch Ceremony and Strategic Collaboration

The unveiling ceremony was attended by Prof. Zhang Yu, Party Secretary of Wuhan Union Hospital, Prof. Wang Hongbo, Deputy Secretary, and their delegation, alongside HKUST representatives including Prof. Kwang-Ting Cheng, Vice-President for Research and Development, and Prof. Chung Chi Shing, Associate Dean of Engineering. Distinguished guests toured the HKUST Neumann Institute and engaged in in-depth discussions with HKUST scholars regarding the center’s development plans, joint innovation funding, and collaborative training models for medical and graduate students.

Core Focus and Innovation Goals

According to the collaboration agreement, the Joint Innovation Center will focus on interdisciplinary medical-engineering research, prioritizing AI-driven medical imaging, ultrasound, radiology, and pathology. Through academic exchanges, faculty training, joint research projects, and translational initiatives, the center aims to accelerate the development of large multimodal medical AI models, intelligent diagnosis systems, precision medicine, and smart medical devices.

Prof. Hao Chen, Co-Director of the Center, led guests on a visit to the HKUST Neumann Institute, showcasing the university’s cutting-edge research infrastructure.

Leadership Voices

Prof. Kwang-Ting Cheng, HKUST Vice-President for Research and Development, remarked:

“The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence is a key driver of medical innovation. The deep integration of medicine, engineering, and data science opens new frontiers in disease prevention, diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment. HKUST’s strengths in data fusion, algorithm innovation, and high-performance computing, combined with Wuhan Union Hospital’s extensive clinical resources, will catalyze breakthroughs in AI-powered healthcare. This collaboration highlights the vast potential of cross-disciplinary and cross-regional partnerships, accelerating the translation of intelligent diagnostics and precision medicine to real-world clinical impact.”

Prof. Zhang Yu, Party Secretary of Wuhan Union Hospital, commented:

“The accelerating technological revolution and industrial transformation make medical-engineering integration one of the most promising directions for innovation. As a leading national medical institution, Wuhan Union Hospital offers rich clinical experience and comprehensive resources. This strategic partnership leverages complementary strengths and shared resources, advancing medical science and technology. We look forward to deepening collaboration, harnessing AI for medical progress, and contributing to the Healthy China initiative.”

Foundation of the Partnership

Wuhan Union Hospital is one of China’s premier medical institutions, serving 6.9 million outpatients, 420,000 inpatients, and performing 156,000 surgeries annually—providing vital clinical support for large-scale, multimodal medical AI model development.

The collaboration between HKUST and Wuhan Union Hospital began in 2023, with the first official visit by Prof. Zhang Yu. In 2024, both parties signed a formal agreement and established the first base of the Medical-Engineering Joint Innovation Center at Wuhan Union Hospital. Since then, the partnership has achieved breakthrough progress in AI and medical imaging, including the development of the world’s largest ultrasound AI model trained on data from nearly one million patients, achieving diagnostic accuracy for thyroid nodules on par with experienced clinicians.

Leadership and Research Excellence

The Center is jointly led by Prof. Hao Chen (Assistant Professor, Computer Science & Engineering, Chemical & Biological Engineering, and Life Science, HKUST) and Prof. Zheng Chuansheng (Director of Radiology, Wuhan Union Hospital), with Prof. Huang Ziwei (Associate Professor, Chemical & Biological Engineering, HKUST) and Prof. Xie Mingxing (Director of Ultrasound, Wuhan Union Hospital) as Deputy Directors.

Prof. Chen and Prof. Huang’s teams have recently developed four novel AI medical foundation models and an innovative cellular imaging technology capable of accurately detecting residual cancer cells, driving medical innovation and translating scientific breakthroughs into clinical benefit.

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About Smart Lab

Smart Lab, led by Prof. Hao Chen, is committed to pushing the boundaries of trustworthy AI technologies for healthcare and science. Our research directions include large-scale models for healthcare, computer-assisted intervention, AI for science, and bioinformatics, etc. Our ultimate goal is to spearhead a transformative revolution in medical practices and scientific discoveries, paving the way for a brighter and healthier future.

About The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is a world-class university that excels in driving innovative education, research excellence, and impactful knowledge transfer. With a holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy approach, HKUST was ranked 3rd in the Times Higher Education’s Young University Rankings 2024, while 12 of its subjects were ranked among the world’s top 50 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024, with “Data Science and Artificial Intelligence” being ranked first in Hong Kong and 10th in the world. Our graduates are highly competitive, consistently ranking among the world’s top 30 most sought-after employees. In terms of research and entrepreneurship, over 80% of our work was rated “internationally excellent” or “world leading” in the latest Research Assessment Exercise 2020 of Hong Kong’s University Grants Committee. As of October 2024, HKUST members have founded over 1,800 active start-ups, including 10 Unicorns and 14 exits (IPO or M&A).