Covid research projects granted HK$100 million in government funding

The Research Grants Council (RGC) announced today that eight research proposals were awarded a total of HK$415 million in funding, of which HK$100 million was to be granted to two research projects related to Covid-19. 

Of the HK$415 million in funding which was provided, HK$367 million was provided by the RGC, with the remaining HK$48 million provided by the universities involved.

One of the Covid research projects, coordinated by Professor Leo Poon Lit-Man of HKU, aims to experimentally investigate strains of Covid-19 that may be of concern to public health. The project seeks to understand genetic mutations of the virus, test vaccine efficacy, and the response of the human immune system to the virus. 

The other Covid research project, coordinated by Professor Jin Dong-Yan of HKU, aims to understand the origins and development of Covid-19 and other coronaviruses. At the same time, the project also seeks to research emerging variants of the virus, understand asymptomatic Covid-19 cases, and the mechanisms by which Covid-19 spreads. Additionally, the project will seek to improve upon diagnosis, vaccination development, and treatment of Covid-19.

Other research projects that received funding included projects related to stem cell engineering, newborn liver disease, green finance and more.

Chairman of the RGC, Professor Wong Yuk-shan of the Open University of Hong Kong, expressed his optimism towards the selected projects, stating “We look forward to the positive societal and economic impacts brought about by the above-mentioned projects for Hong Kong.”