The 3rd meeting of the 1st Academic Committee of Dr. Neher’s Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery was held on the afternoon of December 13, 2023. This meeting was held in an on-site venue and through a simultaneous online video conference room. Member of the Administrative Committee of Science and Technology Development Fund, Dr. Ip Kuai Lam; the Vice Chancellor, President of Macau University of Science and Technology, Chair Prof. Joseph Hun-Wei Lee; Vice President, Chair Prof. Paul Kwong-Hang Tam and Vice President, Chair Prof. Jiang Zhi-hong; Director of Dr. Neher’s Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, Prof. Erwin Neher; Chairman of the 1st Academic Committee of Neher’s Lab, Academician Ding Jian, and other committee members attended this meeting.
The group photo of all honorable guests in the meeting
During the meeting, Dr. Ip Kuai Lam, President Joseph Hun-Wei Lee, and Academician Ding Jian, delivered speeches, acknowledging the development of Dr. Neher’s Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery. Prof. Erwin Neher, the director of the laboratory, conveyed confidence in the establishment of the laboratory, and its future. Subsequently, Professor Vincent Kam Wai Wong, the executive director of the laboratory, reported on the progress of the laboratory. Over the past year, under the leadership of Director Prof. Erwin Neher and Executive Director Prof. Vincent Wong, outstanding results have been achieved. A total of 79 publications were published, with 28 papers authored by the Neher’s Lab as the first affiliation. In response to the development of Macau's science and technology industry, the laboratory has embarked on innovative research initiatives, actively promoting the industrialization and application of research accomplishments, resulting in significant outcomes. This year, the laboratory has obtained 2 granted patents, and has 3 patents under review. Meanwhile, the laboratory has fostered cooperation and exchange with other institutions, such as Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Southwest Medical University, and Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The laboratory also proactively pursued opportunities for enhancing the translation of research outcomes by participating in the roadshows of 2023 Science and Technology Week and Innovation and Technology Achievements Exhibition (MIF), and exploring potential collaborations with commercial partners.
Speech by Mr. Ip Kuai Lam, Member of the Administrative Committee of F.D.C.T
Speech by Chair Prof. Joseph Hun-wei LEE, President of M.U.S.T.
Speech by Academician Jian DING
Speech by Professor Erwin Neher, Director of the Neher's lab
The group photo of guests in the online meeting
Following Prof. Wong's report, the committee members fully affirmed the advancements of the laboratory. They also provided comments on the future development of the laboratory, including a focus on diseases related to ion channels, an emphasis on translational research outcomes, and the importance of protecting intellectual property through patent applications. Finally, Executive Director Prof. Vincent Wong expressed his sincere gratitude to the committee members for recognizing the laboratory's achievements. He expressed his commitment to facilitate the development of the laboratory based on their suggestions, thus achieving better results and contributing to innovative drug development in Macau.
