Great Masters of Science and Technology Lecture Series of the 24th Anniversary Celebration of Macau University of Sciences Technology, "Addressing Viral Pandemic", was successfully held on the afternoon of March 27, 2024, in the D Hall of the University. Professor David D. Ho, member of the US National Academy of Medicine, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, world-renowned AIDS expert, and honorary Doctor of Medicine of M.U.S.T. was invited to lecture at the special session of the University Anniversary. Vice-President Kwong Hang Tam delivered a welcome speech and Chancellor Dr. LIU Chak Wan presented a gift to Dr. Ho in appreciation for his lecture.

(From right) Dr. LIU Chak Wan present a gift to Prof. David D. Ho

Representatives from mainland and local universities, Hong Kong and local secondary schools, media, enterprises, institutions, and others; M.U.S.T. representative Chancellor Dr. LIU Chak Wan, Vice-Chancellor and President Dr. Joseph Hun-wei LEE, Secretary-General of the University Council Dr. Chen Ji Min, Vice-President Chair Professor Paul Kwong-Hang Tam, Member of the University Council Mr. Carlos Ka Vai Lam, Associate Vice-President and Director of School of Pharmacy Chair Professor Zhu Yi Zhun, and Associate Vice-President and Dean of Liberal Arts Professor Aliana Man Wai Leong, as well as representatives of M.U.S.T. institutes’, teachers, and students attended this lecture.

During the lecture, Professor David D. Ho shared about the opportunity and challenge to address two viral pandemics of enormous proportions, HIV/AIDS and COVID-19, as a physician-scientist. The former was universally lethal, but its spread was insidious, slowly spreading to every corner of the globe over many decades. The latter has been acute, and readily and rapidly transmitted from person to person with substantial mortality and morbidity. Both have been devastating, and both have become manageable conditions. Combination antiretroviral therapy has changed the complexion of HIV/AIDS, and herd immunity from vaccination (and prior infection) has mitigated the severity of COVID-19 disease. The fear we once had for these infections has largely dissipated due to the remarkable scientific developments made in the past three decades. There are many lessons learned to be shared, and such knowledge will undoubtedly be applicable in addressing future viral pandemics, which inevitably will come as the frequency of virus spillover from animals to humans rises continually.

At the end of the lecture, Prof. David D. Ho answered students’ questions about virus mutation, HIV drug and vaccine development, and the potential of using microbiota against viruses.

Prof. David D. Ho gave a speech

Prof. David D. Ho interacts with students