State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Health

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WE PROTECT THE MARINE ENVIRONMENTS OF HONG KONG, SOUTH CHINA, AND THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION

To serve as a leading international research centre advancing marine environmental research to strengthen the protection and management of marine ecosystems, as well as promote sustainable development.

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WS2MonoOrBilayersWebEng

Professor Peggy Lo’s Team Received Three Awards at the 11th International Invention and Innovation Competition (iCAN 2026)
A research team led by Professor Peggy Lo from Department of Chemistry at City University of Hong Kong received a Gold Medal, OFEED Special Award and UPB Special Award at the 11th International Invention and Innovation Competition (iCAN 2026) for their research work titled “A Biomimetic Nanofusion Platform Utilizing Threose Nucleic Acid (TNA) for Targeted Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Gene Therapy.”
 
Founded in 2016, the International Invention Innovation Competition in Canada (iCAN) is a globally recognised platform for inventors, researchers and innovators. Based in Toronto, the competition has attracted participants from 98 countries and regions over its past nine editions, providing opportunities for innovators to showcase inventions, research projects and new products, expand international networks, and explore business opportunities.
 
SKLMEH warmly congratulates Professor Peggy Lo on this outstanding achievement!
WS2MonoOrBilayersWebEng

New Research in PNAS from Prof. Henry He's Team Introduces PFAS-defined liquid crystal monomers (PFAS-LCMs)
Exciting new research in PNAS from Prof. Yuhe (Henry) He's team at SKLMEH introduces PFAS-defined liquid crystal monomers (PFAS-LCMs) — an overlooked class of organofluorine contaminants at the intersection of two research fields!
 
What are PFAS-LCMs? Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) that contain an OECD-qualifying fully fluorinated methyl or methylene carbon are, by definition, also PFAS. Yet they have largely fallen between the cracks—studied in LCM frameworks (e.g., molecular structure design, environmental persistency, bioaccumulation, and toxicity) without recognizing their PFAS identity, and missed by PFAS-targeted screening.
 
Why does this matter? Structure-based screening of two inventories identified 228 nonredundant PFAS-LCM structures. These compounds have been detected in marine mammals (including brain tissues of Chinese White Dolphins and Finless porpoises), household dust globally, and e-waste worker serum—with evidence of placental transfer and biological effects.
 
A critical gap: While legacy PFAS burdens are declining thanks to regulatory phase-outs (as shown by Sun et al.), PFAS-LCMs may follow distinct source profiles and temporal trends tied to electronics production and disposal. Their omission from both LCM- and PFAS-focused monitoring leaves part of the organofluorine chemical space unresolved.
 
The call to action: We need structure-resolved environmental monitoring, EOF mass-balance analysis, and studies on transformation, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. PFAS-LCMs should serve as an entry point for systematic investigation of the wider LCM chemical space across the electronics lifecycle.
 
All authors are from our SKLMEH. Prof. Yuhe (Henry) He (SEE, CityUHK) is the corresponding author of the paper. Ms. Xu Li and Ms. Huixian Li are Prof. He's PhD students. Prof. Qi Wang (SES, EdUHK), Prof. Xuneng Tong (SEE, CityUHK), and Prof. Kenneth Leung (Chem, CityUHK) are co-authors of this paper.
 
WS2MonoOrBilayersWebEng

13 SKLMEH Members at CityUHK Awarded GRF/ECS Grants for 2026-27
We are delighted to announce that SKLMEH Members at CityUHK has secured over HK$11,7 million in funding for 13 research projects under the 2026/27 General Research Fund (GRF) and Early Career Scheme (ECS) announced by the Research Grants Council (RGC). This remarkable achievement underscores the laboratory’s unwavering commitment to advancing the frontiers of marine environmental health, ecological conservation, and sustainable technology through high-quality and impactful research.
 
The RGC GRF/ECS exercise is a highly competitive funding scheme that supports research projects at eight UGC-funded universities in Hong Kong. This year’s success reflects SKLMEH’s strong research capabilities and vibrant interdisciplinary environment across diverse cutting-edge domains, including marine ecology, eco-engineering, environmental toxicology, sustainable energy materials, and urban water infrastructure.
 
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all awarded members at CityUHK for their dedication and research excellence. The list of funded grants is as follows:
 
Principal Investigator Project Title
Prof. Wenlong CAI Deciphering the Role of Methyltransferase M. Fcohsdm in Flavobacterium columnare Virulence and Its Application as a Novel Live Attenuated Vaccine
Prof. Mandy Meng FANG Navigating the State-Market Interface in China’s Net-Zero Transition: Legal and Institutional Analysis of the Green Electricity Certificate Regime
Prof. Yu HUANG Endothelial uncoupling protein 2 protects brain-blood barrier integrity in mice of ischemic stroke
Prof. Alex Kwan-Yue JEN Molecular Engineering of Multifunctional Ti- and Sn-based Metal-Oxo Clusters for Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells and Their Tandems
Prof. Chun-kit KWOK Rational Design of L-RNA Aptamer-Modified Oligonucleotides for G-Quadruplex Structure-Mediated Post-Transcriptional Gene Regulation
Prof. Thuc Hue LY Tailoring Layer-Dependent Polymorphs in Two-Dimensional Metal Monochalcogenides for Ballistic and Ferroelectric Devices
Prof. Kenneth Mei Yee LEUNG Evaluating Eco-Engineering Effectiveness in Enhancing Ecosystem Function and Resilience of Artificial Shorelines
Prof. Ern Mei Theodora NAH Multiphase Oxidation of Harmful Algal Bloom Toxin Aerosols: Implications for their Atmospheric Lifetimes, Fates, and Toxicity
Prof. Wenxiong WANG Disentangling Gill Cellular and Molecular Responses to Microplastics from Associated Chemicals
Prof. Xue WANG Direct oxygen-containing simulated flue gas electrolysis to multi-carbon products with high efficiency
Prof. Hin Lap YIP Printable n–i–p Perovskite Solar Cells with Carbon Electrodes Enabled by Molecularly Engineered Interfaces
Prof. Zhiguo YUAN The observability and optimal monitoring of Urban Drainage Systems
Prof. Moriaki YASUHARA Cenozoic development of deep-sea benthic ecosystems in the Southern and South Atlantic Oceans: fossil ostracods as a model
 
Congratulations once again to all the awardees on their outstanding achievements. SKLMEH looks forward to their impactful research outputs and continued contributions to the development of marine and environmental health sciences.
WS2MonoOrBilayersWebEng

SKLMEH Research Team Invents Novel eDNA Membrane to Advance Understanding of Inshore Fish Diversity
A research team led by Professor Kenneth Leung, Director of the State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Health (SKLMEH) and SKLMEH member Professor Zhiyuan Zeng from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, has successfully developed a novel eDNA membrane that significantly improves the efficiency of collecting and detecting marine organisms’ eDNA, providing a more sensitive and reliable technical tool for monitoring marine biodiversity.
 
This study titled “DNA-binding-tailored MoS2 membrane boosts aquatic community detection through eDNA metabarcoding”, was published in the prestigious academic journal National Science Review. The corresponding authors of this study include Professor Kenneth Leung, Professor Zhiyuan Zeng, Professor Bolong Huang from the Department of Chemistry, and Professor Jianwen Qiu from the Department of Biology at Hong Kong Baptist University.
 
The research team coated the surface of a common membrane with an ultra-thin layer of 2D material molybdenum disulphide (MoS2), enabling the membrane to capture DNA in water more effectively. Experimental results show that this novel membrane significantly improves the detection sensitivity of fish eDNA in both laboratory and field tests. In controlled experiments, the researchers successfully used the membrane to accurately identify a variety of tropical coral reef fish, including Acanthurus dussumieri, Chrysiptera cyanea, Dascyllus trimaculatus, Microcanthus strigatus, and Paracanthurus hepatus.
 
For field testing, the research team conducted on-site sampling tests at the Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park. The results showed that the new filter membrane could detect a greater number of fish species, including anchovies, flathead gray mullet and carangid fish, without affecting the overall assessment of the fish community, demonstrating its potential for applications in practical marine monitoring.
 
“The membrane is simple to prepare and cost-effective, and can be directly integrated into existing water sampling filtration processes. It is expected to find future applications in marine conservation, ecological surveys and long-term environmental monitoring, and is particularly suitable for use in marine areas rich in biological resources but difficult to survey,” noted Professor Leung. He added that the Ministry of Ecology and Environment is currently promoting the use of eDNA technology in biodiversity surveys, and that the research team’s innovative technology will support and drive the development of this technology.
 
The findings demonstrate the interdisciplinary integration of advanced materials science and environmental ecology research, creating new avenues for more precise and sensitive marine biological monitoring technologies.
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SKLMEH Member Prof. Jason Lam Honoured in the 2026 "40 Under 40 Recognition Program" by AAEES
Congratulations to SKLMEH member Prof. Jason Chun-Ho Lam (School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong), for being recognised in the 2026 “40 Under 40 Recognition Programme” by The American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES)!
 
Founded in 1955, the AAEES is one of the preeminent organisations for environmental engineers and scientists. This programme was introduced to acknowledge exceptional individuals under the age of 40 who have significantly contributed to the advancement of Environmental Science or Environmental Engineering within the past year.
 
With interests in combatting climate change and environmental pollution, Prof. Lam’s research direction focuses on applying electrocatalysis to transform renewable feedstock and waste materials into chemicals and fuels. Prof. Lam is also interested in designing electrocatalyst to degrade persistent organic pollutants in wastewater.
 
This prestigious recognition highlights Prof. Lam’s outstanding contributions to the development of practical green electrochemical technologies that address pressing environmental challenges and support a more sustainable future.
 
Once again, applause to Prof. Lam for this well-deserved recognition!
 
For more details of the programme, please refer to: https://www.aaees.org/40under40
WS2MonoOrBilayersWebEng

SKLMEH Member Prof. Ling Jin's Team Reveals Aquatic Plastisphere as Reservoir for Antifungal-Resistant Fungi
A research team led by SKLMEH member Prof. Ling Jin has uncovered that plastic debris in urban waterways acts as a reservoir for pathogenic and antifungal-resistant fungi, expanding the ecological and health risks of plastic pollution beyond bacteria. This study demonstrates that the "plastisphere" may serve as a mobile vector for spreading dangerous, drug-resistant fungi across aquatic ecosystems.
 
Plastic pollution has created unique microbial habitats known as the "plastisphere," where microorganisms selectively colonise synthetic surfaces and form distinct biofilm communities. While previous studies have established that plastics can accumulate bacterial pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes, the role of the plastisphere in harbouring fungal threats remained largely unexplored. In a study titled "Aquatic Plastisphere as a Reservoir for Pathogenic and Antifungal-Resistant Fungi", recently published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters, the research team reveals that environmental plastic waste may carry pathogenic fungi and promote the maintenance and spread of antifungal resistance.
 
The study was led jointly by Dr. Changchao Li and Prof. Ling Jin, together with co-first authors Mr. Shing King Zhou and Dr. Chunlan Fan. By analyzing 27 plastic samples collected from urban waterways in the Boston area, the team employed an integrated approach combining metagenomic sequencing, fungal strain isolation, antifungal susceptibility testing, and whole-genome sequencing. Through metagenomic screening, the team identified 32 pathogenic fungal species on plastic surfaces, including 13 listed on the WHO Fungal Priority Pathogens List—among them Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida auris, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Candida albicans. Notably, all 32 pathogenic species carried genetic signals associated with antifungal drug resistance, with at least one known resistance mutation detected in each species.
 
Culture-based experiments further confirmed that plastics host viable, living fungal isolates. The team successfully cultured Aspergillus fumigatus, Fusarium oxysporum, and Candida parapsilosis from plastic surfaces. Antifungal susceptibility testing against 11 agents revealed that most isolates exhibited resistant phenotypes, with some strains showing multidrug resistance. Cross-substrate comparisons showed that plastic particles carried significantly higher loads of resistance-associated fungi than the surrounding water column or natural particles, indicating that plastic surfaces act as environmental "hotspots" where pathogenic and drug-resistant fungi are selectively enriched.
 
The research team calls for the inclusion of plastisphere associated fungal pathogens and their antimicrobial resistance profiles in future monitoring programmes and regulatory guidelines. They also highlight the urgent need for further studies to investigate the potential transmission of these fungi through direct contact, food chain transfer, and aerosolisation, particularly in urban coastal regions and aquaculture zones.
 
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.6c00486
WS2MonoOrBilayersWebEng

SKLMEH Director Prof. Kenneth Leung Signs Agreement with Indonesia’s IPB University to Promote Marine Research and Talent Exchange
CityUHK’s State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Health (SKLMEH) recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the International Research Institute for Maritime, Ocean and Fisheries – Center for Coastal and Marine Resources Studies, IPB University (IPB) of Bogor, Indonesia. The two institutions will work together to advance academic research and exchange top talent in marine science, jointly enhancing regional marine scientific research capabilities.
 
Under the framework of this agreement, both parties will focus on nurturing outstanding talent in marine scientific research. By leveraging their exceptional faculty and world-class research resources, CityUHK and IPB will offer joint supervision of PhD students, facilitate the exchange of academics and research personnel, and implement professional training initiatives to cultivate rising stars in marine research equipped with global vision, international competitiveness and innovative capabilities. Additionally, the two universities will collaborate on research addressing critical global issues, such as marine pollution and biodiversity conservation.
 
The agreement was signed by Professor Kenneth Leung Mei-yee, Vice-President (Research) of CityUHK and Director of the SKLMEH, and Professor Luky Adrianto, Head of the International Research Institute for Maritime, Ocean and Fisheries of IPB. Following the signing ceremony, Professor Leung was invited to discuss the SKLMEH’s experience and technologies in environmental and ecosystem monitoring, as well as its innovative achievements in ecological restoration and biodiversity conservation. He also engaged in in-depth exchanges and discussions with faculty members and students on topics in marine science research.
 
Professor Leung noted that IPB possesses rich experience and outstanding achievements in marine, fisheries and coastal resource research. He expressed confidence that this collaboration will synergise the unique strengths of both universities to unlock more pioneering research in key areas such as marine environmental monitoring, ecological conservation, pollution control and ocean governance for sustainable development, whilst fostering the transformation of scientific research outcomes and knowledge exchange. He looked forward to strengthening ties between Hong Kong and Indonesia in marine science through collaborative initiatives, including academic and researcher exchanges, joint research projects and talent cultivation, to support the sustainable development of the oceans, regionally and globally.
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A New Study in Water Research X! SKLMEH Member Prof. Ling Jin’s Team Reveals Microalgae and Associated Ecological Risks in the Coastal Plastisphere
Great News! SKLMEH Member Prof. Ling Jin’𝘀 team has published a new study in Water Research X titled "Microalgae and associated ecological risks in the coastal plastisphere".
 
Based on 92 paired plastic-seawater samples collected from Hong Kong and Qingdao coasts, the team systematically unpacks microalgal communities within coastal plastisphere.
 
Key findings:
• Plastisphere hosts more diverse microalgae and forms buffered microhabitats less sensitive to environmental fluctuations.
• Multiple toxic & harmful diatoms are significantly enriched on floating plastics, with 14 harmful microalgal taxa exclusively detected on plastic debris.
• Floating plastic waste acts as mobile carriers for toxic microalgae, amplifying risks of harmful algal blooms, fisheries loss and marine ecosystem damage globally.
 
This study expands plastisphere risk research from bacteria to microalgae, providing critical evidence for integrated coastal plastic pollution governance.
 
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SKLMEH Member Prof. Moriaki Yasuhara's Team Received Prestigious Best Paper Award
Huge congratulations to SKLMEH member Prof. Moriaki Yasuhara (School of Energy and Environment, CityUHK), and his team members Dr. He Wang and Dr. Pedro Jimenez , on receiving the prestigious Best Paper Award from the Palaeontological Society of Japan!
 
This study focused on Holocene ostracods from a core in the Bosten Lake in Xinjiang of the ACA area. By comparing ostracod records, including radiocarbon dating results, with ostracod and salinity records from other cores within Bosten Lake, the team revealed that precipitation patterns in the region were governed by westerly intensity, which in turn was linked to North Atlantic sea surface temperatures. These climatic shifts directly drove changes in local ostracod communities, offering valuable insights into the linkages between atmospheric circulation, hydrology, and biotic responses in the mid-latitudes.
 
 
 
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Professor Peggy Lo’s Team Received Three Awards at the 11th International Invention and Innovation Competition (iCAN 2026)
A research team led by Professor Peggy Lo from Department of Chemistry at City University of Hong Kong received a Gold Medal, OFEED Special Award and UPB Special Award at the 11th International Invention and Innovation Competition (iCAN 2026) for their research work titled “A Biomimetic Nanofusion Platform Utilizing Threose Nucleic Acid (TNA) for Targeted Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Gene Therapy.”
 
Founded in 2016, the International Invention Innovation Competition in Canada (iCAN) is a globally recognised platform for inventors, researchers and innovators. Based in Toronto, the competition has attracted participants from 98 countries and regions over its past nine editions, providing opportunities for innovators to showcase inventions, research projects and new products, expand international networks, and explore business opportunities.
 
SKLMEH warmly congratulates Professor Peggy Lo on this outstanding achievement!
WS2MonoOrBilayersWebEng

New Research in PNAS from Prof. Henry He's Team Introduces PFAS-defined liquid crystal monomers (PFAS-LCMs)
Exciting new research in PNAS from Prof. Yuhe (Henry) He's team at SKLMEH introduces PFAS-defined liquid crystal monomers (PFAS-LCMs) — an overlooked class of organofluorine contaminants at the intersection of two research fields!
 
What are PFAS-LCMs? Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) that contain an OECD-qualifying fully fluorinated methyl or methylene carbon are, by definition, also PFAS. Yet they have largely fallen between the cracks—studied in LCM frameworks (e.g., molecular structure design, environmental persistency, bioaccumulation, and toxicity) without recognizing their PFAS identity, and missed by PFAS-targeted screening.
 
Why does this matter? Structure-based screening of two inventories identified 228 nonredundant PFAS-LCM structures. These compounds have been detected in marine mammals (including brain tissues of Chinese White Dolphins and Finless porpoises), household dust globally, and e-waste worker serum—with evidence of placental transfer and biological effects.
 
A critical gap: While legacy PFAS burdens are declining thanks to regulatory phase-outs (as shown by Sun et al.), PFAS-LCMs may follow distinct source profiles and temporal trends tied to electronics production and disposal. Their omission from both LCM- and PFAS-focused monitoring leaves part of the organofluorine chemical space unresolved.
 
The call to action: We need structure-resolved environmental monitoring, EOF mass-balance analysis, and studies on transformation, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. PFAS-LCMs should serve as an entry point for systematic investigation of the wider LCM chemical space across the electronics lifecycle.
 
All authors are from our SKLMEH. Prof. Yuhe (Henry) He (SEE, CityUHK) is the corresponding author of the paper. Ms. Xu Li and Ms. Huixian Li are Prof. He's PhD students. Prof. Qi Wang (SES, EdUHK), Prof. Xuneng Tong (SEE, CityUHK), and Prof. Kenneth Leung (Chem, CityUHK) are co-authors of this paper.
 
WS2MonoOrBilayersWebEng

13 SKLMEH Members at CityUHK Awarded GRF/ECS Grants for 2026-27
We are delighted to announce that SKLMEH Members at CityUHK has secured over HK$11,7 million in funding for 13 research projects under the 2026/27 General Research Fund (GRF) and Early Career Scheme (ECS) announced by the Research Grants Council (RGC). This remarkable achievement underscores the laboratory’s unwavering commitment to advancing the frontiers of marine environmental health, ecological conservation, and sustainable technology through high-quality and impactful research.
 
The RGC GRF/ECS exercise is a highly competitive funding scheme that supports research projects at eight UGC-funded universities in Hong Kong. This year’s success reflects SKLMEH’s strong research capabilities and vibrant interdisciplinary environment across diverse cutting-edge domains, including marine ecology, eco-engineering, environmental toxicology, sustainable energy materials, and urban water infrastructure.
 
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all awarded members at CityUHK for their dedication and research excellence. The list of funded grants is as follows:
 
Principal Investigator Project Title
Prof. Wenlong CAI Deciphering the Role of Methyltransferase M. Fcohsdm in Flavobacterium columnare Virulence and Its Application as a Novel Live Attenuated Vaccine
Prof. Mandy Meng FANG Navigating the State-Market Interface in China’s Net-Zero Transition: Legal and Institutional Analysis of the Green Electricity Certificate Regime
Prof. Yu HUANG Endothelial uncoupling protein 2 protects brain-blood barrier integrity in mice of ischemic stroke
Prof. Alex Kwan-Yue JEN Molecular Engineering of Multifunctional Ti- and Sn-based Metal-Oxo Clusters for Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells and Their Tandems
Prof. Chun-kit KWOK Rational Design of L-RNA Aptamer-Modified Oligonucleotides for G-Quadruplex Structure-Mediated Post-Transcriptional Gene Regulation
Prof. Thuc Hue LY Tailoring Layer-Dependent Polymorphs in Two-Dimensional Metal Monochalcogenides for Ballistic and Ferroelectric Devices
Prof. Kenneth Mei Yee LEUNG Evaluating Eco-Engineering Effectiveness in Enhancing Ecosystem Function and Resilience of Artificial Shorelines
Prof. Ern Mei Theodora NAH Multiphase Oxidation of Harmful Algal Bloom Toxin Aerosols: Implications for their Atmospheric Lifetimes, Fates, and Toxicity
Prof. Wenxiong WANG Disentangling Gill Cellular and Molecular Responses to Microplastics from Associated Chemicals
Prof. Xue WANG Direct oxygen-containing simulated flue gas electrolysis to multi-carbon products with high efficiency
Prof. Hin Lap YIP Printable n–i–p Perovskite Solar Cells with Carbon Electrodes Enabled by Molecularly Engineered Interfaces
Prof. Zhiguo YUAN The observability and optimal monitoring of Urban Drainage Systems
Prof. Moriaki YASUHARA Cenozoic development of deep-sea benthic ecosystems in the Southern and South Atlantic Oceans: fossil ostracods as a model
 
Congratulations once again to all the awardees on their outstanding achievements. SKLMEH looks forward to their impactful research outputs and continued contributions to the development of marine and environmental health sciences.

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