We are thrilled to announce that CEVR's project, "Viromids: A Redosable, Low-Cost Gene-Delivery Platform for Ocular Therapy," has won the Grand Award and a Gold Medal with the Congratulations of the Jury at AEII 2025!
Additionally, the project " Biomimetics Nanoplatform for the Treatment of Retinal Diseases " received a Silver Medal.
The Viromids project is led by Prof. Roderick Slavcev, Associate Professor, School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, and Prof. Chien-Ling HUANG, Associate Professor, Department of Health and Informatics, PolyU, both Principal Investigators at CEVR.
It represents an innovative class of gene-delivery platforms inspired by virome technology, featuring:
Immune Silence
Large Payload Capacity (8-15 kb)
Bacterial-Scale Manufacturability
This groundbreaking platform enables single-vector delivery of large genes and repeatable dosing, significantly reducing production costs. Viromids pave the way for accessible treatments to preserve and restore sight in patients with inherited retinal diseases, such as Stargardt disease.
The " Biomimetics Nanoplatform for the Treatment of Retinal Diseases " is led by Prof. Chi Wai Do, Associate Professor at the School of Optometry, PolyU, and Prof. Emmanuel Ho, Ph.D., Professor at the School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, both Principal Investigators at CEVR, along with our talented researcher, Ms. Huan LI.
This biomimetic nanoplatform enhances retinal disease treatments by using natural immune cell membranes for targeted drug delivery. It enables precise targeting of neuroinflammation sites in the retina, facilitating controlled drug release while stabilizing fragile medications and minimizing off-target effects.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the judging panel for their invaluable time and expertise in evaluating our projects. Their recognition of our work at the AEII inspires us to continue pushing the boundaries of research and innovation in Eye and Vision health.
About The Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Invention Hong Kong (AEII)
AEII is the Asia’s annual exhibition cum competition exclusively devoted to innovations and inventions from Asia to be hosted in Hong Kong, by partnering with Palexpo, Geneva, organizer of the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva.
