Bridging Clinical and Experimental Approaches to Viral Diseases

On 27 April 2026, the HKU-Pasteur Research Pole, hosted a scientific lecture bringing together complementary perspectives on viral diseases : from clinical biomarker discovery to comparative pathology.

The session featured Pr. Pooi-Fong Wong (Universiti Malaya), who presented her research on immune-endothelial activation markers in dengue. Her talk addressed a key clinical challenge: the early identification of patients at risk of developing severe dengue. While

current indicators such as hematocrit, platelet counts, and liver enzymes remain widely used, they lack specificity for predicting disease progression. Professor Wong highlighted candidate biomarkers differentially expressed in severe cases and discussed their potential to improve risk stratification, clinical triage, and patient management. Her work illustrates how molecular insights can support more precise and responsive healthcare strategies in the context of infectious disease outbreaks.

The lecture also welcomed Pr. Fabian Lean (City University of Hong Kong), who provided a comparative pathology perspective on viral diseases affecting animals and humans. His presentation emphasized how tissue- and cell-specific receptor expression such as ACE2 and APN shapes host susceptibility, viral tropism, and viral evolution across species. Drawing on experimental models, including a ferret model of Rift Valley fever virus infection, he illustrated mechanisms of viral dissemination, including neuroinvasion leading to severe disease outcomes. He also underscored the essential role of histopathology in validating animal models and distinguishing experimental lesions from background pathology.

Together, these two contributions highlighted the importance of integrating clinical, molecular, and pathological approaches to better understand viral pathogenesis.

From identifying predictive biomarkers in human populations to contextualizing infection mechanisms in animal models, the discussion underscored the value of interdisciplinary research in addressing current and emerging infectious diseases.