InnoHK C2i and NovoBay Biotech Establish Strategic Collaboration on Rapid Molecular Testing, Genomic Surveillance and Translational Research

The InnoHK Centre for Immunology & Infection Limited (InnoHK C2i) and NovoBay Biotechnology Company Limited have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic collaboration focused on research and development evaluation, evidence generation, rapid molecular testing, genomic surveillance and translational research.

The collaboration aims to create a structured framework for evaluating advanced molecular diagnostic and sequencing technologies in oncology, infectious disease surveillance and other public health applications. Under the MoU, the parties will explore the assessment of rapid PCR point-of-care testing (POCT), automated sample-to-answer molecular workflows, nanopore sequencing, next-generation sequencing (NGS)-related workflows and biomarker testing platforms.

By combining NovoBay's expertise in molecular diagnostics and sequencing technologies with InnoHK C2i's scientific leadership and C2iTech's translational research expertise across precision medicine, infectious diseases and public health, the collaboration seeks to generate scientifically rigorous evidence that can support future research, workflow development and potential translational applications.

Additional support is provided by technology partners Hangzhou KDx Biotechnology and PolySeq Biotech, represented in Hong Kong by NovoBay. KDx provides rapid molecular diagnostic and PCR-POCT platform, while PolySeq Biotech contributes nanopore sequencing technology.

The partnership will initially focus on the evaluation of molecular testing and sequencing workflows, including applications in oncology and biomarker discovery. The parties will also explore opportunities to assess sequencing and molecular surveillance approaches for respiratory viruses, including influenza and SARS-CoV-2, where appropriate approvals are obtained. 

Representatives met in Hong Kong earlier this month to launch the collaboration and discuss future workplans following the execution of the MoU.

“Innovation delivers the greatest value when it translates into tangible benefits for patients and the wider community. Through this collaboration, we hope to generate high-quality evidence on emerging molecular technologies and explore how they can support better disease management, strengthen public health capabilities, and contribute to a more resilient healthcare system in Hong Kong and beyond” said Professor Leo Poon, Managing Director, InnoHK C2i.

“Molecular profiling is becoming an increasingly important component of precision medicine. The future of healthcare lies in more precise, data-driven and personalised approaches to treatment. By combining advanced molecular diagnostics, sequencing capabilities and translational research, we have an opportunity to better understand disease at the individual level, develop more effective clinical workflows, and ultimately support better-informed treatment decisions and improved patient outcomes.” said Professor Michael Chan, Chief Executive Officer, C2iTech.

“Partnering with world-class institutions like InnoHK C2i and C2iTech in Hong Kong represents a significant milestone for NovoBay. Hong Kong’s dynamic innovation ecosystem provides the perfect springboard for translating cutting-edge scientific research into impactful clinical diagnostic services. By combining our commercialisation expertise with InnoHK C2i’s unparalleled research capabilities, we aim to accelerate the translation of advanced molecular diagnostics into precision medicine solutions, ultimately delivering faster and more effective healthcare outcomes for patients” said Mr. James Zhu, Chief Executive Officer, NovoBay Biotechnology.

“What excites me about this partnership is how naturally the two sides fit. InnoHK C2i and C2iTech bring real strength in biomarker discovery and translational development, and we bring point-of-care molecular testing to extend the reach of precision medicine into everyday clinical settings. Between us, we can get that science to patients faster and more affordably — from diagnosis through to intervention, wherever they are seen. I'm looking forward to what comes of this work, in the laboratory and in the clinic” said Mr. Hao Yu, Chief Executive Officer, Hangzhou KDx Biotechnology.

“Nanopore sequencing provides long-range, real-time, and native genomic insights, effectively resolving complex structural variants, rapid emergency responses, and epigenetic modifications. It holds significant potential to advance biomedical research and precision medicine into a new era of completeness and accuracy. Through this collaboration, we look forward to combining PolySeq Biotech’s nanopore sequencing platform with the strong research and translational expertise of InnoHK C2i and C2iTech, enabling more timely access to genomic information and accelerating the translation of scientific discoveries into meaningful real-world applications” said Dr. Daqian Wang, Chief Executive Officer, PolySeq Biotech.

From left to right: Mr. James Zhu, Chief Executive Officer, NovoBay Biotechnology; Professor Leo Poon, Managing Director, InnoHK C2i.

About the InnoHK Centre for Immunology & Infection Limited

The InnoHK Centre for Immunology & Infection (InnoHK C2i) is the fruit of a long-standing partnership of more than 20 years between the LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) and the Institut Pasteur, two major institutions combining their expertise to establish this centre of excellence.

This major initiative, funded by the Innovation and Technology Commission as part of the InnoHK initiative, adopts innovative strategies to confront and mitigate the impact of emerging infectious diseases and transform Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area into a global hub of knowledge and research.

Website: https://www.c2i.hk

About NovoBay Biotechnology Company Limited 

NovoBay Biotech is a Hong Kong-based strategic partner in precision medicine, dedicated to bridging the gap between advanced diagnostic technologies and real-world clinical research and practice. Operating as a dynamic translational hub, we specialize in matching cutting-edge molecular innovations with the optimal research and healthcare applications to address critical unmet needs, particularly in oncology and infectious diseases. By identifying strategic opportunities and facilitating the establishment of collaborative Centers of Excellence (CoE) alongside our technical partners, NovoBay seamlessly connects academic institutions, hospitals, and multinational pharmaceutical companies, rapidly scaling transformative healthcare solutions from local markets to the global stage.

Website: https://www.novobaybio.com

About Hangzhou KDx Biotechnology Co., Ltd. 

Hangzhou KDx Biotechnology Co., Ltd. was founded in 2017 to bring precision medicine into routine clinical practice. Bringing together engineering automation, clinical medicine and molecular biology, KDx developed Q-Velox®, an integrated point-of-care platform for fast, accurate, multiplex molecular testing in oncology and microbiology. Q-Velox® takes a single FFPE section to a reported result in under four hours — extraction, amplification and interpretation in one automated run, with one to two minutes of hands-on time and no sample batching. It also accepts fresh and fine-needle tissue, effusions and blood. Behind this is a proprietary technology base spanning instrument automation and precision fluidics, automated preparation of difficult sample types, and its own probe chemistry. KDx's aim is to bring molecular diagnostics of the highest technical standard within economic reach, so that precision testing can be performed wherever patients are seen, without a specialized molecular laboratory.

PolySeq Biotech Co., Ltd.

PolySeq Biotech Co., Ltd. was established in November 2021, and focuses on development and commercialization of nanopore-based gene sequencing systems. The company established its intellectual properties in novel and engineered biological nanopores, as well as various other fields including nucleic acid chemistry, protein engineering, integrated circuit chips, software engineering, and deep learning algorithms. PolySeq Biotech devotes to developing high-accuracy, high-throughput, long read-length, low-cost nanopore sequencers and related reagents and consumables, and dedicates to enabling gene sequencing technology to benefit medical practice and the public at large, to protecting the life and health of the people, and to meeting the needs of precision medicine in the big data era. Website: https://www.polyseq.com/

Media enquiries:

InnoHK Centre for Immunology & Infection Limited (InnoHK C2i)

Simon Muller (Tel: 6194 7531 | Email: simon.muller@c2i.hk)