Cancer strikes fear into the hearts of many, and so does venom. Yet, when these two formidable forces collide, unexpected chemistry may occur. Professor Henry Kwok Hang Fai, head of the Department of Biomedical Sciences in the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) at the University of Macau (UM), is a pioneering scholar who embodies the principle of ‘fighting fire with fire’—or in this case, ‘combating cancer with animal venom’. In this My UM article, we delve into Prof Kwok’s scientific journey, and explore how he has turned venom, a seemingly deadly weapon, into a potential key to unlocking revolutionary medical treatments.
Harnessing venom to combat cancer
‘Do you know that the world’s deadliest venom could be the key to saving lives?’ Prof Kwok’s words captivate his students. Their expressions shift from disbelief to rapt attention as he continues: ‘Take venom released from the tail of the scorpion, for example. Certain peptides in the venom are effective in inhibiting the activity of glioblastoma cells.’ Scorpion venom peptides have remarkable potential: they may be able to destroy cancer cells and inhibit their mitosis. This mechanism fits perfectly with the goals of cancer treatment.
Prof Kwok and his team are relentless in their quest to find these cancer-fighting peptides, navigating a scientific journey full of challenges. ‘Out of 100 peptides, perhaps only one has anti-cancer properties,’ he explains. However, the low probability of experimental success does not deter him. For Prof Kwok, scientific research is about finding success in failure. ‘Failure is the stepping stone to success. With perseverance, we’ll eventually identify those anti-cancer peptides,’ says Prof Kwok, whose motivation stems from the promising prospects of using venom-derived peptides to fight cancer.
Peptides derived from animal venom have significant advantages over traditional radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Prof Kwok explains that the molecular structure of venom peptides is similar to that of human biological molecules, which means they can enter the human body with reduced immune rejection and minimise harm to the patient. In addition, venom peptides have remarkable regulatory capabilities such as anti-inflammatory and cellular repair, which have immense potential in treating cancer and metabolic disorders. Therefore, the use of animal venom against cancer has become a promising avenue of research, attracting scientific and pharmaceutical interest worldwide.
The ‘armoured car’ of the anti-cancer troops
Prof Kwok joined UM in 2014, and after years of dedicated research, he and his team have established a ‘venom repository’ in FHS and screened a series of peptides with anti-cancer properties, securing seven international patents. Their most notable breakthroughs include the discovery of the anti-tumour peptide, Gonearrestide (P13) and its potent mutant M6 in maintaining the self-renewal of human embryonic stem cells.
The team’s ambition goes far beyond discovery. They have mapped tumour signalling pathways and receptors and created a strategic ‘roadmap’ for precision targeting of cancer cells with peptides, pioneering a new approach to cancer treatment.
Recently, Prof Kwok and his team made another research breakthrough. Some peptides, although seemingly ineffective on the surface of cancer cells, prove to be devastatingly powerful once inside the cells. The team used nanotechnology to coat peptides with a protective layer of nanomaterials, which made it easier for the peptides to enter the cells. ‘Think of this layer of nanomaterials as a military armoured vehicle’, explains Prof Kwok. ‘It protects the peptides from degradation and safely transports our anti-cancer troops right into the heart of the tumour.’ The experimental results are promising, showing significant inhibition of cancer cell growth. Such an approach is expected to greatly improve treatment efficacy and the team has submitted the research to an academic journal.
Accelerating venom-based peptide drug template identification with AI
Over the past three decades, scientists around the world have successfully developed many drugs using venom-derived compounds. However, of the 50 million compounds that exist in animal venom, fewer than one in a thousand have been identified—a consequence of traditional manual analysis methods that are time-consuming and inefficient. Seeing an opportunity in this challenge, Prof Kwok has dedicated himself to expediting the identification of venom compounds to open up new possibilities in drug development and medical research.
The application of artificial intelligence (AI) in medical research has provided a transformative solution to this scientific bottleneck. Five years ago, Prof Kwok’s interdisciplinary collaboration with colleagues from the Faculty of Science and Technology led to the development of an AI platform for screening peptides with anti-cancer potential, which has since dramatically accelerated research efficiency.
‘A typical protein is composed of one or more polypeptide chains made up of sequences of amino acids. Some proteins can be very large, consisting of over 1,000 amino acids, and certain complex proteins may contain thousands of amino acids. In the past, it could take anywhere from a month to several months to manually analyse a single peptide, which limited us to just 30 to 50 peptide analyses per year. Now, with this AI platform, we can complete an analysis in just a few days—a quantum leap in efficiency,’ says Prof Kwok, who is proud of his team’s achievement. This AI platform has become the cornerstone of FHS’s ‘venom repository’, a key to unlocking groundbreaking medical discoveries.
This breakthrough in AI machine learning technology for biomedical research has been published in a journal under the prestigious American Chemical Society Publications. Moreover, the efficient and accurate AI screening platform has been made available to researchers worldwide, demonstrating UM’s dedication to advancing scientific progress in the field.
Nurturing talent with problem-solving skills
‘Have you ever wondered why you feel drowsy after a meal? The “culprit” could be tryptophan, an amino acid in your food!’ Prof Kwok uses this ‘opening statement’ to grab the attention of his students, who also look a bit sleepy after lunch. He then explains the cause of post-meal fatigue from a biochemical point of view and introduces the class to tryptophan and its metabolite, serotonin. This demonstrates that Prof Kwok is not only a researcher in the laboratory, but also a mentor in the classroom.
As head of the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Prof Kwok understands the important role of biomedical sciences in the exploration of the human body. In his undergraduate lectures, Prof Kwok adopts a teaching approach that emphasises both theoretical foundations and practical applications, with the aim of developing students’ problem-solving skills. In class, he uses relatable real-life examples to explain complex scientific concepts and help students grasp the gist of the subject matter.
Prof Kwok often tells his students that ‘If you never try, you will never know.’ To stimulate students’ curiosity, Prof Kwok has designed a series of scenario-based assignments. These assignments require students to digest textbook knowledge and put it into practice. He also plans to provide students with more hands-on experiences, such as internships and overseas academic exchanges, so that they can participate in more research projects and gain experience in solving real-world problems, thus laying a solid foundation for their academic and career development.
From little seeds grow mighty trees
In 2014, after 16 years of studying and working in the UK, Prof Kwok settled in Macao with his wife to start a new chapter at UM. His family has also grown over the years, and their son will soon be ten years old this year. Prof Kwok has thrived in parenthood while continuing to pursue scientific endeavour and excellence, growing alongside the university.
Prof Kwok remembers vividly when he first arrived at UM, the university was relocating to Hengqin Island. ‘Although UM’s global ranking wasn’t particularly impressive at that time, the university was full of vigour and vitality with great potential for future development’, he says. Over the past 11 years, Prof Kwok has witnessed the transformation of FHS from a small room on the old campus to a new building with both teaching and research facilities, as well as an entire floor of laboratories in the Scientific Research Base on the new campus. ‘It’s like watching a little seed grow into a mighty tree,’ he says. He is also thrilled by UM’s rise to the top 180 in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. ‘With the establishment of the campus in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, I’m confident that the university’s development will reach even greater heights,’ he adds.
Comparing his experience with research institutes in the UK, Prof Kwok admits that he prefers the research environment at UM. ‘In the UK, research directions are largely predetermined, with established project protocols for researchers to follow. Here, I can focus on my strengths and explore research areas that match my research interests. What’s more, thanks to the support of the Macao SAR Government and the Macao Science and Technology Development Fund, I can enjoy richer resources and greater room for development.’
Searching for the key to saving lives
Prof Kwok says that although the process of transforming the deadly ‘weapons’ in animals into drugs for potential cancer treatments is fraught with challenges, it is also filled with the excitement of discovery and the promise of innovative breakthroughs. Looking ahead, he will continue to lead his research team to explore the potential of their ‘venom repository’. ‘Venom is a treasure gifted by nature,’ Prof Kwok says. ‘We need to uncover and harness its true value, and find the hidden key that could unlock new possibilities for saving lives and bringing hope to human health.’
About Prof Henry Kwok
Professor Henry Kwok Hang Fai is head of the Department of Biomedical Sciences in the Faculty of Health Sciences, and chair of the Advisory Committee of the Biological Imaging and Stem Cell Core at the University of Macau (UM). He is also a visiting mentor at the University of Cambridge and secretary (Asia Pacific Section) of the International Society on Toxinology. In 2022, Prof Kwok was elected a fellow of both the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK) and the Royal Society of Biology (UK), becoming the first Macao scholar to receive these two fellowships.
Prof Kwok has dedicated his research to developing peptide and antibody prototype drugs for treating cancer and inflammation. In recent years, he has focused on developing predictive cancer biomarkers using chemical immunosensors. His groundbreaking research earned him a place in the ‘World’s Top 2% Scientists’ in 2024, a testament to his outstanding achievements in biomedical research.
Prof Kwok has published over 150 papers in SCI journals with high-impact factor, including Molecular Cancer, Drug Resistance Updates, Trends in Cancer, Seminars in Cancer Biology, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, and International Journal of Biological Sciences. He also serves as editor-in-chief of Biomolecules (Natural and Bio-inspired Molecules Section), executive editor of Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine, and guest editor of Seminars in Cancer Biology and Pharmacological Research.
Chinese Text: Kelvin U, UM Reporters Li Weng Hei, He Yanlin & Loi Sze Ying
Photos: UM Reporter Ying Yupeng, with some provided by interviewees
Chinese Editor: Gigi Fan
English Translation: Winky Kuan
Source: My UM Issue 142