Winnie Shum

Founder, CSO, Principal Investigator
Industrial affiliation:
Elementomic Analytics & Diagnostics (HK) Ltd;
Academic affiliation:
School of Life Science & Technology, ShanghaiTech University, China

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Winnie Shum, PhD, is a scientist, cell biologist and entrepreneur in the field of reproductive biomedicine and sperm health. She is also a Principal Investigator at School of Life Science and Technology of ShanghaiTech University in Shanghai, China. Dr. Shum is the Founder and Scientific Director of Elementomic Analytics and Diagnostics Limited (Hong Kong), a biotech startup incubated by ShanghaiTech Space, an early incubation program of ShanghaiTech University. Dr. Shum’s research work focuses on elucidating the mechanisms underlying epididymal microenvironmental signaling regulation of sperm maturation and male fertility. Recently, her work led to the application of cell elementomics as a non-invasive in vitro diagnostics (IVD) tool to monitor the functional quality of sperm cells and access male fertility health. This research work has been filed an international patent, and clinical trials are in progress. Dr. Shum’s current goal is to build a platform system using single-cell elementomics technology as a non-invasive IVD tool in the fields of biomedicine and health sciences, especially for male patients seeking help from assisted reproductive technology. 

Speech title & Synopsis

Integrating Hong Kong Startups with Great Bay Area New Opportunities: The Budding Story of a Biotech Startup Focusing on Cell-Elementomics

As one of the leading international financial centers, Hong Kong holds numerous inherent advantages in finance and entrepreneurship. Hong Kong government and local entrepreneurial organizations do not settle for what has been established, but continue their efforts to advance support and nurturing conditions to boost business activities. I had participated the first Hong Kong international biotechnology convention, BIOHK2022, as the founder of a startup Elementomic Analytics & Diagnostics (EAD). EAD is a new biotech startup based on my research venture, aiming to develop a platform system using cell elementomics as a non-invasive in vitro diagnostic (IVD) technology in biomedicine. In BIOHK2022, organized by HKIB, I witnessed the success of this conference, opening up international exchanges and developing new business opportunities. As a research scientist and a mentor, who primarily works in the lab and teaches in the classroom at ShanghaiTech University in Shanghai of China, this conference broadened my horizon on the bridges between basic-research scientists to translational scientists. In the conference, I made new professional connections and found matching opportunities, which also allowed me reaching out to business professionals and exploring incubation program, Incu-Bio, under the realm of Hong Kong Science and Technology Park. Recent years, Hong Kong and mainland governments join their efforts to build a massive economic zone for an ecosystem rich of innovation technologies at the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Great Bay Area (GBA). In addition to the research and development institutions with their renowned parent organizations based in Hong Kong or China, the local governments at GBA, for example Nansha’s government, also cooperate with Hong Kong’s government to develop giant supporting facilities. Currently, matching up the needs with opportunities are the challenges. However, with the increased enthusiasm and support for startups, I do foresee us all benefiting, such as my startup that is now on the verge to bud.