e-Bulletin April 2026

World Health Day
Together for Health, Stand with Science

This World Health Day, the global community unites under the powerful theme “Together for Health, Stand with Science”. This year’s message is a clarion call: science serves everyone, everywhere. It reminds us that from healthy diets and clean water to vaccines and mental health, scientific evidence is the bedrock of progress.

Our School is proud to stand with this mission, with a commitment to rigorous science, global collaboration, and the translation of research into tangible health impact. As WHO emphasises, progress in public health is built on global solidarity. Through partnerships and pioneering research, we strive to embody this spirit every day.

Researchers at our School are actively advancing this field. A landmark study by Professor Ben Cowling, Helen and Francis Zimmern Professor in Population Health, Chair Professor of Epidemiology, and Head of the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at our School, and an international team of researchers provides the first robust evidence that an antiviral treatment can curb the spread of influenza to close contacts. The CENTERSTONE trial found that a single dose of baloxavir can significantly reduce the odds of untreated household members contracting influenza by 32%, with no new safety concerns.

Professor Leo Poon, Daniel C K Yu Professor in Virology, Chair Professor of Public Health Virology at our School, and Co-Director of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Global Health Institute (HKJCGHI), and his research team have achieved a major breakthrough with cb1, a novel live-attenuated vaccine candidate. This single-dose vaccine offers broad protection against multiple coronaviruses and blocks transmission in animal models – a promising step toward a broadly protective coronavirus vaccine.

Together, these contributions reflect the very essence of the WHO’s message: scientific innovation, developed and practised with a One Health perspective, is key to safeguarding our collective future.

The WHO reminds us that its ability to connect science with real-life practice is powered by a global network of collaborating centres. A prime example is our ongoing collaboration with the National Health Commission of China (NHC). With the genenous support from the Institue of Philantrophy, we have developed training programmes for senior management officials from Mainland China’s healthcare system to enhance collaboration and exchanges between mainland China and Hong Kong in the healthcare sector, thus contributing to the long-term development of the nation’s public health. This ensures that science-led public health benefits more people and helps guide future health policies.

This World Health Day, WHO calls on everyone to “stand up and speak for science”. At our School, we do this through our research, our teaching, and our partnerships. By standing with science, we commit to generating the evidence needed for a healthier, more equitable world.