The trailblazer in Hong Kong bioscience who embraced new technology for detecting cancer early
- ‘We did things nobody wanted to deal with at the time,’ says liquid biopsy innovator Stanley Sy
- Sy was in his 20s when he founded Sanomics and forged ahead with pioneering technique for testing blood samples
Stanley Sy Ming-yiu fears not treading his own path. Just when many scientists remained wary of a new technique for testing blood samples to detect cancer at an early stage, he decided to take the plunge.
Under his leadership, a team at Sanomics has invested their time heavily in developing the application of liquid biopsy, a relatively novel alternative to the more complicated process of surgically removing tissue from the body for analysis.
According to Sy, the new genetic-testing method is gaining trust and recognition for its accuracy, leading to its increasing popularity among medical practitioners.
Sy said he believed the company, established in 2015 when he was in his 20s, and an “incubatee” of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, made the right move in embracing the technology, which he described as less risky and a faster diagnosis tool than traditional methods.
“As a start-up, we did things nobody wanted to deal with at the time,” Sy said. “We wouldn’t have got the opportunity if people then had all agreed the technology was OK.”
The annual event, co-organised by the South China Morning Post and property developer Sino Group, celebrates the achievements of remarkable people whose endeavours may otherwise go unnoticed.
Alfa Lun, of Hong Kong Science Park, recommended Sy for this year’s Spirit of Innovation award, which recognises individuals who are behind breakthrough technologies or innovation that benefits society.
