Microbiota I-Center (MagIC)

Uniting Global Expertise to Pioneer the Future of Personalized Microbiome Care

The Microbiota I-Center (MagIC) stands as the first Asia-based, leading international innovation center dedicated to pioneering microbiome research that translates groundbreaking scientific discoveries into tangible clinical applications from its base in Hong Kong. This world-class hub is powered by an elite global network of researchers across four continents, integrating the regional leadership of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) with the clinical and translational expertise of the University of Oxford (Prof. James East), The University of Chicago (Prof. David T. Rubin and Prof. Eugene B. Chang), The University of Queensland (Prof. Jakob Begun and Prof. Mark Morrison), and The University of Melbourne (Prof. Michael Kamm). By leveraging these prestigious international partnerships, the Center focuses on utilizing the human gut microbiome for the development of novel microbial biomarkers and personalized microbiome therapeutics, establishing a new frontier for the pharmaceutical, healthcare, and food industries while positioning Hong Kong as a global leader in biotechnology and microbiome innovation.

MICROBIOTA I-CENTER (MagIC) - Asia's first microbiota innovation center.

Co-director Professor Francis Chan with Key Principle Investigators; MagIC has attracted experienced scientists spanning across disciplines of medicine, microbiology, biology, food science and bioinformatics.

Prof. Siew Ng is identifying optimal healthy microbiome from a donor for personalized therapy in Asia’s first research stool bank (left); while pipelines of human-derived microorganisms are being tested in our in- house animal facility that can hold up to 2,500 mice (right).

MagIC is dedicated to developing an effective and accessible new class of microbiome medicine that will revolutionize the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases and ultimately improve human health. In particular, four major research programs have been set up:

• “Healthy Microbiome in Early Life” will explore the development of microbiome in early life and its association with infants' health to unravel the mystery of gut microbiota signatures in early life that predicts future health.
• “ Microbiome in Obesity and Metabolic Disease” will target obese-related microbes in the gut. Modulation of gut microbiota in obesity will offer hope for weight control and halt the rising incidence of obesity.
• “Microbiome in Inflammatory Bowel Disease” will identify potential pathobionts and facilitate development of beneficial microbes and metabolites to alleviate this chronic and debilitating condition.
• “Intestinal Microbiota Transplantation (IMT) and Development of Microbial Products” will establish a standardized IMT donor stool bank, which will be the sole provider of IMT to the entire Hospital Authority in Hong Kong, for approved and investigational therapies in Hong Kong and Asia.

As a dedicated innovation hub utilising state-of-the art microbiome facilitie and big microbiome datasets, MagIC will serve as a powerhouse of groundbreaking innovations that will not only answer important clinical questions but also lead to downstream translation and commercialization of microbiome products by industrial partners.