As a Forum Ambassador for the last iteration of the Forum, I had the privilege of engaging with leading scientists and peers from around the world, including Professor Georg Nagel and his family. The experience deepened my commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and reinforced my aspiration to contribute meaningfully to the global scientific community. This year, I hope to return to the Forum in a new capacity - as a young scientist eager to share my ongoing research and to learn from others at the forefront of scientific discovery. Currently, I am pursuing a master's degree Harvard Medical School, alongside my medical degree at HKUMed. My academic and research journey has been shaped by a strong interest in translating clinical science for social good, particularly towards surgical care, global health equity and patient-centered care. I look forward to joining the Forum again - not just to continue the conversations I helped facilitate last time, but to contribute more deeply to the dialogue as a researcher and advocate. I believe the Forum offers a unique platform for shaping the future of science, and I am excited to be part of it.

Harvard University

University of Hong Kong

Ref_from_DrJoshuaHo_2025-HKLF.pdf

My research straddles surgical care, AI and digital health, having worked with Lancet Commission and G20+ in local and global contexts. For HKLF, I would like to present a research project that intersects biochemistry, cancer biology, and clinical translation to surgery.

Since 2020, European Chemicals Agency classified pure cobalt metal as a Category 1B carcinogen, requiring manufacturers to justify products containing ≥ 0.1% cobalt. However, this up-classification lacks direct evidence of cobalt-induced carcinogenicity in surgical implants and may cause undue concern for patients requiring spinal implants. This study investigates whether cobalt, chromium, and titanium ions - common metals in implants – are carcinogenic, using both in vitro and mouse models. In mice, human transferrin-bound metal ions are injected peritoneally; DNA damage will be assessed in lymphocytes over 6 months using the Comet Assay; metal-transferrin complexes will be applied to osteoblast cell lines to evaluate DNA damage, glucose metabolism, and gene expression changes. Investigating markers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) will help determine potential cancer-like transformations. The study will yield data on DNA damage, metabolic alterations, and EMT-related gene expression, providing critical insights into whether these metals trigger carcinogenic pathways, informing implant safety, regulatory policy, and offering scalable implications to global health.