Our team K-MPOX is dedicated to developing the Monkeypox Virus Inhibitor Kit, to enhance drug screening efficiency and accuracy through high-throughput methods and enable the scalability of drug screening, with a focus on serving university laboratories and research institutes.

The prevalence of monkeypox in China is a relatively recent occurrence. According to the latest data from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2023), during activities conducted by the K-MPOX dry lab, there were 106 newly reported confirmed cases of monkeypox in mainland China (excluding Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan) from June 2nd to June 30th, 2023. Among these cases, Guangdong Province reported 48 cases, Beijing reported 45 cases, Jiangsu Province reported 8 cases, Hubei Province reported 2 cases, Shandong Province reported 2 cases, and Zhejiang Province reported 1 case. Fortunately, there were no severe cases or fatalities.

To gain a better understanding of the public's awareness of monkeypox, we conducted an online questionnaire survey. Furthermore, aiming to comprehensively know the perceptions and knowledge about monkeypox across diverse age groups and demographics, we carried out street surveys at multiple locations in Shanghai. To acquire more comprehensive insights into monkeypox, including its current status, patient conditions, as well as diagnostic and treatment approaches in China, we conducted a field investigation, in addition to gathering insights from three experts. Our activities about Integrated Human Practice are listed below:

Questionnaire: Public Awareness and Perception of Monkeypox

We administered a survey aimed at knowing the general population’s understanding and perspective regarding this relatively uncommon disease. A total of 478 valid survey responses were collected, offering valuable insights into the current state of public knowledge about monkeypox.

Demographics

Out of the 478 respondents, 292 were female, constituting a majority of the participants. Age distribution revealed that 171 respondents were under 18 years old, while 101 were between the ages of 36 and 45. Additionally, 57 participants fell into both the 18-25 and 26-35 age brackets. In terms of education, 167 were high school students and 125 held a bachelor's degree. The occupation distribution indicated that 204 respondents were students, while 71 identified as management professionals.

Sources of Information

The survey results unveiled the channels through which respondents acquired information about monkeypox. Notably, 357 individuals reported having read news related to monkeypox and thus possessed a certain degree of understanding about the disease. However, the survey also highlighted a concerning aspect: 69 respondents admitted to having no knowledge of monkeypox whatsoever, even being unfamiliar with its existence. Only 52 respondents demonstrated a deeper familiarity with monkeypox.

Furthermore, the data revealed that 308 respondents acquired information about monkeypox through television news, making it the primary source of information. Short video platforms such as TikTok and Kwai garnered attention as well, with 229 respondents turning to these platforms to learn about monkeypox. This pattern suggested a clear preference among the public for audiovisual media and short video platforms as the most effective means of disseminating information on the subject.

Attitudes and Perceptions

Regarding the level of attention society pays to monkeypox, 241 respondents, accounting for approximately 50.42% of the total, considered the current level of attention to be moderate. In contrast, 140 individuals believed that society's attention to monkeypox was insufficient. This insight raises significant concerns about the general public's awareness and concern for this relatively uncommon disease.

Reflection

Upon reflecting on the survey results, several noteworthy conclusions can be drawn. Firstly, it is evident that the majority of respondents possess limited knowledge about monkeypox. Secondly, the findings underscore the need to enhance society's attention towards monkeypox. Given that it is a lesser-known disease, there exists an opportunity to bridge the information gap and promote a more informed public discourse on the topic. Lastly, the preference for television news and short video platforms for information consumption emphasizes the importance of utilizing these channels effectively to maximize awareness and understanding among the public. In conclusion, the survey results provide valuable insights into public perceptions of monkeypox. The analysis demonstrates a need for increased awareness and education about this uncommon disease. In the forthcoming initiatives, our focus will be directed towards a comprehensive approach to both online and offline education and dissemination regarding monkeypox. By focusing on these areas, society can enhance its understanding of monkeypox, and foster a more engaged and informed public response to public health concerns. (Click here to check the Education)

Street Survey

Because of our sincere desire for direct interactions with the community, we conducted face-to-face surveys while distributing online questionnaires.

To engage directly, we made a interactive KT board with the question, "How does monkeypox spread?" This is a multiple-choice question and options we provided were all correct, but all participants didn't choose all the right answers! This street interview aimed to see how well the community understands monkeypox. After they made their choices, we had individual conversations with participants, asking about what they already knew and thought about monkeypox. These personal interactions were different from online efforts and gave us deeper insights.

During these two days, with permission from security personnel, we conducted surveys for about two hours each day, talking to over a hundred people passing by. The locations included office buildings, fitness centers, residential complexes, shopping malls, roadside areas, and subway stations. Surprisingly, A small portion of individuals, including young people, admitted to having never heard of monkeypox. Most participants associated monkeypox transmission with the air, skin contact, and sexual contact. After more in-depth talks, we realized that nearly everyone had only superficial impression about monkeypox and treated it as a serious illness. A small portion group showed discriminatory attitudes towards those with monkeypox.

We showed the survey results using the Chinese character "正", a unique way to show the outcomes.

It's important to mention that our observations are specific to the Shanghai area. This localized understanding shows the need for targeted awareness campaigns and educational efforts to fill the gaps in public knowledge and clear up any misunderstandings about monkeypox. This helps us create effective plans to increase community awareness and knowledge about monkeypox.

Our team looked up some information online to understand monkeypox. During this process, we found a nonprofit organization in Shanghai actively engaged in monkeypox-related initiatives: Shanghai Qingai Health Center. Consequently, we initiated direct communication with the organization's key representative, who responded positively to our project. Through this interaction, we found that this organization had been at the forefront of monkeypox prevention and education in Shanghai, commencing their efforts as early as June 7th, 2022.

Founded in 2008, the Shanghai Qingai Health Promotion Center stands as China's pioneer nonprofit organization dedicated to providing essential services for AIDS patients. Supported by official entities such as the Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Shanghai Municipal STI and AIDS Prevention and Control Association, this nonprofit entity operates. A significant overlap exists between the demographics targeted for HIV/AIDS prevention and those at risk for monkeypox, particularly within the context of men who have sex with men (MSM) and those who neglect sex protective measures. Recent data supports this correlation, revealing that out of the reported 106 monkeypox cases in China, 101 involved individuals engaging in high-risk same-sex sexual activities, (Global Times, 2023). According to the latest data from the World Health Organization in September 2023, among the currently confirmed cases of monkeypox around the world, 181,112 individuals (52.8%) have also tested positive for HIV/AIDS (WHO, 2023).

To foster in-depth discussions, our team visited Shanghai Qingai Health Center. During this offline engagement, we had the privilege of being hosted by Mr. Bu Jiaqing, the center's founder. Mr. Bu's achievements include an audience with Premier Li Keqiang in 2012, as well as recognition such as a nomination for the Fifth National Moral Model Award and the Shanghai May Day Labor Medal. Through conversations with Mr. Bu and other staff members of the Qingai Health Center, we garnered the following key information and conclusions:

In the current context of China, once monkeypox cases are identified, centralized control measures are promptly implemented to curtail the source of transmission.

Current monkeypox testing involves physicians collecting samples from patients' vesicles or pustules on the skin. Subsequent laboratory analyses encompass polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and virus isolation cultivation.

The only globally available monkeypox vaccine originates from a Danish biotech company. Mainland China residents do not currently have access to the vaccine, whereas it is available in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Post-recovery effects in most monkeypox patients are minimal, yet approximately 2.7% develop epilepsy, 2.4% experience cognitive confusion, and 2% contract encephalitis.

Preventive efforts for monkeypox primarily involve public education. Provinces across mainland China organize educational campaigns, with numerous organizations addressing monkeypox due to the overlap in patient demographics.

Alongside official educational campaigns, substantial discussions about monkeypox cases occur across various social media platforms in China, such as Weibo, TikTok, Bilibili and so on. However, the use of sensationalized imagery often leads to unwarranted panic among the public. Public discussions often intertwine monkeypox with chaotic personal life narratives, leading to potential patient stigma and hindrance in seeking medical care.

Reflection

By engaging with this nonprofit organization and conducting this on-site visit, we not only gained a deeper understanding of the monkeypox epidemic but also recognized the inadvertent consequences of fear-inducing communication strategies. While many of these behaviours are unintentional, their impact remains significant. This experience has profoundly influenced our team, prompting us to reconsider the approach of educational communication campaign and prioritize more open, diverse, caring and inclusive methods in our future efforts to educate the public about monkeypox.

An Interview With Biologist Dr.Ma Yong

We conducted an online interview with Dr. Ma Yong to gain a deeper understanding of the monkeypox virus.

Dr. Ma Yong, a graduate of the Veterinary Preventive Medicine program at Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, is currently serving as an Associate Researcher at the Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences. In 2023, Dr. Ma collaborated with the Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct research on monkeypox. Consequently, we extended an invitation to Dr. Ma for an interview.

It's worth noting that China's primary focus in vaccine research is not centered on monkeypox. Dr. Ma highlighted that the monkeypox strain presently circulating globally exhibits a relatively low fatality rate. As for the transmission of the virus among animals, Dr. Ma pointed out that mammals are more prone to cross-species spread, with rodents carrying a higher burden of zoonotic pathogens. On the other hand, birds, due to their intensive farming practices and separation from human populations, present a lower risk of mass infection. This underscores the significance of maintaining physical separation between wild animals and humans to effectively reduce transmission rates.

Dr. Ma emphasized that the current level of study on the monkeypox outbreak in China remains relatively limited. The typical vaccine development timeline spans from 2 to 7 years, ideally resulting in a product within four to five years, owing to the complex technical challenges involved.

Reflection

Through our conversation with Dr. Ma, we came to realize that the current focus on monkeypox in China's research field is relatively limited, let alone in the public domain. Therefore, in our upcoming educational outreach activities, we plan to incorporate the latest advancements in monkeypox research. This will help draw greater attention to this topic among the general population.

A Pitch Meeting With Industrial Experts Dr.Li Jinliang & Prof.Li Honglin

Aim & purpose

We visited Desano Company and engaged in discussions with two professors there. Our visit was directed towards two key purposes. Firstly, it aimed to provide us with a more profound understanding of the current market landscape concerning the Monkeypox Virus Inhibitor Testing Kit. Also, we wanted to make sure that our current product is reasonable and find out some potentioal problems that might come up. We also wanted to figure out ways to make our product better as we continue working on it.

Background

Desano, established in 2000 and headquartered at Shanghai Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, is a pioneering entity. With a primary focus on anti-HIV drugs, the company engages in research, development, production, registration, and worldwide distribution of top-tier pharmaceuticals. Notably, Desano stands among China's early adopters in anti-HIV drug development, securing approvals for production.

Dr. Li Jinliang, a PHD from Nankai University's Chemistry Department, has served as R&D Director and Chairman of Shanghai Desano Bio-pharmaceutical Company, Chairman of Shanghai Desano Chemical Pharmaceutical Company, Director of Shanghai Anti-HIV Drugs Engineering and Technology Research Center, and Director of National Anti-HIV Drugs Engineering and Technology Research Center.

Professor Li Honglin, serves as a doctoral supervisor and holds directorial roles, including Shanghai's Key Laboratory of New Drug Design. Professor Li's accolades include recognition as a recipient of the National Distinguished Youth Science Fund.

Visit

We visited this company, during which we understood the realm of antiviral and anti-HIV medications. In this visit, we also took the opportunity to acquire an overview of Desano's pharmaceutical offerings.

Pitch

We were lucky to present our business plan to two industrial experts. During this interaction, we provided a comprehensive overview of our team and our project. We shared the product's physical attributes, operational mechanisms, business model, development trajectory, and financial projections. Through in-depth discussions with the two professors, we figured out really important things to enhance our project.

Insights

1. Target Audience Clarification:

Our team initially focused on pharmaceutical companies as our primary customers for the testing kit, while Dr. Li Jinliang revealed that these companies typically rely on their in-house testing kits for drug screening, which minimizing costs despite extended timelines. Dr. Li Jinliang suggested targeting research institutes, which would find value in time-saving products with sufficiently high protein activity.

2. 4P:

Promotion Strategy: Our team initially planning to market in medical journals, the realization that this approach is less effective due to changing reader habits. Dr. Li Jinliang recommended promoting the kit in universities, aligning with the target audience of research institutes and biology departments.

Pricing Dilemma: With limited data and the rarity of monkeypox, our team struggled to determine pricing and sales forecasts. Dr. Li Jinliang informed us that the market for monkeypox testing kits is niche due to the specific patient population, leading to lower projected sales than anticipated. This necessitates pricing strategies based on analogous products like COVID-19 testing kits.

3. Future Development:

Engaging with Professor Li Honglin, our team gained insight into potential avenues for growth. While acknowledging the basic efficacy of expressing the enzyme using E.coli, Professor Li Honglin suggested exploring more sophisticated methods involving insects. This avenue presents a higher-cost but more active and efficient approach, which could be a potential future direction for the project.

Conclusion

The interaction with Desano and two industry experts facilitated our team a comprehensive understanding of the market, refined the target audience, resolved pricing uncertainties, and highlighted potential future research directions. This enriched perspective will undoubtedly enhance our product positioning and the development of a more comprehensive business plan. (click here to check the Entrepreneurship)

Our survey revealed a lack of MPOX knowledge and we plan to create short videos and brochures for education. Street interviews gave insights into public views and made us focus on education.

Our visit to Shanghai Qingai Health Center expanded our understanding of MPOX in China, including cases, management, and prevention. We also noticed fear-based messaging about monkeypox, creating bias. So, we will take a diverse and open approach to our later outreach activities.

Talking to Dr. Ma showed us the process of medicine development and MPOX research in China. Correspondingly, we will improve our online content with global updates.

Collectively, all these integrated human practices assisted us in developing and refining our product, and they also aided us in designing later educational outreach activities.

Due to the product's principles and characteristics, our product primarily targets university laboratories and research institutes.

Our product, the Monkeypox Virus Inhibitor Kit, is aimed at enhancing drug screening efficiency and accuracy through high-throughput methods, facilitating scalable drug screening.

We'll implement our project both online and offline, targeting university laboratories and research institutes. Our strategy combines direct sales through offline activities like pharmaceutical exhibitions with online promotion using platforms like Jingyin, Xiaohongshu, Zhihu, and Bilibili to enhance product awareness.

Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, July 14). Monkeypox Epidemic Monitoring Report for June 2023.

https://www.chinacdc.cn/jkzt/crb/qt/szkb_13037/gwjszl_13092/202307/t20230714_267790.html

Global Times. (2023, July 27). China issues monkeypox prevention plan; experts expect cases to grow in July, but large-scale outbreak 'unlikely'.

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202307/1295180.shtml

World Health Organization. (2023, September 12). 2022-23 Mpox (Monkeypox) Outbreak: Global Trends. https://worldhealthorg.shinyapps.io/mpx_global/.