Search
What are you looking for?
Start main content

Press Releases

Press Releases

https://www.med.cuhk.edu.hk/press-releases/inaugural-collaboration-between-cuhk-and-astrazeneca-on-diabetic-kidney-disease-research-advancing-a-global-strategy-against-diabetic-kidney-disease
https://www.med.cuhk.edu.hk/press-releases/inaugural-collaboration-between-cuhk-and-astrazeneca-on-diabetic-kidney-disease-research-advancing-a-global-strategy-against-diabetic-kidney-disease

Inaugural Collaboration between CUHK and AstraZeneca on Diabetic Kidney Disease Research Advancing a Global Strategy Against Diabetic Kidney Disease

The Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is pleased to announce a new project in collaboration with global biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca using whole genome sequencing and computational biology to discover biological pathways implicated in Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD). It aims to solve the current unmet treatment needs of patients and advance a new global strategy against DKD.

 

DKD is the leading cause of end stage renal disease (ESRD) and a major risk factor of cardiovascular disease and premature death worldwide. The challenge of young-onset diabetes continues to increase the burden of heart disease, stroke and kidney failure with huge socioeconomic implications. Since 1995, CUHK researchers have established the Hong Kong Diabetes Register (HKDR) and Hong Kong Diabetes Biobank, including more than 20,000 patients observed for more than two decades. This is an overarching project that utilizes biobanks, cohorts and databases to discover the causes, trajectories and consequences of diabetes and its comorbidities. Our ultimate goal is to develop precision medicine to predict, prevent and personalize care using biogenetic markers and targeted treatment.

 

A positive outlook for patients with diabetic kidney disease

 

In this 2-year research collaboration with the early Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism therapeutic and Emerging Markets areas of AstraZeneca, the research team will focus on analyzing the well-phenotyped and available samples from patients already recruited into the HKDR to anticipate the discovery of novel biological pathways and therapeutic targets associated with DKD for drug development with companion diagnostics to address these major unmet needs.

 

Research on Diabetic Kidney Disease

Professor Ronald Ma (1st from left) and Professor Juliana Chan (3rd from left) from CUHK, and AstraZeneca Team

With the opportunity of transforming the care of patients with DKD on the horizon, the project team including Professor Juliana Chan, Director, Hong Kong Institute of Diabetes and Obesity, and Head of Division of Clinical Pharmacology, and Professor Ronald Ma, Assistant Dean (External Affairs) and Head of Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes at the CUHK are committed to bring new hope of using precision medicine to prevent, treat and improve the life of patients with or at risk of developing DKD. 
 
“We are delighted to launch a brand new research collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry,” said Professor Juliana Chan, the principal investigator who set up the Hong Kong Diabetes Register in 1995.

"Together we can strengthen our resources, knowledge and insights, and transform the medical research of diabetes into clinical practices to benefit patients directly; it can also advance the new global strategies and solutions to fight against DKD, and help patients to get the most appropriate treatments.”

“With the rapid development in technology and genomic medicine, the combined expertise between industry and academia can create new knowledge for patient benefits. We hope this collaboration will accelerate the development of biotechnology and strengthen the international leadership and competitiveness of clinical research in Hong Kong.” said Professor Ronald Ma, who is leading a multi-omic project in diabetic complications, supported by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC) Theme-based Research Scheme and RGC Research Impact Fund.

 

“AstraZeneca is committed to creating platforms to identify and attract local scientific excellence in order to advance research and development, ultimately benefiting wider society. With this new collaboration platform starting in Hong Kong, we now have seven health innovation hubs (Russia, China, India, Brazil, Argentina, Taiwan, Hong Kong) in our Emerging Markets. This project promises to strengthen collaborations across these emerging biomedical hubs to accelerate innovation and improve outcomes for our society.” said Gwenael Meneux, General Manager of AstraZeneca Hong Kong.

More Press Releases

CUHK and International Experts in Diabetes Care Joined Hands for Four Years Developing a Multicomponent, Integrated Strategy for Diabetes under The Lancet

CUHK and International Experts in Diabetes Care Joined Hands for Four Years Developing a Multicomponent, Integrated Strategy for Diabetes under The Lancet

International collaboration
CU Medicine Studies Reveal Diabetes Death and Complication Rates Declining - but Not in the Young

CU Medicine Studies Reveal Diabetes Death and Complication Rates Declining - but Not in the Young

Research
CUHK and Shanghai Jiao Tong University Discover Genetic Predictor of Diabetes in Chinese Patients

CUHK and Shanghai Jiao Tong University Discover Genetic Predictor of Diabetes in Chinese Patients

Research
CU Medicine Researchers Discover Shortened DNA Telomere Length as a Useful Biomarker to Identify Patients with Diabetes at High Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

CU Medicine Researchers Discover Shortened DNA Telomere Length as a Useful Biomarker to Identify Patients with Diabetes at High Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

Research
Chinese Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome have 4-fold Higher Risk of Developing Diabetes

Chinese Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome have 4-fold Higher Risk of Developing Diabetes

Research
CUHK Study Reveals 1 in 6 Diabetic Patients Project Rapid Renal Function Decline

CUHK Study Reveals 1 in 6 Diabetic Patients Project Rapid Renal Function Decline

Research
CUHK Studies Alert Mothers to Pregnancy Weight Gain

CUHK Studies Alert Mothers to Pregnancy Weight Gain

Research
CUHK Recommends Oral Glucose Tolerance Test for All Pregnant Women Study Reveals Children of Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Have 3-Fold Diabetes Risk

CUHK Recommends Oral Glucose Tolerance Test for All Pregnant Women Study Reveals Children of Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Have 3-Fold Diabetes Risk

Research
CUHK Study Reveals Peer Support Can Reduce Hospital Admission of Distressed Diabetes Patients

CUHK Study Reveals Peer Support Can Reduce Hospital Admission of Distressed Diabetes Patients

Research
CU Medicine Professor Ronald Ma Receives Prestigious Research Award from  The Asian Association for The Study of Diabetes

CU Medicine Professor Ronald Ma Receives Prestigious Research Award from The Asian Association for The Study of Diabetes

Awards and honors
40% of Hong Kong People Show Gut Dysbiosis Comparable to that of COVID-19 Patients CUHK Microbiome Immunity Formula Hastens Recovery of COVID-19 Patients and Offers Hope to Boost Immunity

40% of Hong Kong People Show Gut Dysbiosis Comparable to that of COVID-19 Patients CUHK Microbiome Immunity Formula Hastens Recovery of COVID-19 Patients and Offers Hope to Boost Immunity

Research
CU Medicine Study Shows Liver Injury is Common and Prognostic in COVID-19 Patients

CU Medicine Study Shows Liver Injury is Common and Prognostic in COVID-19 Patients

Research
Two CUHK Scholars from the Faculty of Medicine Receive Croucher Senior Medical Research Fellowships

Two CUHK Scholars from the Faculty of Medicine Receive Croucher Senior Medical Research Fellowships

Awards and honors
Multicomponent Frailty Prevention Programme Reduces Frailty Over 80% of Pre-frail Elderly Reverse to Robust Phenotype

Multicomponent Frailty Prevention Programme Reduces Frailty Over 80% of Pre-frail Elderly Reverse to Robust Phenotype

Research
CUHK Launches a Population-based Programme to Evaluate and Track Brain Health Status  of 5,000 Hong Kong Residents for Free

CUHK Launches a Population-based Programme to Evaluate and Track Brain Health Status of 5,000 Hong Kong Residents for Free

Research
CUHK Study Suggests Preoperative Screening for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea to  Lower Risk of Postoperative Cardiovascular Events

CUHK Study Suggests Preoperative Screening for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea to Lower Risk of Postoperative Cardiovascular Events

Research
CUHK Medicine Professor Juliana Chan Receives International Honour for  Outstanding Research and Care in Diabetes

CUHK Medicine Professor Juliana Chan Receives International Honour for Outstanding Research and Care in Diabetes

Awards and honors
CUHK Establishes Margaret K.L. Cheung Research Centre for Management of Parkinsonism  To Develop Innovative Solutions to Slow Disease Progression

CUHK Establishes Margaret K.L. Cheung Research Centre for Management of Parkinsonism To Develop Innovative Solutions to Slow Disease Progression

Research
CUHK Conducts World’s First Family Study on Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behaviour Disorder to Investigate Familial Link with Parkinson’s Disease

CUHK Conducts World’s First Family Study on Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behaviour Disorder to Investigate Familial Link with Parkinson’s Disease

Research
CUHK Study Proves Low-Dose Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA) Effective in Treating Patients with Refractory Functional Dyspepsia

CUHK Study Proves Low-Dose Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA) Effective in Treating Patients with Refractory Functional Dyspepsia

Research
CUHK Study Proves Achieving Sustained Minimal Disease Activity Lowers the Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases in Psoriatic Arthritis Patients

CUHK Study Proves Achieving Sustained Minimal Disease Activity Lowers the Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases in Psoriatic Arthritis Patients

Research
CUHK Study Sees Increasing Global Incidence of Colorectal Cancer Among Younger People

CUHK Study Sees Increasing Global Incidence of Colorectal Cancer Among Younger People

Research
CUHK Pioneers in Developing Standardised Tests for Screening Cognitive Impairment in the Ageing Population in Hong Kong

CUHK Pioneers in Developing Standardised Tests for Screening Cognitive Impairment in the Ageing Population in Hong Kong

Clinical service
CUHK Discovers an Essential Oncogene in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma

CUHK Discovers an Essential Oncogene in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Research
CUHK Study Reveals Patients with Recovery of Hepatitis B Still at Risk of Liver Cancer

CUHK Study Reveals Patients with Recovery of Hepatitis B Still at Risk of Liver Cancer

Research
CUHK Announces World’s First Systematic Review of the Global Incidence and Prevalence of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases in the 21st Century Reveals Surge in Hong Kong in past 30 years

CUHK Announces World’s First Systematic Review of the Global Incidence and Prevalence of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases in the 21st Century Reveals Surge in Hong Kong in past 30 years

Research
CUHK Launches World’s First Study Utilizing Retinal Imaging for Alzheimer’s Disease Screening in Chinese Population

CUHK Launches World’s First Study Utilizing Retinal Imaging for Alzheimer’s Disease Screening in Chinese Population

Research
CUHK Sees Atrial Fibrillation-related Stroke Cases 3 Times Higher Over 15 Years

CUHK Sees Atrial Fibrillation-related Stroke Cases 3 Times Higher Over 15 Years

Research
CUHK Proves Efficacy of Home-Based Management Approach of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Applicable to 50% of Public Hospital Adult Cases with Waiting Time Reduced by 80%

CUHK Proves Efficacy of Home-Based Management Approach of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Applicable to 50% of Public Hospital Adult Cases with Waiting Time Reduced by 80%

Research
CUHK Announces World’s First Meta-analysis on Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori Infection

CUHK Announces World’s First Meta-analysis on Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori Infection

Research
CUHK Collaborates with Australian Experts to Untangle Mystery of Eastern Inflammatory Bowel Disease Gut Microbiota

CUHK Collaborates with Australian Experts to Untangle Mystery of Eastern Inflammatory Bowel Disease Gut Microbiota

Research
CUHK Reveals Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Afflicts Even the Non-Obese

CUHK Reveals Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Afflicts Even the Non-Obese

Research
CUHK Professor Receives World Honour For Stroke Services Pioneering an Innovative 3-in-1 Multi-Target Therapy to Repair Damaged Brain After Stroke and Enhance Functional Recovery

CUHK Professor Receives World Honour For Stroke Services Pioneering an Innovative 3-in-1 Multi-Target Therapy to Repair Damaged Brain After Stroke and Enhance Functional Recovery

Awards and honors
CUHK Discovers Fatty Liver Causing Severe Liver Fibrosis or Cirrhosis in 1 Out of 5 Diabetic Patients

CUHK Discovers Fatty Liver Causing Severe Liver Fibrosis or Cirrhosis in 1 Out of 5 Diabetic Patients

Research
CUHK Opens Therese Pei Fong Chow Research Centre for Prevention of Dementia and Establishes a One-stop Online Platform to Provide Information on Dementia

CUHK Opens Therese Pei Fong Chow Research Centre for Prevention of Dementia and Establishes a One-stop Online Platform to Provide Information on Dementia

Research
CUHK World’s First Study Confirms A New Colorectal Cancer High Risk Group

CUHK World’s First Study Confirms A New Colorectal Cancer High Risk Group

Research
CUHK Sets up the Global First Research Registry on Early Onset Dementia in Chinese Population

CUHK Sets up the Global First Research Registry on Early Onset Dementia in Chinese Population

Research
CUHK and HKU Researchers Introduce 3D Printing Technology in Complex Cardiac Surgery Procedures

CUHK and HKU Researchers Introduce 3D Printing Technology in Complex Cardiac Surgery Procedures

Research
CUHK Jointly Discovers New Therapeutic Solution for Minor Stroke in Global Study with over 30 Countries

CUHK Jointly Discovers New Therapeutic Solution for Minor Stroke in Global Study with over 30 Countries

Research
CUHK Sees Early Evaluation of TIA Patients Reduce Rate of Stroke by 70% in a Global Study of 21 Countries

CUHK Sees Early Evaluation of TIA Patients Reduce Rate of Stroke by 70% in a Global Study of 21 Countries

Research
CUHK Conducts Hong Kong’s First Study on Seven Common Respiratory Viruses Revealing Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Influenza A as Prevalent Fatal Types

CUHK Conducts Hong Kong’s First Study on Seven Common Respiratory Viruses Revealing Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Influenza A as Prevalent Fatal Types

Research
Asia’s First Research by CUHK on Patients’ Lifestyle Reveals Personalised Modification Programme Effective in Reducing Severity of OSA

Asia’s First Research by CUHK on Patients’ Lifestyle Reveals Personalised Modification Programme Effective in Reducing Severity of OSA

Research
CUHK Screening Reveals 1 in 3 Older Adults in Community Suffer Brain Small Vessel Disease, Early Prevention Recommended

CUHK Screening Reveals 1 in 3 Older Adults in Community Suffer Brain Small Vessel Disease, Early Prevention Recommended

Clinical service
CUHK Latest Research Reveals FMT Effectiveness Triples that of Conventional Treatment

CUHK Latest Research Reveals FMT Effectiveness Triples that of Conventional Treatment

Research
CUHK Introduces High Frequency Oscillations to Determine Resection Margin Increases the Effectiveness of Complex Epilepsy Surgery by around 30%

CUHK Introduces High Frequency Oscillations to Determine Resection Margin Increases the Effectiveness of Complex Epilepsy Surgery by around 30%

Surgical advancement
CUHK Highlights the Significance of Hospital Infection Control System in Controlling MERS

CUHK Highlights the Significance of Hospital Infection Control System in Controlling MERS

Research
CUHK Advocates Stringent Control of Cardiovascular Risks for Reopening of Narrowed Brain Arteries - A New Paradigm to Prevent Recurrent Stroke (Available in Chinese only)

CUHK Advocates Stringent Control of Cardiovascular Risks for Reopening of Narrowed Brain Arteries - A New Paradigm to Prevent Recurrent Stroke (Available in Chinese only)

Research
CUHK Latest Research Reveals over 100,000 New Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Cases in Hong Kong Annually

CUHK Latest Research Reveals over 100,000 New Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Cases in Hong Kong Annually

Research
The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Imperial College Collaborate on Healthcare Innovation and Biomedical Robotics

The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Imperial College Collaborate on Healthcare Innovation and Biomedical Robotics

International collaboration
Joint Study by CUHK and HKSH Reveals Patients with Comorbid REM Sleep Behavior Disorder and Depression may Suffer from Early-stage Neurodegeneration

Joint Study by CUHK and HKSH Reveals Patients with Comorbid REM Sleep Behavior Disorder and Depression may Suffer from Early-stage Neurodegeneration

Research
CUHK Advocates Atrial Fibrillation Screening and Drug Education to Reduce Risk of Stroke among Elderly

CUHK Advocates Atrial Fibrillation Screening and Drug Education to Reduce Risk of Stroke among Elderly

Clinical service
Screening Reveals Over 50% Community-dwelling Population Aged 65 or above are Pre-frail

Screening Reveals Over 50% Community-dwelling Population Aged 65 or above are Pre-frail

Research
CUHK and PolyU Jointly Introduce TeleStroke for 24-hour Thrombolysis Service at Prince of Wales Hospital

CUHK and PolyU Jointly Introduce TeleStroke for 24-hour Thrombolysis Service at Prince of Wales Hospital

Clinical service
CUHK Releases Research Results on Employment Status of Hong Kong Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Dialysis Patients and Promotes Predialysis Education Programme for Mid to Late Stage CKD patients

CUHK Releases Research Results on Employment Status of Hong Kong Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Dialysis Patients and Promotes Predialysis Education Programme for Mid to Late Stage CKD patients

Research
CUHK Announces Latest Medical Treatment for Minor Stroke

CUHK Announces Latest Medical Treatment for Minor Stroke

Research
Hong Kong and Macau Among Top Three Regions in Asia-Pacific with the Highest Incidence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease CUHK Establishes Registry to Increase Public Awareness

Hong Kong and Macau Among Top Three Regions in Asia-Pacific with the Highest Incidence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease CUHK Establishes Registry to Increase Public Awareness

Research
CUHK-HCC Score Accurately Predicts Risk of Liver Cancer in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Receiving Antiviral Therapy

CUHK-HCC Score Accurately Predicts Risk of Liver Cancer in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Receiving Antiviral Therapy

Research
CUHK Pioneers the Use of 3D Echocardiography to Identify At-Risk Mitral Valve Prolapse Patients

CUHK Pioneers the Use of 3D Echocardiography to Identify At-Risk Mitral Valve Prolapse Patients

Research
CUHK Advocates Palliative Care for Advanced Dementia Patients with Swallowing Problems

CUHK Advocates Palliative Care for Advanced Dementia Patients with Swallowing Problems

Research

Our Expert List

Many experts under the Faculty of Medicine are available for media interview.
Please click here for the expert list or contact us.