Introduction
The Research Team of Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology comprises more than 50
colleagues including clinical and non-clinical professors, technicians, research assistants and
postgraduate students. As a clinical department, our key research strategy is to focus on relevant
major local, regional and global musculoskeletal problems, and to integrate basic research with
translational research and clinical applications.
Research in DOT is organized into 3 main theme programs with our musculoskeletal research laboratories. Two research centres are established to facilitate bench-to-bed translational research, knowledge transfer and community services.
Apart from PhD and MPhil programmes, we also organize a number of Master of Science degree courses and professional workshops.
We are hosts of some world-renowned academic conferences and develop numerous international collaborations with prestigious research institutions worldwide.
Research Facilities
The research team is housed under the department Musculoskeletal Research Laboratory which
was established in 1983. The laboratory is well equipped with many advanced and specialized
equipment setups such as computed-tomography for bone micro-architecture imaging, high
resolution ultrasound machine for imaging of soft tissues, in vivo imaging system for tracking
fluorescent and bio-luminescent signals in animals, Catwalk system for animal gait analysis,
universal material testing machine for biomechanical studies etc.
Research Programmes
With state-of-the-art research facilities and a cross disciplinary group of energetic and innovative
researchers, our research strives in pursuing high quality research in 3 main theme programs in association with the clinical teams:
1.Precision Orthopaedics and Innovative Technologies (POINT)
2.Sports Medicine And Regenerative Therapy (SMART)
3.Musculoskeletal Development, Health and Ageing Research (MDHAR)
Research Training
The department contributes significantly to
postgraduate education and training through
regular key training workshops and lectures/
seminars. We have graduated 54 MPhil and 63
PhD students since 1989, who are serving and
actively contributing in their chosen fields and
through various community and professional
societies. Many have become university
professors, chief of medical services and
research fellows in various renowned medical
and health institutions.
Research Collaboration with Industry and Institutions
Active research collaborations with leading institutions and industries (such as RCT (Wyeth USA),
Amgen and Stryker) locally, in mainland and internationally has contributed to the important
achievements of the department over the years.
Collaborative research and industrial consultation has helped to attract additional resources in
supporting the research activities of the department. In the past years, we managed to attract over
HK$10 million donations, with matching fund from UGC to support our research activities.
Research Achievements
Persistent collaborative efforts and expertise distinguish us and bring on multiple research outputs
and successful grant applications, publications, patents and product development. Over the years,
the department has achieved an average of 45% successful rate in obtaining UGC/GRF grants,
2-3 government ITF grants and 2-3 contract study research grants per year. The department
as a whole published over 70 peer-reviewed research papers annually with an H-index of 50
(average citations per item since 1983: 12.29). Our research performance is also recognized with
5-7 research awards annually. Totally 11 patents were obtained with potential towards clinical
applications.
The department has actively participated in the education and dissemination of research findings
in major local, regional and international conferences and also serves as an important hub of
orthopaedic research network through organizing international conferences, such as International
Congress of Chinese Orthopaedic Association, the International Symposium on Stem Cell Biology
and Regenerative Medicine, ICHTS Histomorphometry and Imaging Workshop and International
Congress on Orthopaedic Advanced Techniques and Clinical Translational Research, to name a
few.
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