The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) – Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health (GIBH), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine was officially inaugurated on 24 August 2012. Officiating guests included Prof. Joseph J.Y. Sung, Vice-Chancellor, CUHK; Prof. Fu Xiaofeng, Director of Major Research Programme Division, Ministry of Science and Technology; Mr. Zhang Xing Geng, Director of Hong Kong and Macao Office of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Prof. Chan Wai-Yee, Director of School of Biomedical Sciences (SBS), CUHK and Prof. Xing Xuerong, Deputy Director of GIBH, CAS. During the inauguration, Prof. Sung, Prof. Fu and Mr. Zhang witnessed the signing of the collaborative agreement between the two institutions, whereas all the officiating guests joined in the plaque unveiling ceremony that followed.

Immediately after the ceremony, Prof. Fu Xiaofeng delivered a talk on "Major Research Programme of the 12th Five-Year-Plan" under the China Links Seminar series as coordinated by the Office of Academic Links (China). The talk was well attended by more than 150 University members from various faculties and academic units. In the afternoon of the same day, a symposium on stem cell and regeneration was jointly organized by the SBS and GIBH which featured the following talks:

• "Drug Discoveries: A lesson from Stem Cell Research” by Prof. Kenneth K.H. Lee, Professor, School of Biomedical Sciences, CUHK
  
• “Transgenic Pig Model for Stem Cell Research” by Prof. Lai Liangxue, Associate Director, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, CAS
  
• “Clinical Trial Methodology for Cell Therapy” by Prof. Poon Wai-Sang, Professor, Department of Surgery, CUHK
  
• “Reprogramming: Towards the Clinical Translation” by Dr. Pan Guangjin, Principal Investigator, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, CAS

In fact, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed earlier in November 2011 between SBS and GIBH to promote long-term partnerships in research collaboration as well as the exchange and training of research personnel. It is our hope that through the establishment of the CUHK-GIBH Joint Research Laboratory and the regular organization of joint scientific activities, the academic connections and extents of collaborations among our School, the GIBH and the University will further be strengthened and deepened, hence allowing us to undertake more ambitious and higher-impact research projects at local, national and global levels.

The corresponding coverage by the Office of Academic Links (China) can be viewed HERE.

(Rear from left) Prof. Fu Xiaofeng, Prof. Joseph J.Y. Sung and Mr. Zhang Xing Geng witness the signing of collaborative agreement by Prof. Chan Wai-yee (front left) and Prof. Xing Xuerong (front right).

(From left): Prof. Chan Wai-Yee, Prof. Fu Xiaofeng, Prof. Joseph J.Y. Sung, Prof. Xing Xuerong and Mr. Zhang Xing Geng unveil the plaque

Prof. Fu Xiaofeng delivers a talk on Major Research Programme of the 12th Five-Year-Plan

Prof. Chan Wai-Yee, SBS Director (left) and Prof. Pei Duanqing, GIBH Director (right)

Group photo of our School members and GIBH representatives