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Professor Rocky S. Tuan, Vice-Chancellor and President, Lee Quo Wei and Lee Yick Hoi Lun Professor of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), and Professor Gang Li, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine at CUHK (CU Medicine), have been named 2021 Fellows of the Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS). Being the first scholars in Hong Kong to earn this prestigious honour, they are recognised by the ORS for their outstanding achievements in the field of musculoskeletal research and contributions to the ORS.

Professor Tuan invents “microJoint” tissue chip to study and screen osteoarthritis therapeutic agents

Specialising in skeletal tissue engineering and regeneration, Professor Tuan has a distinguished research track record that covers basic science and engineering, as well as translational and clinical applications. He has integrated “smart” biomaterial and bioengineering technologies with stem cells to develop translational applications for the repair and regeneration of human tissues. He has recently engineered the first-ever “microJoint”, a three dimensional joint-on-a-chip, to replicate a human joint using a microbioreactor platform. which will be used to study and screen for potential therapeutic agents for debilitating joint diseases, such as osteoarthritis.

The 2021 ORS Fellowship adds to a number of honours Professor Tuan has received, including fellowship of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) in 2000, the International Combined Orthopaedic Research Societies (i-CORS) in 2016, the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) in 2017, the Chinese Association of Inventions (CAI) in 2018, and the American Association of Anatomy (AAA) in 2019. In particular, Professor Tuan was the recipient of the Marshall Urist Award for Excellence in Tissue Regeneration Research of the ORS in 2004. A long-term member of the ORS, he also chaired the Editorial Advisory Board of the Journal of Orthopaedic Research, the official publication of the ORS, from 1998-2006.

Professor Tuan said, “I am honoured to be selected as a Fellow of the ORS, the leading organisation in the field of orthopaedic research. I hope my experience in the orthopaedic research community can help foster and guide cross-regional and interdisciplinary collaborations, to cultivate knowledge and advance technological innovations in Hong Kong and worldwide for the improvement of human health.”

Professor Li studies mesenchymal stem cells to regenerate bone and cartilage

Professor Gang Li is a Professor (non-clinical) in the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology at CU Medicine and a project investigator at the Li Ka-shing Institute of Health CUHK. He has a longstanding research interest in the biology of stem cells, biological mechanisms of fracture healing and limb lengthening techniques, and their innovative clinical applications.

Professor Li is one of the leading scientists in the world on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs are multipotent adult stem cells and the key components for tissue regeneration in adulthood. The research team led by Professor Li focuses on the biology and application of MSCs in the repair of bone, cartilage and tendon, and studies on bone and cartilage regeneration, distraction osteogenesis and novel biomaterials. His outstanding work and research outcome earned him multiple awards, including the first class award in Natural Sciences for Higher Education Outstanding Scientific Research Output Awards (Science and Technology) by the Ministry of Education of China (2014), the first prize of Huaxia Medical Science and Technology Award (2019) and China State Science and Technology Progress Award First Class (2021). Professor Li also holds 16 invention patents from China and the United States.

Professor Li felt most honoured to be elected an ORS fellow. He said, “The Fellowship is a recognition of my research in the area of stem cells therapy and distraction histogenesis techniques for musculoskeletal tissue regeneration which are regarded as revolutionary therapeutics in orthopaedics. I hope my research can benefit the community as a whole and bring hope to patients suffering from serious trauma and other difficult conditions.”

About the Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS)

For over 65 years, the ORS has been the leading research society supporting biologists, clinicians, engineers, orthopaedic surgeons, and other professionals in the field of musculoskeletal research from across the globe.

ORS Fellows are the longstanding members who have demonstrated exemplary service and leadership, substantial achievement, expert knowledge, and significant contributions to the ORS, its governance, and the field of musculoskeletal research. Fellows will represent ORS as the thought leaders and topic experts in their respective disciplines.