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Medical research is of paramount importance in the face of an aging population, emerging infectious diseases and many other new public health threats.  The development of medical-related innovation and research is expanding rapidly in Hong Kong and the demand for clinician-scientists is growing.  With the generous donation of US$2 million (HK$15.6 million) from Dr Lui Che Woo, Founder and Chairman of K. Wah Group through the LUI Che Woo Charity, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has set up the ‘Lui Che Woo Distinguished Young Scholars Award’, a scholarship programme which aims to support the University’s medical students who aspire to develop a career in medical research and to further their studies abroad. 

Awardees are expected to return to Hong Kong to contribute to the teaching, research or clinical work in the medical field.  A donation ceremony to mark the launch of the award scheme was held today (12 May) at the Lui Che Woo Clinical Sciences Building, CUHK.  Officiating at the ceremony were Dr Lui Che-woo, Mrs Lui, Prof. Joseph Sung, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK and Prof. Francis Chan, Dean of Faculty of Medicine, CUHK. 

Growing Demand for Clinician-scientists 

Medical research and technology in Hong Kong have earned international recognition, particularly research in cancer and diabetes, non-invasive prenatal diagnosis and minimally invasive surgery.  Training of research talent requires abundant resources and time.  Over the years, the Faculty of Medicine at CUHK has been committed to nurturing clinician-scientists, who play a crucial role in developing treatment and preventive measures for a variety of diseases.  CUHK launched the Global Physician-Leadership Stream (GPS) in 2013 to groom undergraduate students and the ‘CU Medicine 2035’ programme in 2014 to recruit teaching and research professionals in medical research.

Prof. Joseph SUNG, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK, said, ‘The development of health science and medical technology is growing by leaps and bounds, and the healthcare sector is facing unprecedented challenges.  There is a great sense of urgency to reform medical education and advance medical and scientific research.  We hope that medical students with a strong passion for and potential in research can be given the opportunity to study abroad through an award scheme, so that they will return to the University to develop a career in teaching or research at the Faculty of Medicine, contributing to the Hong Kong community.’ 

CUHK Receives US$ 2 Million from Dr Lui Che Woo

Sharing the same vision of nurturing young medical research talent as CUHK, Dr Lui generously made a donation of US$2 million (HK$15.6 million) through the LUI Che Woo Charity last year to the University to establish the ‘Lui Che Woo Distinguished Young Scholars Award’.  Under the award scheme, the ‘Lui Che Woo Distinguished Young Scholars Research Scholarship’ of up to HK$250,000 annually will be granted to an outstanding medical student at CUHK who is in pursuit of a postgraduate research programme overseas.  Upon completion of the programme, the awardee is required to return to Hong Kong to take up teaching or research work in the Faculty. 

Dr the Honourable Lui Che-woo said, ‘The “Lui Che Woo Distinguished Young Scholars Award” aims to make a sustainable and positive impact on society rather than to emphasize an individual’s achievement.  I hope the scholarship will encourage and support talented medical students to fully realize their potential and bring innovative and diverse perspectives to future medical development. Upon completion of their studies, they will come back to Hong Kong to serve our community with new insights’ 

Prof. Francis CHAN, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, CUHK said, ‘Training a clinician-scientist requires abundant resources and time and fortunately we are not alone on our way to reach the goal. Thanks to the generosity of Dr Lui, our Faculty is able to give financial support each year to at least one of our MBChB students to advance his or her knowledge, build a connection, gain international exposure and make contributions to society when he or she returns home.  Cultivation of a clinician-scientist requires six years of undergraduate study of medicine, plus four years of advanced study in a research profession, so, in all, at least ten years. The set up of the “Lui Che Woo Distinguished Young Scholars Award” is indeed a manifestation of the old saying “it takes ten years to grow a tree”.’  

Dr Lui’s Distinguished Contributions to CUHK 

Dr Lui Che-woo has always been a distinguished philanthropist, particularly in the development of medical care, education and information technology.  He has been on the Board of Trustees and the Endowment Fund Committee of United College since 1995, and played a vital role in the establishment of CUHK’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management.  Dr Lui also made a generous donation in 2012 for the establishment of the Lui Che Woo Institute of Innovative Medicine, which is dedicated to the advancement of three focused initiatives, namely BRAIN (Brain Research And Innovative Neuroscience), SMART (Sports Medicine And Regenerative Technology) and CARE (Cardiovascular Advancement, Research and Education).  The Institute now serves as a significant international platform for clinical service and scientific research. 

About K. Wah Group

K. Wah Group was founded in 1955 by Dr Lui Che-woo, who transformed the company into a multinational conglomerate.  Core businesses include property development and investment, entertainment and leisure resorts, hospitality and construction materials.  The Group has a business presence in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Southeast Asia and major cities in the US. The Group includes two Hong Kong-listed flagships: K. Wah International Holdings Limited ("KWIH"; HK stock code: 0173) and Galaxy Entertainment Group Limited ("GEG"; HK stock code: 0027 and a member of the Hang Seng Index).  Other major subsidiaries include Stanford Hotels International and K. Wah Construction Materials Limited and, in the US, Stanford Hotels Corporation and Cresleigh Homes Corporation.  To date, the Group has over 200 subsidiaries and more than 33,000 staff worldwide. 

Website: www.kwah.com 

Quick facts about the Lui Che Woo Distinguished Young Scholars Award scheme:  

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Asia's first undergraduate medical leadership programme – ‘Global Physician-Leadership Stream’ 

To cultivate a new generation of conscientious, well-rounded physicians with a global perspective and leadership skills, the Faculty of Medicine established the Global Physician-Leadership Stream (GPS) under the MBChB programme, which is the first undergraduate medical leadership programme in Asia.  GPS allows students with potential and interest in medical research to get early exposure.  They can follow notable professors to work on research projects and are eligible for advance studies in famous universities such as Oxford University, Cambridge University and Yale University. 

GPS has enrolled more than 100 medical students since its launch, and some have already made great achievements.  Seven students got their papers published in international top medical journals.  Ten students were awarded the Innovation and Technology Scholarship Award Scheme in 2014/15 and 2015/16 by The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups.  The University has sent 30 students to Yale University, Stanford University, Cambridge University and Oxford University for study and research.

‘CU Medicine 2035’ programme 

To maintain high quality medical service and a leading role in medical research in the international arena, the Faculty of Medicine is putting extra effort into the ‘upper stream’ by actively recruiting medical research talent as teaching staff.  This can ensure sustainable development in medical education and research, allowing one to pass on the torch to the next. 

Launched in 2014, the ‘CU Medicine 2035’ project is injected HK$20 to 30 million each year to attract talent to the Faculty.  The target of the project is to expand the faculty size by a minimum of 20 percent within five years.  Since the scheme was launched, the Faculty has already hired six world-class scientific research professionals and global recruitment will continue.

Source: Communications and Public Relations Office, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible central vision loss in elderly. A recent study by The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has discovered a protein called Angiopoietin2 that correlates with the severity of Wet AMD. Scientists from the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences of CUHK have found that the level of Angiopoietin2 is significantly elevated inside the eyes of patients with Wet AMD as compared to normal people and that it correlates with vision loss and macular swelling. The research team believes the finding can lead to a breakthrough in Wet AMD treatment. CUHK Pao So Kok Macular Disease Treatment and Research Centre opens today with the aim of enhancing macular disease treatment and research, which is expected to benefit more than 4,000 patients every year. 

Wet AMD patients have a higher level of Angiopoietin2 

AMD affects the central and most important part of the retina, which consists of numerous light-sensitive cells that cover the back of the eye. It can be divided into either a wet or dry type. Whereas 90% of patients have the dry form, the wet form has a more accelerated onset and, if left untreated, causes irreversible and severe central vision loss. Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow underneath the retina. Angiopoietin2 is a protein known to be involved in the growth of blood vessels elsewhere in the body, but this is the first time it has been associated with Wet AMD. Researchers discovered that patients with high level of Angiopoietin2 correlates with more severe swelling of the macula and worse vision. 

Dr. Mårten Erik BRELÉN, Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Director of CUHK Pao So Kok Macular Disease Treatment and Research Centre said, ‘We believe the study can lead us to further our work in clinical genetics, to help us identify specific gene variants within the angiopoietin gene that increase the risk of developing Wet AMD.’ 

Study helps generate new therapeutic target 

It is estimated that over 190 million people worldwide are suffering from AMD and 1 in 10 of these develop irreversible sight loss. Due to an aging population, it is predicted that the disease will affect over 280 million people worldwide by 2040. 

Dr. Danny Siu Chun NG, Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, added, ‘AMD is one of the most prevalent causes of permanent central vision loss in developed countries. With the discovery of the correlation between Angiopoietin2 and Wet AMD, we may potentially have a new therapeutic target for the treatment of this disease.’  

The research team at CUHK is now investigating whether the levels of Angiopoietin2 can predict long-term treatment outcomes. A clinical trial using a combination of anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (standard therapy) and anti-Angiopoietin2 treatment is being prepared. These two treatment modalities may complement each other and thereby improve patients’ treatment outcomes. 

CUHK opens the new Pao So Kok Macular Disease Treatment and Research Centre 

In 2010, the Hospital Authority anticipated over 3,000 new cases of Wet AMD every year. It is estimated that 500,000 people in Hong Kong are suffering from AMD with 10% of these having the wet type. The number of people affected by AMD is rapidly increasing due to an aging population. Today, around 15% of Wet AMD patients do not respond well to the standard treatment and continue to lose vision. The CUHK research team has therefore, been focusing its research efforts on identifying new diagnostic and therapeutic targets to improve vision outcomes for this group of patients. Mr. Chang Bei Ming and Mrs. Chang Pao So Kok have made a generous donation of HK$10 million to the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, and today the CUHK Pao So Kok Macular Disease Treatment and Research Centre is officially open. The Centre combines world-renowned expertise in clinical ophthalmology, retinal imaging, analytical chemistry and genetics, together with state-of-the-art diagnostic, treatment, and research equipment. It is estimated to serve more than 4,000 patients every year. 

Prof. Clement Chee Yung THAM, Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, said, ‘We are very grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Chang’s generosity. With the establishment of this important facility, further work on angiopoietin, other risk factors and treatment possibilities for macular diseases will be greatly enhanced.’ 

Prof. Francis Ka Leung CHAN, Dean of Faculty of Medicine, mentioned, ‘Population aging is a global trend and in Hong Kong, it is estimated that one-third of the population will reach the age of 65 or above in 2040. Age-related macular degeneration definitely needs our attention and I believe the establishment of CUHK Pao So Kok Macular Disease Treatment and Research Centre is definitely a good news to ophthalmology and to our older population.’

Source: Communications and Public Relations Office, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

In appreciation of the generous donation made by T Stone Group Limited (T Stone Group) to the Robotics Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has named the Institute ‘CUHK T Stone Robotics Institute’. 

The naming ceremony was held recently at Cho Yiu Hall and officiated at by Mr. Xiao Jianhua, Chairman of the Strategic Advisory Committee of T Stone Group, Prof. Joseph Sung, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK, Prof. Fanny Cheung, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President of CUHK and Prof. Liu Yunhui, Director of CUHK T Stone Robotics Institute. Prof. Satoshi Tadokoro, President of IEEE Robotics and Automation Society, was also invited to deliver a congratulatory address at the ceremony.

Prof. Joseph Sung expressed his deepest appreciation to T Stone Group for their generosity in supporting the development of the Robotics Institute. He remarked, “We look forward to collaborating closely with T Stone Group to identify venture capitalists to turn the research outcomes of the Institute into successful businesses which can benefit the community at large.”

In his speech, Mr. Xiao Jianhua admired the vision of the Robotics Institute in supporting outstanding researchers to develop state-of-the-art automation and robotics technologies for the betterment of mankind. Mr. Xiao strongly believed that innovative technology was one of the most significant strategic development goals of China. Researchers who engaged in innovative technology were chasing their personal goals and more importantly realizing the Chinese dream. He was confident that the Institute would become an important cradle of young entrepreneurs and world-class technology companies.

Prof. Liu Yunhui, Director of CUHK T Stone Robotics Institute, said, “The study of robotics is highly interdisciplinary which requires expertise from various fields including Engineering, Medicine and Social Science. Robotics is being considered as the technology, next to the Internet, that could change the world and human life. The Institute is dedicated to positioning itself as a world-class institute which plays a leading role in global robotics research and development and contributes to the technology and societal development of Hong Kong and the Mainland by knowledge transfer. With the support of T Stone Group, the Institute can further develop its strength in robotics research.”

To mark the official opening of CUHK T Stone Robotics Institute, a two-day Robotics Symposium was held after the naming ceremony. Renowned speakers from Nagoya University, the University of Tokyo and Tohoku University of Japan; the University of California, Berkeley of the United States; and the French Institute for Research in Computer Science and Automation, were invited to exchange ideas with local experts and professionals, and discuss the future directions of robotics research.

CUHK T Stone Robotics Institute

With the objectives of meeting the needs of Hong Kong and the Pearl Delta Area, and  enhancing the strength in robotics research of CUHK and the region, the CUHK T Stone Robotics Institute focuses its research efforts on two major research areas: medical robotics and service robotics.  

For medical robots, the Institute studies and develops surgical robots, rehabilitation and assistive robots as well as micro/nano medical robots.  Research projects include innovative robotic surgical instruments, assistive surgical robots and image-guided robotic surgery. To speed the recovery of the motor and cognitive functions of stroke patients, the Institute is designing robotic hands and knee braces.  The robotic brace can also assist the elderly with weak knee joints to walk.  Aiming at next-generation medical robots, the Institute is also developing micro/nano robots that can move inside the human body to perform scarless inspection and surgery. 

Hong Kong is facing an ageing population. There is an urgent need to invent robots for elderly care. Service robot for senior citizens is another major research area of the Institute. The Institute will develop service robots which can perform social interaction with senior citizens and monitor their health conditions.

The Institute will also encourage faculty members and students to establish robotics startups. In addition, the Institute will actively promote robotics innovation among undergraduate and secondary students by providing training courses and initiating robotics competitions. 

About T Stone Group Limited

T Stone Group is an integrated group of companies which focuses on the development of emerging industries, such as artificial intelligence, clean energy and new materials, in developing markets. Apart from investing in these industries, the Company also provides investment advisory and management services to their clients, in addition to their own private equity investments. T Stone Group and its parent company and subsidiaries have made multiple donations to support the scientific research development of many universities and research institutes, including Peking University, Tsinghua University and Harvard University.

Source: Communications and Public Relations Office, The Chinese University of Hong Kong