2005 Recipient, Professor Joseph Sung
The First Hong Kong Citizen to Win the Cheung Kong Achievement Award
Once named by Time magazine as an “Asian Hero” for his outstanding contributions to the fight against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) Professor Joseph Sung Jao-yiu, Vice-Chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, was the first Hong Kong citizen to receive the Cheung Kong Achievement Award.
Professor Sung has had an impressive career. In 2003, he led a medical team to conduct a series of studies on the clinical and epidemiological aspects of the SARS coronavirus. His group, under his leadership, received the second-place award of the 2007 State Scientific and Technological Progress Award for their research on “Innovative Non-surgical Treatments of Peptic Ulcer Bleeding.”
His research interests include gastrointestinal bleeding, H. pylori and peptic ulcer, viral hepatitis and cancers of the digestive system. His study on viral genomics and carcinogenesis was funded by the Innovation and Technology Fund and the University Grants Committee in the Areas of Excellence Scheme.
2006 Recipient, Professor Dennis Lo
Leading Authority of DNA and RNA Research
A leading authority of international renown for his research of DNA and RNA molecules which exist outside of cells in the blood plasma of human subjects, Dennis Lo Yuk-ming, Professor of Chemical Pathology and the Li Ka Shing Professor of Medicine of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, was the 2006 Cheung Kong Achievement Award Recipient. With his main research interests concentrated in the clinical applications of molecular biology, Professor Lo opened up new possibilities for the non-invasive and safe prenatal detection and monitoring of pregnancy-associated disorders, including pregnancy-associated high blood pressure (preeclampsia) and fetal Down syndrome. Professor Lo is also actively pursuing the application of plasma-based molecular technology to the diagnosis and monitoring of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma.
2007 Life Sciences Recipient, Professor Chan Hsiao-chang
Founder of China’s First Epithelial Cell Biology Research Centre
Chan Hsiao-chang, Li Ka Shing Professor of Physiology at The Chinese University of Hong Kong is a leading authority in epithelial cell-related multidisciplinary research, and founded and runs the first Epithelial Cell Biology Research Centre in China. She has contributed significantly to a number of critical discoveries including a cell shrinkage-activated cation channel (Science, 1992) and a novel defensin molecule in the epididymis for sperm maturation (Science, 2001, Nature Cell Biology, 2004).
Another groundbreaking study revealing the role of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator in female fertility and infertility by Professor Chan was featured by Nature China as conducting some of the best research from Hong Kong and mainland China. These discoveries not only shed light on how epithelial secretions affect bodily functions, particularly reproduction, but also led to the development of new strategies for diagnosis and treatment of infertility and contraception.
2007 Engineering Sciences Recipient, Professor Ma Jun
Devoted to Ensuring Safe Drinking Water
Professor Ma Jun was among the first batch of scholars to be selected in the National Hundred, Thousand and Ten Thousand Talent Project. He was also selected in the Cross-Century Talent Project and commended as one of the returning scholars who have made outstanding contributions after studying overseas. Professor Ma was the key driver of a new team on the discipline of “Protection of Water Quality in Urban City and Sustainable Use of Water Resource” under the Ministry of Education.
His research interests mainly lie in the purification of contaminated water control. His proposal and research on the use of potassium permanganate as a coagulation aid for oxidation of water have been widely adopted by water treatment plants and used in water purification facilities. By removing harmful organic pollutant from water, the new technique helps to substantially improve the quality of drinking water and the operating costs of water treatment plants.
In November 2005, water from the Songhua River, the source of drinking water for the people of Harbin, was contaminated by nitrobenzene and benzene caused by an explosion at a bi-benzene factory in Jinlin. The water supply was suspended for three days. Professor Ma and a scientific research team were entrusted with the sacred mission of bringing clean water to Harbin citizens in 72 hours.
Professor Ma immediately returned to Harbin from an overseas meeting and was at the Water Quality Center in no time. He formed a 30-strong team, all with Ph.D. or master’s degrees, and further sub-divided the group into 10 small groups to tackle the crisis. After days and nights of toil, the teams provided an expert team at the site with the best technology parameters for assessment, laying a strong foundation for the resumption of clean water supply in the city in record time.
“We worked closely with veteran professors and provincial and city leaders. We had meetings until the early hours. I was bestowed with great responsibility, having to take risks and the technical viability of the solutions into consideration. With concerted effort, we formulated the solution in no time,” said Professor Ma rather calmly when recalling the water crisis.
Professor Ma has a profound feeling for water, which is always his main focus: “Water resources are relatively insufficient in our country. China has merely a quarter of the world’s average per capita water capacity. Water capacity at some places is even fewer than that of Israel. As a scientific researcher for the protection of water quality in urban areas and the development and uses of water resources, it is our responsibility to protect valuable water resources.”
1999 First Prize Recipient, Professor Chen Zhu
Pioneer in China’s Biomedical Sciences
Currently the Minister of Health of China, Professor Chen Zhu was elected an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1995 and promoted to Vice President in 2000. He is also a Foreign Associate of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, a member of the European Academy of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, and a member of the Third World Academy of Sciences. He holds the professorship at the School of Medicine of the Shanghai Jiao Tong University in Shanghai and was in the first batch of Cheung Kong Chair Professors.
A pioneer in the development of China’s biomedical sciences, Professor Chen won international acclaim for his achievements in the clinical and molecular study of the treatment of leukemia. Professor Chen has elucidated the molecular mechanism of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (or pi xiang) in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). His proposed molecular target-based therapy on leukemia opened up a new path for the selective differentiation of hematopoietic cells and apoptosis treatment.
At the forefront of genomic research, Professor Chen took part in establishing China's first human genome research center of state level in Shanghai. China's study of the human genome and life science has been greatly improved with the completion of genomic DNA and cDNA identification, mapping, cloning, sequencing and bioinformatics analysis.
2000 First Prize Recipient, Professor Shu Degan
Discovering Evidence of the World’s Earliest Vertebrates
Professor Shu is well-known for discovering fossils of the world's earliest vertebrates. In 1996, he and his colleagues found a fossilized fish Myllokunmingia, and in 1999 discovered Haikouichthy, which together with Myllokunmingia pushed the known origin of vertebrates back by 50 million years (Source: Beijing Review).
Professor Shu published 10 theses in Nature and Science as a first author and a corresponding author, writing about the most primitive vertebrates of the phylogeny of deuterostomes in the evolution tree of early animals, Myllokunmingia and Haikouichthy (that is, the world’s first fish), and the ancestor of Vetulicolia and Echinoderms. Together with other discoveries on the oldest hemichordates, cephalochordates and urochordates with his colleagues, Professor Shu outlined, for the time, the full picture of Cambrian Explosion and the most completed evolution chart of Deuterostomia as of today.
Professor Shu’s discovery was named one of China’s 10 Most Important Scientific Achievements in 1999 and 2001. He won the 2003 State Natural Science Award (equally ranked as First prize) and his discovery was named one of the 10 Most Important Scientific Achievements of Higher Education Institutions in China in 2004.
“I am grateful for the Cheung Kong Scholars Program. It offered solid support and significant encouragement to my career, allowing me the opportunity to deliver better achievements. The program is a blessing to the country’s policy of revitalizing the country through science and education. It creates excellent opportunities for young and middle-aged talents to build their careers.
“I was awarded the Cheung Kong Achievement Awards (First prize) in 2000. With the pressure and motivation associated with the award, my colleagues and I continued to strive for excellence and work outdoors. I completed six thesis published in Nature and Science, and was then awarded the State Natural Science Award (First prize). I am truly thankful for the Cheung Kong Achievement Awards.
“As an old Chinese saying goes, ‘The waves behind the Yangtze River drive on the waves before’ (Literally meaning that the old generation will ultimately be replaced by the new generation). I hope that the new batch of Cheung Kong Scholars can rise to challenges and move forward, bringing honors to themselves and the country.”
