| The Chinese University of Hong
Kong (CUHK) announced it has received an additional grant of HK$40
million from the Li Ka Shing Foundation (LKSF). Expanding on the
earlier commitment of HK$60 million, CUHK has received a total
of HK$100 million from LKSF. The entire fund will be used to support
clinical studies and research programmes in health sciences under
the Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences at the Faculty of
Medicine. Vice-Chancellor Professor Lawrence Lau said, "This generous
grant represents a strong endorsement of CUHK's research excellence
and will assist CUHK in continuing our commitment to provide the
best possible education and research in health sciences and to
contribute to health promotion in the community. This grant will
further support the Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences to
secure its place as a unique and vital institution at the forefront
of research in the global life sciences arena."
Over 80% of the grant will be directed towards research that focuses
on integrative transdisciplinary science in health promotion and
disease prevention, mechanisms, diagnosis, monitoring, treatment,
clinical sciences and regenerative medicine, while the balance
will be used to establish a Dr. Li Ka Shing Chair in the Faculty
of Medicine. This will be the first Chair Professorship to be granted
by LKSF under its Chair Professorship initiative. CUHK considers
it a great honour to be the first recipient and has nominated Professor
Y.M. Dennis Lo, the Director of the Li Ka Shing Institute of Health
Sciences and a world-renowned medical scientist, to hold the Chair.
Dr. Li Ka Shing, Chairman of LKSF, said, "Society will reap huge
benefit from advances in the life sciences that grow out of a broad
and integrative view of science; great minds must be given opportunities
to realize their vision."
Professor Dennis Lo said, "I am truly honoured by being named
to this chair. I grew up in Hong Kong and received my medical education
and early research training in the U.K. and returned to Hong Kong
in 1997. I have always had a dream: that world-class research can
be performed in Hong Kong, using resources available in Hong Kong,
on health problems whose solution would bring direct benefits to
the people of Hong Kong and indeed the world. This generous donation
will make this dream possible, not only for my team, but also for
other young scientists who share this vision. Over the past decade,
I have been engaged in research on DNA in blood plasma, which will
bring long term benefits to health care and early disease detection.
The Institute opens up exciting new opportunities in multi-disciplinary
and translational research in the life sciences. I am privileged
to take part in this exciting development."
The Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences: The Institute will
be housed in the Li Ka Shing Medical Sciences Building at the Prince
of Wales Hospital site. It is anticipated that the construction
of the building will be completed by early 2007. A distinguishing
feature of the Institute is the innovative and interdisciplinary
approach emphasizing research projects aimed at translating advances
in basic and molecular sciences into tests and treatments that
will benefit patients and promote health.
The vigorous research programmes at CUHK have already had many
notable successes. For example, CUHK has a research programme in
the use of DNA that exists in blood plasma for prenatal and cancer
diagnosis that is at the cutting edge of molecular diagnostics
research. CUHK also has a successful research programme on the
molecular basis, detection and treatment of nasopharyngeal and
liver cancers. CUHK workers are also leaders in research into peptic
ulcer disease, viral hepatitis, and endoscopic therapy of digestive
diseases. Other outstanding bio-medical research at CUHK includes
using genetic techniques to improve rice strains for better nutritional
value V work that will help to solve the problem of food scarcity.
CUHK shares Dr. Li's view that education and medical care are
"the twin pillars of society's well being". CUHK will over the
next decade support its Medical Faculty and this Institute with
funding of several billion dollars, and scientists working in the
Faculty are all committed, through their research, to contributing
to the improvement of health care in Hong Kong, China and the world.
The Li Ka Shing Foundation
The Li Ka Shing Foundation was established in 1980 to nurture
a culture of giving. Mr. Li believes that this can be accomplished
by focusing on capacity empowerment through education and the building
of a caring society through medical and healthcare projects. The
Li Ka Shing Foundation and other private charitable foundations
established by Mr. Li have supported numerous philanthropic activities
with grants, sponsorships, and commitments of approximately HK$7.6
billion.
For further information, please visit: www.lksf.org
About the Faculty of Medicine of The Chinese University of Hong
Kong
Established in 1963, The Chinese University of Hong Kong is a
comprehensive research university of international renown. It has
achieved academic excellence in many areas and nurtured many distinguished
graduates who have made remarkable contributions to the local community
and worldwide. The Faculty of Medicine was established in 1977
with the mission of "serving the community through quality education,
caring practice and advancement of health science". It admitted
the first cohort of students in 1981 and offers programmes at bachelor's,
master's and doctoral levels. The programmes in Nursing and Pharmacy
were introduced in 1991 and 1992 respectively. In 2001, the territory
first and only School of Public Health, which aims at promoting
public health through research and education into disease prevention,
health maintenance, and health care delivery, was opened. In the
same year, a reform in the medical curriculum was introduced. The
new system-based integrated curriculum enhances students' clinical
exposure and emphasizes the training of communicative techniques,
lifelong education capability and clinical skills. For the past
twenty-odd years, the Faculty of Medicine has made great advances
in teaching and research, gaining international recognition as
a medical centre of excellence and producing top-notch medical
professionals for the community.
Photo
Aug 31, 2005
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