Establishment of State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease (CUHK)

Approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has established another new state key laboratory – the State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease (Partner Laboratory in The Chinese University of Hong Kong). The new Laboratory aims to promote research and improve diagnosis and treatment of digestive diseases in Hong Kong and mainland China through the collaboration between the two institutions.

A plaque-unveiling ceremony of the Laboratory was held on 4 December 2013, Prof. Cao Jianlin, Vice Minister of Science and Technology; Mr. Wang Zhimin, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in HKSAR; Miss Janet Wong, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, HKSAR Government; Prof. Joseph Sung, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK; and Prof. Wu Kaichun, Deputy Director of State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology officiated at the ceremony.

At the ceremony, Vice Minister Cao congratulated CUHK on the establishment of the Laboratory. He believes the Laboratory would further enhance exchange between scholars and scientists in Hong Kong and Mainland China to foster collaborative research efforts.

'The University has once again gained state approval to establish a state key laboratory here in Hong Kong, which showed commendation on and recognition of our research endeavors. 'By teaming up with the Fourth Military Medical University (FMMU), we can complement each other and maximize our respective strength in digestive disease research,' said Professor Sung, taking pride in the establishment as the Vice-Chancellor of CUHK and director of the newly established State Key Laboratory.

The Laboratory will be housed in the CUHK Li Ka Shing Medical Sciences Building. CUHK and FMMU, both leaders in digestive disease research, have established a long collaborative relationship, laying a solid foundation for the Laboratory. With the vision to bring research development to new heights and benefit mankind, the Laboratory will carry out basic, translational and clinical research on the gastrointestinal cancer, peptic ulcer bleeding, chronic liver disease and inflammatory bowel disease.

The establishment of the State Key Laboratory will strengthen ties between scholars of Hong Kong and mainland China toward long and sustainable collaboration and help bring the research development to new heights of excellence, as well as further enhance China's position in digestive disease research.

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Inauguration of The Chinese University of Hong Kong–Peking University–University System of Taiwan Joint Research Centre for Language and Human Complexity

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Peking University, and University System of Taiwan joined hands to establish 'The Chinese University of Hong Kong–Peking University–University System of Taiwan Joint Research Centre for Language and Human Complexity'.  An inauguration ceremony of the Joint Research Centre was held at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) on 8 December 2013. As a new platform of collaboration, the Centre is the first cross-strait joint research Centre to examine human complexity from the perspective of language. Prof. Wang Enge, President of Peking University; Prof. Ovid Tzeng, President of University System of Taiwan (UST); and Prof. Joseph Sung, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK, officiated at the ceremony.

The Joint Research Centre will develop cross-institution research, share resources and exchange experience in human complexity with respect to various Chinese languages to boost academic standards and innovation. Professor Sung said at the ceremony, 'The Centre is the first cross-strait and cross-discipline research base in CUHK, showcasing a joint effort of three partner institutions. We aspire to serve as a bridge to enhance academic exchange and promote research development in language in the Greater China region.'

Scholars from Peking University, UST and CUHK have been collaborating closely for the past years in promoting the development of language studies. Riding on such strengths, the joint Centre is established to further enhance the partnership of the three universities in the areas of language and human complexity, constructing a more systemized and solid research base across the strait. The joint Centre will conduct field work and laboratory experiments to examine the nature of human, aiming to deepen our understanding of the biological basis of language and the acquisition of native language and second language, and to further assist in the treatment of language disorders such as aphasia, alexia, and language degradation along aging.

The Joint Research Centre for Language and Human Complexity is located at the Tsang Shiu Tim Building at CUHK.  It will operate under an international Advisory Board, chaired by Academician William Shiyuan Wang, Research Professor in the Faculty of Arts and Department of Electronic Engineering at CUHK.  Professor Wang, a longtime advocate of trans-disciplinary research, said, 'The establishment of the Joint Research Centre has great historical significance; it is a major milestone for developing leading edge research on language in Greater China.'

Presidents of the three universities signed the agreement of the Joint Research Centre and were joined by Prof. Kenneth Pugh, Director of Haskins Laboratory, USA; Prof. Jing-Yang Jou, President of Taiwan Central University; Prof. Yan-Hwa Wu Lee, President of Taiwan Chiao Tung University; Prof. Kung-Yee Liang, President of Taiwan Yang Ming University; Prof. Leung Yuen Sang, Dean of Faculty of Art, CUHK; and Prof. William Shiyuan Wang of CUHK at the plaque-unveiling ceremony. Dozens of guests from Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan witnessed the historic moment. The establishment of the Joint Research Centre will strengthen ties between scholars of CUHK, Peking University and UST toward long and sustainable collaboration in new research developments.

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Opening Ceremony of The Chinese University of Hong Kong – Shandong University Joint Laboratory on Reproductive Genetics

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has started collaboration with Shandong University in reproductive genetics.  The two universities jointly established "The Chinese University of Hong Kong– Shandong University Joint Laboratory on Reproductive Genetics" to embark on a closer partnership to maximize research strengths. The opening ceremony of the joint laboratory was held on CUHK campus on 20 December 2013.

Officiating guests of the ceremony comprised of senior members from CUHK including Prof. Benjamin Wah, Provost; Prof. Fok Tai-fai, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Chan Wai-yee, Director of the School of Biomedical Sciences; representatives from Shangdong University including Prof. Li Shouxin, Party Secretary, Prof. Chen Zijiang, Vice-President; Prof. Ma Jin-loong, President of Hospital for Reproductive Medicine of Shandong University; and Prof. Li Lu, Director, Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs, Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in HKSAR.

During the Ceremony, Prof. Wah expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Science and Technology for supporting the joint initiative and stated that the establishment will foster collaborative efforts and opportunities between scholars in CUHK and Shandong University.

An international academic symposium on reproductive genetics was held following the ceremony. In the symposium, Prof. Joe Leigh Simpson, Member of National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine, Prof. Chris Lau of University of California, Prof. Chen Zijiang of Shangdong University and Prof. Richard Choy of CUHK delivered talks at the symposium and shared their expertise and thoughts with the attending scholars in CUHK and from Shandong University. 

Prof. Chan Wai-yee, Director of School of Biomedical Science of CUHK and Prof. Ma Jin-loong, President of the Hospital for Reproductive Medicine in Shandong University will be the Co-Directors of the joint center. The Center will be serving as a platform for technology transfer, scientific training, academic exchange, as well as resource sharing and research development in reproductive genetics between the two universities.