Dr. Zhou Chenxi and Dr. Chow Kin-kee, respectively researchers from the Epithelial Cell Biology Centre and the Department of Electronic Engineering of The Chinese University, were awarded the Young Scientist Award by the Hong Kong Institution of Science (HKIS) in recognition of their outstanding achievements in infertility and advanced optical fibre communications research.
The HKIS established the Young Scientist Award to give recognition to young scientists demonstrating great promise in the areas of life science, engineering science, and physical/mathematical science. The aim is to enhance scientific development in Hong Kong, encourage the discovery of knowledge, and improve quality of life.
This year a total of 57 candidates competed for the three awards, each carrying a cash prize of HK$10,000. Dr. Zhou Chenxi and Dr. Chow Kin-kee were winners of the life science and engineering science categories respectively. Prof. Arthur K.C. Li, Secretary for Education and Manpower, officiated at the award presentation ceremony which took place on 30th October.
Dr. Zhou Chenxi's award-winning research 'Influence of Sperm Maturation and Fertilizing Capacity by Secretions of Male and Female Reproductive Tract Epithelia' is a study on the molecular mechanisms underlying sperm maturation, fertilization, and the pathology of cystic fibrosis female infertility. The findings can be used for the diagnosis of male infertility and enable better management of assisted reproductive technologies for infertile women. The findings may also provide grounds for the development of new contraceptive strategies and treatment of infertility.
Dr. Zhou has been conducting research on sperm maturation at the Epithelial Cell Biology Centre under centre director Prof. Chan Hsiao Chang after receiving his Ph.D. in physiology. He discovered that Bin1b, a ß-defensin gene found in the epididymis, is involved in initiating sperm maturation. He was awarded a Lalor Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship by the Lalor Foundation in the US to undertake a study entitled 'The Role of Epitidymis-specific Defensin, Bin 1b, in Sperm Maturation'.
Dr. Chow Kin-kee received his B.Eng., M.Phil., and Ph.D. degrees in electronic engineering from The Chinese University in 1998, 2000, and 2003 respectively. He is currently working as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Electronic Engineering and the Centre for Advanced Research in Phototonics. His award-winning research, entitled 'All-optical Processing Devices for High-speed Fibre Communications', proposed and demonstrated the new applications in all-optical signal processing of an emerging specialty fibre known as photonic crystal fibre.
Jointly with Prof. Chester Shu of the Department of Electronic Engineering and Prof. Chinlon Lin, director of the centre, Dr. Chow continues his investigation in new applications of photonic crystal fibre. The new effort is a collaboration with the Technical University of Denmark. The photonic crystal fibre has interesting optical guiding properties that are promising for many applications. In his work, Dr. Chow has demonstrated that the applications of the new fibre for nonlinear photonic signal processing, including wideband wavelength conversion and signal regeneration, are useful for next-generation optical networks.