HKU to Collaborate on Biomedical Innovation with Institut Pasteur and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation
Mr Nicholas W Yang, the Secretary for Innovation and Technology of the HKSAR, said: “Healthcare research is certainly one area where Hong Kong has strength and potential in our pursuit of innovation and technology. In addition to its prospective economic contribution, it also has boundless potential to revolutionise disease prevention and treatment and to address challenges posed by ageing population.”
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More about the tripartite strategic partnership and the new research centre
The proposed new research centre will unite two world-class academic and research institutions, HKU and IP, to establish a unique platform at the Hong Kong Science Park that will deepen understanding of human health and disease and formulate innovative solutions for public health challenges. An example of the biomedical research being planned is an innovative interdisciplinary project in human immunology entitled The Healthy Human Global Project. This will provide a personalised patient management strategy to define immune “health”, taking into consideration population genetics, local endemic infections, diverse microbiota, and lifestyle and environmental factors; it will undoubtedly improve the effectiveness and efficiency of future public health initiatives. Other important pillars at the research centre, which will be equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories, are the creation of enabling platform technologies to enhance preparedness and response to emerging and re-emerging viruses, immune therapies for viral infections, and vaccine development.
HKU Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine is the oldest local institution of higher education in Hong Kong. It was founded as the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese in 1887, was renamed as the Hong Kong College of Medicine in 1907 and became the premier founding Faculty when the University was established in 1911. From its modest beginnings, the Faculty has grown to become the largest faculty of the University, with over 400 full-time academic and academic-related staff and 800 research and research-related support personnel. The undergraduate student population is about 2,900 and postgraduates number 1,500. The Faculty is comprised of 14 departments, School of Biomedical Sciences, School of Chinese Medicine, School of Nursing, School of Public Health (home of HKU-Pasteur Research Pole (PRP)) and a number of strategic centres of research excellence. For more information about Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, please visit www.med.hku.hk
IP is a non-profit private foundation with a mission to contribute to the prevention and treatment of diseases through research, education, and public health activities. Since its creation by Louis Pasteur in 1887, IP has become famous throughout the world as a symbol of excellence in biomedical sciences. Together with its major contribution to a deeper understanding of fundamental aspects of life, IP continues to devote a large part of its efforts to infectious diseases, inherited disorders, neurodegenerative diseases and certain types of cancers. Approximately 2,500 people work on its main campus in Paris which is at the heart of an international network of 33 research institutes on 5 continents. Over the years, 10 IP researchers have received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
HKU-PRP is a joint laboratory of HKU and IP, established in 2000 with the aim to developing programmes of excellence in research and education that will generate biological knowledge and advance the understanding and treatment of infectious diseases. HKU-PRP benefits from the outstanding scientific environment offered by the School of Public Health of the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, with its significant contributions, both locally and internationally, to research on emerging viral diseases and improving health. Moreover, HKU-PRP is part of the IP International Network, a unique model for health cooperation to further science, medicine and public health with more than 100 years of history.
Comprising Science Park, InnoCentre and Industrial Estates, HKSTP is a statutory body established in May 2001. HKSTP is dedicated to building a vibrant innovation and technology ecosystem to connect stakeholders, nurture technology talents, facilitate collaboration, and catalyse innovations to deliver social and economic benefits to Hong Kong and the region. Our work centres around five technology clusters including Biomedical Technology, Electronics, Green Technology, Information & Communications Technology, and Material & Precision Engineering; and the development of three cross-disciplinary platforms which are Smart City, Healthy Ageing and Robotics. We also provide state-of-the-art R&D facilities and all-rounded value-added support services to our partner companies. We are committed to creating new opportunities and propelling the development of Hong Kong into an innovation-led economy. More information about HKSTP is available at www.hkstp.org
Media enquiries
Please contact Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of The University of Hong Kong by email (medkefa@hku.hk).
Photos credits: © Institut Pasteur, François Gardy
圖片來源: © Institut Pasteur, François Gardy
(Front, from left) Professor Gabriel Leung, HKU’s Dean of Medicine, Professor Stewart Cole, President of Institut Pasteur and Mr Albert Wong, Chief Executive Officer of HKSTP, represented The University of Hong Kong, Institut Pasteur and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation respectively, signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Paris today (June 21, 2018) to set up a joint biomedical research centre, witnessed by a high-level delegation led by The Hon Mrs Carrie Lam, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. (Back, from left) Dr Marc Jouan, International Vice President of the Institut Pasteur; Mr Nicholas W Yang, Secretary for Innovation and Technology; The Hon Mrs Carrie Lam, the Chief Executive; Mr Leo Kung Lin-cheng, Chairman of Board of Directors of Ocean Park; Mr Edward Yau Tang-wah, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development and Professor Roberto Bruzzone, Co-Director of HKU Pasteur Research Pole.