CUHK Press Releases

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 00:00:00 UTC Chung Chi College presents 75th anniversary Excellence Talk Series on prosperous ageing Exploring financial planning and traditional Chinese medicine for a fulfilling later life

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 00:00:00 UTC

To celebrate its 75th anniversary, Chung Chi College (CCC) at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) officially launched its flagship “Excellence Talk Series” in February this year. The series continued today (11 April) with two keynote lectures on the theme of “Prosperous Ageing”, exploring how to achieve a fulfilling and healthy retirement from the dual perspectives of financial planning and traditional Chinese medicine.

The College was honoured to welcome two distinguished keynote speakers: Dr Norman Chan Tak-lam, Vice-Chairman of the CUHK Council and Chairman of the CCC Board of Trustees, and Professor Lin Zhixiu, Director of CUHK’s School of Chinese Medicine, Director of the CUHK Hong Kong Institute of Integrative Medicine and Fellow of CCC. Both talks combined academic rigour with practical relevance, attracting an audience of over 600 students, staff, alumni and members of the public. The event involved enthusiastic participation and lively interaction.

Dr Chan’s lecture, “Wise Management of Finance for Retired Middle Class”, outlined practical financial principles and planning strategies to help middle-income individuals and retirees build a stable financial foundation and confidently navigate retirement. Professor Lin, in his lecture “Enhancing Sleep Quality with Chinese Medicine Therapy”, examined key factors affecting sleep from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine and proposed practical wellness strategies to promote physical and mental balance, improving overall health and quality of life.

Chung Chi College will continue to host further events in the “Excellence Talk Series”, bringing together leaders and distinguished people from various sectors to share insights and new knowledge. On 25 April, under the theme of “Inspiring Minds”, renowned actress and writer Dr Brigitte Lin Ching-hsia will detail her life journey. On 11 July, an event with the theme of “Innovating the Future” will feature Professor Philip Chiu Wai-yan, Dean of CUHK’s Faculty of Medicine, and Professor Herbert Chia Pun-kok, Director of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, who will introduce breakthroughs in medical engineering and AI.

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:00:00 UTC CUHK and Tongji University establish joint laboratory for smart transportation

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:00:00 UTC

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and Tongji University held an inauguration ceremony and signed a cooperation agreement yesterday (8 April) for the “CUHK-Tongji University Joint Research Laboratory for Smart Transportation”. Through the laboratory, the two universities will jointly promote research and development in priority fields and key technologies, and carry out collaboration in areas such as innovative talent development, in response to major societal needs in the field of smart transportation. CUHK’s Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming led a delegation to the ceremony at Tongji University, including Professor Tsang Hon-ki, Dean of Engineering, and Professor Chen Benmei, Head of the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering. Representatives from Tongji University included President Academician Yang Jinlong and Vice President Professor Li Xiangning.

In his remarks at the ceremony, Professor Lo said: “The national 15th Five-Year Plan is an action blueprint for the new stage of development over the next five years. It emphasises the leading role of scientific and technological innovation, accelerating high-level self-reliance and strength in technology, and advancing the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent cultivation. The establishment of the joint laboratory by CUHK and Tongji University will leverage the complementary strengths of both institutions in smart transportation and intelligent unmanned systems. It will provide collaboration opportunities for scholars from the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and around the world, fully harness collective research capabilities, cultivate innovation in smart transportation technologies, and drive frontier breakthroughs and innovative applications.”

President Yang expressed his hope that the two universities would capitalise on their respective strengths to deepen cooperation in talent cultivation, scientific research and platform development. He also emphasised the shared goal of jointly building a smart transportation innovation hub with international influence, contributing wisdom and strength to address major challenges in the transportation sector and advance industry development.

CUHK has long attached great importance to building close partnerships with institutions in the Chinese Mainland, promoting diversified collaboration and integrating into national development while leveraging Hong Kong’s unique advantages. The Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering at CUHK maintains close collaboration with Tongji University in smart transportation and unmanned systems. A jointly developed amphibious unmanned system capable of operating in both air and water has attracted widespread attention domestically and internationally, and successfully supported China’s Antarctic research mission in February 2026. In addition, a joint CUHK and Tongji University team stood out at the 16th International Micro Air Vehicle Competition (IMAV 2025) in Mexico last year, outperforming more than 10 other elite teams – including from Europe and the US – to win championships in both the indoor and outdoor categories.

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:00 UTC CU Medicine launches the “Women in Science and Medicine Academy” to attract 100 female talents Leveraging Hong Kong’s institutional strengths to become a regional hub for women medical scientists

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:00 UTC

As global competition for research talent accelerates and innovation ecosystems rapidly evolve, the development and retention of scientific talent have become defining priorities for leading higher education and medical institutions worldwide. Today, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)’s Faculty of Medicine (CU Medicine) announced the establishment of the Women in Science and Medicine Academy (WISE) – a strategic initiative created to deliver structured, long-term support for women advancing in biomedical, scientific, and clinical research. Through WISE, CU Medicine seeks to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a leading regional hub for women clinician scientists, by developing local talent and attracting exceptional researchers from across the globe.

Global participation by women in science is growing but barriers to advancement remain

Women are increasingly prominent in scientific research. Yet they remain underrepresented in senior scientific positions, research leadership, and the most competitive areas of biomedical innovation. UNESCO and the World Economic Forum reported that only one in three researchers worldwide is a woman. Women account for 35% of STEM graduates, and fewer than 30% hold leadership roles in STEM industries.

With its established research infrastructure, internationalised academic environment, strong funding ecosystem, and long-standing commitment to gender equality, Hong Kong is widely recognised as one of Asia’s most supportive environments for developing women scientific talent. Women in Hong Kong also show high participation in higher education, substantial contributions to healthcare, and active engagement in international academic collaboration.

However, CU Medicine observes that female researchers – both globally and locally – continue to face systemic challenges that limit long-term career progression. These include the ongoing strain between research demands and family caregiving responsibilities, as well as gaps in early-career support.

WISE was created to address these issues through a holistic, sustainable framework that enables women researchers to thrive, lead, and shape Hong Kong’s future in biomedical sciences.

The four pillars of WISE

Research and career mentorship

WISE convenes senior CU Medicine faculty members and internationally recognised experts to provide tailored guidance on research strategy, grant development, global collaboration, and career progression.

Leadership and professional development

Through structured training in research management, ethics, scientific communication, interdisciplinary collaboration, and competitive funding, WISE equips women scientists to excel – and lead – in both research and institutions.

Global exposure and collaboration

International visiting programmes, conference engagement, academic partnerships, and global research networks will expand participants’ horizons and deepen Hong Kong’s academic connectivity.

A supportive, inclusive research culture

WISE advances family-friendly policies, flexible research arrangements, and peer support communities to help women balance research, clinical responsibilities, and family care.

Strengthening Hong Kong’s talent pipeline and supporting national priorities

CU Medicine emphasises that WISE is of significant strategic value, strengthening Hong Kong’s ability to compete in the global race for scientific talent by attracting and nurturing outstanding women researchers in medicine, health, and the life sciences. It also closely aligns with the National 15^th Five-Year Plan’s focus on innovation, technology, and talent development – enabling Hong Kong to contribute more proactively and meaningfully to the country’s overall innovation strategy.

Faculty Leadership: A Milestone for Gender Equity in Research

Professor Siew Chien Ng, Associate Dean (Research) of CU Medicine and Convenor of WISE, said: “Women scientists bring exceptional innovation, resilience, and leadership to research. Yet many still encounter barriers at key points in their academic journeys. WISE is designed to provide comprehensive, long-term support – so women researchers can thrive and lead on the global scientific stage.”

Professor Ng added: “Hong Kong offers distinctive advantages for women scientists, supported by a world-class higher education system, an increasingly inclusive research culture, and a steadfast commitment to gender equality. Together, these strengths create an environment in which women can pursue and advance research careers more effectively than many places in the region – fully realising their potential and contributing to local and global scientific development.”

Programme ambassador: women scientists as drivers of innovation

Dr Shannon Chan, Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery and Ambassador of WISE, said: “Women are shaping scientific research, clinical innovation, and humanitarian work but the demands of research and frontline medical practice often require women to manage multiple responsibilities. WISE provides the structural support women need to advance their research – while continuing to grow professionally.”

Future development: building an international network of women medical scientists

Over the coming years, CU Medicine will:

Attract and nurture 100 leading women scientists through the Top 100 Women Talent Programme;

Forge joint research and training partnerships with leading medical schools in Asia, Europe, and North America;

Launch international visiting programmes for early-career women researchers;

Build a global forum for women in medical science; and

Host an annual Women in Science Leadership Summit in Hong Kong.

Together, these efforts will strengthen the global visibility, research impact, and international connectivity of women scientists – further cementing Hong Kong as a centre of excellence for biomedical research and women’s scientific leadership.

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 00:00:00 UTC Landmark CUHK study establishes first consensus molecular subtypes for ESCC AI-powered tool imECMS developed to advance and popularise precision medicine

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 00:00:00 UTC

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) accounts for about 90% of esophageal cancer cases worldwide, with especially high incidence in Asia. The absence of a standardised classification system has long hindered clinicians from providing precise, personalised treatment. The Faculty of Medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CU Medicine) and its collaborators have established the first robust consensus molecular subtype system for ESCC and introduced an innovative AI-powered tool, imECMS, that can classify patients using routine pathology slides. This breakthrough overcomes the limitations of costly, complex genetic testing, significantly streamlining clinical application and advancing smarter drug development and improved patient outcomes. The study was published in the renowned journal Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, part of the Nature stable.

At present, the complex biological heterogeneity of ESCC has prevented the establishment of a unified classification standard, making it difficult to develop precise, personalised treatment plans and negatively affecting patient prognosis. There is an urgent need for a robust consensus taxonomy to guide ESCC treatment. In response, Dr Wang, Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery at CU Medicine, together with teams from Shanxi Medical University, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital and Peking University Cancer Hospital, has developed the ESCC subtyping system.

First-ever unified classification system for ESCC

The team first conducted similarity network fusion analysis on multi-omics data from 152 ESCC patients – including whole-genome sequencing, RNA sequencing and DNA methylation profiling. Using network analysis and Markov cluster algorithms, they then systematically integrated eight major subtyping systems from the literature. This rigorous approach distilled the field’s complexity into four highly stable, cross-cohort, consistent, consensus molecular subtypes (ECMS 1-4), each with distinct biological characteristics and therapeutic implications (see appendix).

Dr Wang Xin, co-corresponding author of the study, stated: “ESCC has long suffered from fragmented knowledge, as different research groups developed their own classification systems based on different data types and methodologies, creating fragmented knowledge that could not guide clinical decisions. We needed to integrate these disparate voices into a unified consensus that could actually inform patient care.”

AI-powered tool imECMS makes precision medicine accessible

Recognising that molecular sequencing is costly and often inaccessible, the team developed an AI-driven diagnostic tool, imECMS, to translate their findings into clinical practice. It can accurately identify all four cancer subtypes using routinely performed H&E-stained pathological slides. By extracting quantifiable spatial organisation features from standard slides, the tool delivers results in minutes, greatly reducing both time and cost compared to RNA sequencing, and eliminating the need for additional patient samples. This enables physicians to develop more precise treatment plans.

While imECMS has performed impressively in validation cohorts and across different Chinese patient groups, it is currently limited by a relatively small sample size and its reliance on the quality of H&E-stained images. The team believes that further optimisation and validation with larger, more diverse data sets – including local patient data – will benefit clinical deployment. Nonetheless, the team remains confident that imECMS has the potential to become an effective tool for cancer subtyping in the future.

Professor Brigette Ma, Frances Lee Professor of Precision Oncology and Professor in the Department of Clinical Oncology at CU Medicine, said: “Currently, clinical decisions for ESCC patients are largely empirical. With imECMS, subtype information can be obtained from routine H&E slides, making clinical implementation practical and improving the ability to identify the most effective treatment options for patients.”

Dr Cui Heyang, first author of the study and Assistant Professor at CU Medicine, said: “This transforms subtyping from an expensive research tool into a practical clinical asset. Any hospital with standard pathology capabilities can now access precision insights that were previously limited to well-funded research centres. It’s about democratising precision medicine.”

Professor Yongping Cui of Shanxi Medical University, co-corresponding author of the study, added: “This isn’t just another classification system – it’s a consensus framework that reconciles and transcends previous work. By identifying robust subtype-specific vulnerabilities, we’ve created a roadmap for developing targeted therapies where few exist today. The integration of molecular consensus with AI-powered pathology represents the future of precision oncology. We’re particularly excited about the potential to implement this in resource-limited settings where esophageal cancer burden is highest.”

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 UTC CUHK hosts Navigating the Blue Together: China-US Youth Friendship Expedition exchange visit Initiative strengthens international cooperation in marine conservation

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 UTC

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) hosted the Navigating the Blue Together: China-US Youth Friendship Expedition exchange visit recently, bringing together young scholars and students from China and the US to explore innovative solutions to global challenges such as marine conservation and climate change. The youth from both sides exchanged research achievements and expertise in marine science, technological innovation and interdisciplinary studies, further strengthening international cooperation in the fields of marine conservation and sustainable development.

Distinguished representatives from CUHK attending the event included Professor Poon Wai-yin, Provost of CUHK; Professor Yam Yeung, Director of the CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute and of the Hong Kong Polar Science Innovation Centre; Dr Lin Huangquan, Executive Director of the Shenzhen Research Institute and Director of the Office for Greater Bay Area Developments; Professor Edwin Chan Ho-yin, Director of the School of Life Sciences; Professor Luo Haiwei, Director of the Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory; and Professor Apple Chui Pui-yi, Assistant Professor in the School of Life Sciences and Founder of the Coral Academy. Distinguished guests included Ms Lyu Ting, Deputy Director of the Department of American Affairs of the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs; Mr Huang Dizhong, Vice President of the China-United States Exchange Foundation; Professor Vincent Pieribone, Co-CEO and Chief Science Officer of ocean exploration NGO OceanX; Professor Ho Kin-chung, Chair Professor of Environmental and Polar Research at The Education University of Hong Kong; Professor Amina Schartup, Associate Professor at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego; and Ms Jacqueline Ho, Deputy General Manager of Bridgewater (China) Investment Management. They were joined by over 50 student representatives from 15 world-renowned universities – including Harvard University, Columbia University, the University of California, Tsinghua University, Peking University, Zhejiang University and CUHK – alongside members of the OceanX team and other CUHK representatives.

Professor Poon extended a warm welcome to the delegation, adding that as a world-class comprehensive research university, CUHK is committed to bringing together China and the West, and advancing the well-being of the global community through the integration of teaching, research and technology transfer. She noted that the University has launched a series of projects in areas such as environmental protection, marine research and polar scientific exploration, which have recorded substantial achievements. CUHK will continue to work with global partners to nurture a new generation of leaders and expand the frontiers of scientific research and technology.

Professor Yam introduced CUHK’s long-standing commitment to social responsibility and its efforts to inspire practical action to protect the environment. With the support of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China, CUHK and the Polar Research Institute of China have established the Hong Kong Polar Science Innovation Centre. It coordinates Hong Kong scientists’ participation in polar missions and hosts the National Marine Knowledge Competition Hong Kong Contest, aiming to advance polar and marine science research and to open new dimensions for frontier research, technological innovation, talent cultivation and international collaboration.

Ms Lyu remarked that Navigating the Blue Together: The China–US Youth Friendship Expedition focuses on the intersection of ocean exploration and cultural dialogue. This initiative is an active response to President Xi’s initiative to welcome 50,000 young Americans to China over five years. Bringing together the most promising youth from both nations is vital, as the future of the China–US relationship lies in the hands of the next generation.

Mr Huang expressed his sincere gratitude for CUHK’s coordination and implementation efforts. He noted that the outstanding students from 15 prestigious universities working side by side to explore and protect the ocean is an inspiring example of cooperation in the current global climate.

Professor Pieribone noted that wherever OceanX’s vessel the OceanXplorer travels, its crew find a shared mentality and a united love for the ocean. He stressed that both nations are critical to the future health of our oceans and said he hoped this experience would open the door for long-lasting scientific exchange between their governments and scholars.

Professor Chan and Professor Luo detailed CUHK’s excellence in marine, environmental and life sciences through in-depth research and educational initiatives. Students also participated in a hands-on coral restoration session hosted by CUHK’s Coral Academy, led by Professor Chui, allowing them to experience the University’s efforts in marine conservation and environmental sustainability.

Navigating the Blue Together: China-US Youth Friendship Expedition is jointly organised by the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs, the China-United States Exchange Foundation and OceanX, a philanthropic ocean exploration and media organisation founded by Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio. It has also received support from the Second Institute of Oceanography of the Ministry of Natural Resources, the China Center for International People-to-People Exchange of the Ministry of Education. CUHK also supported and coordinated scientific research in the waters around Hong Kong and the delegation’s exchange activities on campus. Liu Runjie, a CUHK student and a runner-up in the 15th National Marine Knowledge Competition Hong Kong Contest, was invited to join the joint China-US expedition aboard the OceanXplorer. CUHK faculty members and student representatives also boarded the research vessel on the morning of the event for a tour and exchange.