Global Achievement Awardee 2024

Professor Francis Ka-Leung CHAN, SBS, JP (MBChB 1988) is the awardee in Global Achievement 2024 of the Distinguished Medical Alumni Award

With over 35 years of experience in research, clinical practice, and education, Professor Chan is a world-renowned authority in gastrointestinal research. His impressive credentials include over 860 scientific publications with an h-index of 105 (Web of Science) and the extraordinary achievement of publishing eight first-author research articles in The Lancet and The New England Journal of Medicine.

Throughout his illustrious career, Professor Chan has been honoured with numerous prestigious awards. These include the International Leadership Award from the American College of Gastroenterology and the Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Prize from the Chinese Academy of Engineering in 2024. He has also received an Honorary Doctorate from Osaka Metropolitan University and has been elected as a Foreign Member of the Academia Europaea.

From 2013 to 2024, Professor Chan served as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at CUHK, where he led CU Medicine to unprecedented heights. Under his visionary leadership, CU Medicine achieved its highest ranking ever in the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings 2024, placing 1st in Hong Kong, 2nd in Asia, and 28th globally. He has played pivotal roles in various international consortia, including the Global Alliance of Medical Excellence (GAME), driving global collaboration in medical education and research.

Beyond his academic achievements, Professor Chan is a pioneering entrepreneur. In 2019, he co-founded the state-of-the-art Microbiota I-Center, MagIC, and the biotech company, GenieBiome. His vision is to revolutionize health and bring hope to future generations through the modulation of the gut microbiome.

A man of many talents and passions, Professor Chan has deep interests in culture, arts, and social issues. He is an avid writer, sharing his insights on medicine and life through popular columns and books. His love for classic films influences his life philosophy, and his passion for historical artifacts and Chinese antiques underscores his dedication to blending science with the humanities.

Professor Chan is not just a pioneering researcher, but also an inspiring leader, passionate clinician, innovative entrepreneur, and a person with wide-ranging interests and a profound commitment to human connection and knowledge. His work continues to inspire and impact lives worldwide, making him a unique and influential figure in both the scientific community and beyond.