Chow Yuk Ho Technology Centre for Innovative Medicine
Biomedical engineering technologies are pushing forward the advancement of clinical care for the benefit of patients. To facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration between the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) established the Chow Yuk Ho Technology Centre for Innovative Medicine (the Centre).
The Centre serves as a platform for engineers and clinicians from their respective faculties to encourage academic exchange and collaboration.
Several revolutionary outcomes in the research carried out by the Faculty of Medicine have been put into clinical practice to improve care for patients. For example, the Eagle Claw, an endoscopic suturing device capable of performing suture plication inside the gastrointestinal lumen, can reduce surgical risk induced by invasive surgical procedures. Another example is the introduction of a diagnostic procedure for fetal Down syndrome based on non-invasive prenatal diagnoses using the plasma of pregnant women, which has been available in the US, Europe, mainland China and many other regions around the world since 2011.
In support of innovative research in biomedical engineering with clinical applications, the Centre serves as a platform for engineers and clinicians from their respective faculties to encourage academic exchange and collaboration.
An opening ceremony for the Centre was held on 30 January 2015, officiated by Ms. Therese P.F. CHOW, Solicitor, Notary Public and China Appointed Attesting Officer; Miss Janet WONG, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology; Prof. Joseph J.Y. SUNG, Vice-Chancellor and President, CUHK; Prof. Fanny M.C. CHEUNG and Prof. T.F. FOK, Pro-Vice-Chancellors and Vice-Presidents, CUHK; Prof. Francis K.L. CHAN, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, CUHK; Prof. Irwin K.C. KING, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, CUHK; and Prof. Philip W.Y. CHIU, Director of the Chow Yuk Ho Technology Centre for Innovative Medicine, CUHK.
(From left) Prof. Philip W.Y. CHIU, Director of the Chow Yuk Ho Technology Centre for Innovative Medicine, CUHK; Prof. Francis K.L. CHAN, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, CUHK; Prof. T.F. FOK, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President, CUHK; Prof. Joseph J.Y. SUNG, Vice-Chancellor and President, CUHK; Miss Janet WONG, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology; Prof. Fanny M.C. CHEUNG, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President, CUHK; and Prof. Irwin K.C. KING, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, CUHK.
Over 100 guests from the medical and engineering fields attend the opening ceremony.
In his welcome address, Prof. Joseph J.Y. SUNG stated, "CUHK has leading strengths in the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Medicine, with strong track records in biomedical engineering as well as clinical researches. Through interdisciplinary collaboration between the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Medicine, the Chow Yuk Ho Technology Centre for Innovative Medicine aims to serve as a platform for engineers and clinicians to work together in enhancing knowledge transfer of innovative technologies into clinical practice for the benefit of our patients."
Miss Janet WONG agreed the establishment of the Centre is a brave and much needed move, "Convergence and cooperation of different scientific disciplines have become far more critical than ever before to generate innovation and transform the scenes of new technology development and medical practices - a philosophy much agreed by the Hong Kong Government."
"The Centre focuses on three research areas in biomedical engineering – Robotics, Imaging and Biosensing, including nano-robotics, innovative neuro-imaging and non-invasive medical monitoring," Prof. Philip W.Y. CHIU further elaborated, "We aim to transfer various innovative technologies into clinical equipment and practice, so as to enable a more effective and up-to-date treatment for patients in need."
The guests tour around the Centre and appreciate the combined efforts of medicine and engineering professionals.
 | We aim to transfer various innovative technologies into clinical equipment and practice, so as to enable a more effective and up-to-date treatment for patients in need.  |
| Prof. Philip W.Y. CHIU, Director of the Chow Yuk Ho Technology Centre for Innovative Medicine |
The establishment of the Centre is made possible by the generous donation from Ms. Therese P.F. CHOW, in memory of her father, Mr. CHOW Yuk Ho, his philanthropic efforts and in recognition of the contributions and achievement in medical sciences and academic development of Prof. Joseph J.Y. SUNG.
At the initial stage, the Centre consists of a basic research laboratory and an animal research laboratory to facilitate important basic researches between the two Faculties, as well as preclinical experiments and tests. For more information about the Centre, please e-mail to tcim@cuhk.edu.hk.