Professor Liona Poon Chiu-yee, Professor (Clinical) in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)’s Faculty of Medicine (CU Medicine) has been honoured with the Croucher Senior Medical Research Fellowship 2026 by the Croucher Foundation in recognition of her outstanding contributions in medical research. The award provides a maximum value of HK$4.8 million over five years to support Professor Poon’s pioneering research in advancing maternal and infant health.

Though she began her career in clinical obstetrics and gynaecology, Professor Poon’s research has become highly interdisciplinary. Her work focuses on precision medicine strategies for major obstetrical syndromes, encompassing novel screening algorithms for preeclampsia, foetal growth restriction, and preterm birth, as well as innovative ultrasound tools for foetal brain development assessment. (Please click here for Professor Poon’s full biography.)

Professor Poon said: “With the support of the Croucher Foundation, I hope to advance a precision medicine strategy for the prediction and prevention of preeclampsia. This project will explore a multi-omic approach that combines biophysical markers, cell-free RNA, and pharmacogenetic and pharmacometabolic profiling. By improving risk stratification and tailoring aspirin prophylaxis to individual genetic and metabolic profiles, we aim to take steps toward more personalised maternal healthcare.” Ultimately, Professor Poon hopes this work will contribute to better clinical practices and scalable models that improve outcomes for mothers and infants.

Croucher Tak Wah Mak Innovation Award 2025 recipient Professor Gary Choi Pui-tung (right) and Sir Gregory Winter, Chairman, Noel Croucher Foundation.