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HKBU’s new medical school proposal and the establishment of translational medical research institute fully supported by Nobel Laureate and field experts 

28 Feb 2025

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At the meeting on 23 February, members of the Preparatory Committee and Expert Advisory Committee for the New Medical School express unanimous support for HKBU’s new medical school proposal.
At the press conference on 24 February, Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU (1st right) said the University will establish a translational medical research institute. Professor Manson Fok (centre), Professor Lee Sum Ping (attended online, 1st left), Sir Michael Houghton (2nd right) and Dr Robert J Spiegel (2nd left) expressed their support for HKBU’s new medical school proposal.
(From left) Professor Johnson Lau Yiu-nam; Professor Alex Wai; Sir Michael Houghton; Dr Robert J Spiegel; and Professor Manson Fok at the “Nobel Laureate Symposium – Hepatitis C Virus and Drug Development.”
Experts discuss their vision in biomedical research and drug development at the symposium.
2020 Nobel Laureate Sir Michael Houghton shares his research insights at the symposium.

On 23 February, the Preparatory Committee and Expert Advisory Committee for the New Medical School set up by HKBU held a meeting, during which progress of the preparation of the University’s new medical school proposal was discussed and unanimously supported by all the committee members. With the backing of 2020 Nobel Laureate Sir Michael Houghton and drug development expert Dr Robert J Spiegel, HKBU will establish a translational medical research institute poised to fuel future medical innovation and technology translation. 

Led by Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU and Convener of the Preparatory Committee, Co-chairmen Professor Manson Fok and Professor Lee Sum Ping (via online) attended the meeting. Members of the Committees including Professor Lai Ching Lung, Professor Johnson Lau, Sir Michael Houghton, Dr Robert J Spiegel, Professor Xiao Hai-peng (represented by Professor Kuang Ming, Dean of Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University via online), Professor Felix Chan Hon-wai, Dr Samuel Kwok Po-yin, Dr Luk Che-chung, Mr Albert Wong Kwai-huen, Professor Zhang Kang (via online), and Ms Leng Weiqing (represented by Mr Yang Qiuhua, Chairman and Executive Director of Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co., Ltd) also attended the meeting.

 

“East-meets-West” approach integrating Chinese and Western medicine training

At the press conference on 24 February, senior management members of HKBU along with international medical experts addressed a full house of media representatives on the latest developments in the University’s proposal for Hong Kong’s third medical school.

The panel included Professor Alex Wai, Professor Manson Fok and Professor Lee Sum Ping (via online), Sir Michael Houghton and Dr Robert J Spiegel. They expressed confidence in HKBU’s unique strengths, positioning it as a strong candidate for the new medical school.

Professor Wai highlighted HKBU’s outstanding research achievements, particularly its role in developing the first drug in Hong Kong to receive orphan drug designation from the US FDA. Professor Manson Fok and Professor Lee Sum Ping noted the team is proceeding with full momentum, engaging field experts and designing an innovative curriculum. Meanwhile, HKBU has formed strategic partnerships with institutions like The First Affiliated Hospital of the Sun Yat-sen University, Hong Kong Baptist Hospital, Baptist Convention of Hong Kong, and other renowned medical educators. 

Leveraging its expertise in Chinese medicine, HKBU offers a holistic curriculum that integrates Chinese and Western medicine in the new medical school. This unique East-meets-West approach enriches the students exposure by providing them with a unique learning environment, and invaluable clinical placement opportunities in the Greater Bay Area offered by HKBU and its collaborators. 

 

Resounding support from international experts for the Frontier Translational Medical Research Institute

HKBU also announced the establishment of the “Frontier Translational Medical Research Institute”. The institute will be co-led by Sir Michael Houghton, Professor Johnson Lau Yiu-nam, Adjunct Senior Investigator of the Institute for Innovation, Translation and Policy Research at HKBU and member of HKBU’s Preparatory Committee for the New Medical School, and Professor Manson Fok as founding members. Dr Robert Spiegel will also join as a member of the Institute. 

Professor Alex Wai remarked, “This institute will serve as a hub for cutting-edge research and development in medical science and healthcare, focusing on medical devices, diagnostics, vaccines, integrative medicine, Chinese medicine, and other biomedical sciences, and the translation of these technologies. It will become a powerhouse of medical innovations and prepare the global community of tomorrow’s health challenges such as various communicable and non-communicable diseases, ageing population, and pandemic preparedness, all of which will synergise with the new medical school’s vision.”

 

Drug development insights shared at Nobel Laureate Symposium 

The “Nobel Laureate Symposium – Hepatitis C Virus and Drug Development” was also held, in which Sir Michael, Professor Johnson Lau, and Dr Spiegel shared their experience in drug development. Professor Manson Fok and Prof Johnson Lau jointly moderated a panel with the two experts to discuss their vision in biomedical research and drug development. 

The vision for the new medical school is to integrate Greater Bay Area health horizons. Through innovative education, transdisciplinary research, and fostering cohesiveness in Eastern and Western medical practices, HKBU looks forward to leading this transformative journey and contributing to the future of medical education and healthcare in Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, and beyond.