Press Release
HKBU presents international Chinese medicine award to eminent anti-cancer pharmacologist and expert in international standards for Chinese medicine
Tuesday, 28 April 2026
The School of Chinese Medicine at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) held the 8th “Cheung On Tak International Award for Outstanding Contribution to Chinese Medicine” Award Ceremony cum Award Lectures on 23 April. The event honoured two world-leading scholars, Professor Thomas Efferth, Director of the Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany, and Professor Shen Yuandong, Chairman of the Technical Committee for Traditional Medicine under the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO/TC 249). Both were recognised for their exceptional contributions to the modernisation and global development of Chinese medicine.
The ceremony drew a distinguished audience of leaders from government, business, and academia, including Mr Gavin Cheung and Ms Annie Cheung, Directors of the Cheung On Tak Charity Foundation; Ms Rowena Wong How-wan, Chief Manager (Chinese Medicine) of the Hospital Authority; Academician Chen Kaixian, Chair of the adjudicator panel of the “Cheung On Tak International Award for Outstanding Contribution to Chinese Medicine”, as well as other panel members including Academician Liu Liang, Professor Leung Ping-chung and Professor Guo De-an; Professor Lin Zhixiu, Director of School of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
They were joined by HKBU’s representatives, including Mr Kevin Liem, Treasurer of the Council and Court; Professor Martin Wong, Provost; Professor Lyu Aiping, Vice-President (Research and Development) cum Dean of Graduate School; Ms Christine Chow, Vice-President (Administration) and Secretary; and Professor Li Min, Dean of Chinese Medicine.
In his address, Professor Martin Wong commended that Professor Thomas Efferth and Professor Shen Yuandong’s visionary leadership, remarkable efforts and dedication have significantly elevated the global standing of Chinese medicine. He also expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the Cheung On Tak Charity Foundation’s steadfast support.
He added: “Our School of Chinese Medicine has been at the forefront of Chinese medicine development since its establishment in 1999, nurturing talent to address evolving healthcare challenges, fostering translational research and drug discovery, and making Chinese medicine more evidence-based and impactful for humanity. This biennial Award is a testament to HKBU’s vision and leadership in advancing Chinese medicine.”
Professor Li Min emphasised the School of Chinese Medicine’s commitment to promoting the modernisation, standardisation and internationalisation of Chinese medicine, cementing the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s role as a crucial gateway for the global development of Chinese medicine. This Award serves as a vital platform for uniting global scholars and strengthening the HKSAR’s position as an international hub for Chinese medicine.
Academician Chen Kaixian praised the laureates for their remarkable achievements. He described Professor Thomas Efferth as an internationally acclaimed scholar in anti-cancer pharmacology of Chinese herbal medicines, who has pioneered new pathways for the scientific validation and modernisation of Chinese medicine. Professor Shen Yuandong, a pioneering expert in the international standardisation of Chinese medicine, has led the successful integration of a Chinese medicine-based disease and syndrome classification system into the World Health Organisation’s framework. He has also spearheaded the formulation of multiple international standards for Chinese medicine, marking a crucial cornerstone for its integration into the global healthcare system.
Professor Efferth said the award is an extraordinary honour in his scientific career. He said: “I am deeply grateful to the University and the Panel of Adjudicators for this recognition. I fully trust the healing power of medicinal plants. That is why we will continue to conduct intensive research into how phytotherapy and herbal medicine can be integrated into Western academic medicine on a scientific basis. Our goal is to combine the best of Western and Eastern medicines for the benefit of patients worldwide.”
Professor Shen remarked, “The international standardisation of Chinese medicine represents an essential pathway for its global advancement. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the Award Committee for acknowledging our efforts and achievements in this meaningful pursuit. This Award is both a cherished encouragement and a powerful inspiration that will continue to drive me forward.”
Established by the School of Chinese Medicine at HKBU in 2011 with a generous donation from the Cheung On Tak Charity Foundation, the Cheung On Tak International Award for Outstanding Contribution to Chinese Medicine is the first international award in the field of Chinese medicine to be conferred locally. It aims to promote the modernisation and internationalisation of Chinese medicine, underscoring the leading role of the University and the School of Chinese Medicine in the development of Chinese medicine.
