CUHK holds the unveiling ceremony of the New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, which is under the leadership of Professor Siew Ng at CU Medicine. (Photo: MagIC)Featured in the group photo are Professor John Chai (5th from left), CUHK Council Chairman; Dr Ronald Lam (3rd from right), Director of Health of HKSAR government; the Hon Duncan Chiu (2nd from right), Legislative Council Member (Technology and Innovation Constituency); Professor Alan K.L. Chan (3rd from left), Provost of CUHK; Ms Rose Wang (4th from right), Vice Chair and Secretary General of New Cornerstone Science Foundation; Professor Philip Chiu (2nd from left), Dean of Medicine; Professor Francis Chan (1st from left), Choh-Ming Li Professor of Medicine and Therapeutics; Professor Siew Ng (4th from left), the New Cornerstone Investigator; and Mr James Li (1st from right), Vice President of Public Affairs of Tencent.
Professor Siew Ng from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)’s Faculty of Medicine (CU Medicine) is the first female clinician-scientist selected as a New Cornerstone Investigator in mainland China. She is also the first scholar in Hong Kong to receive this honour in the field of Biological and Biomedical Sciences. The New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, under Professor Ng’s leadership, will dissect the complex Da Vinci Code underlying food, microbes and immunity, and bring hope for the development of novel therapeutic targets for chronic inflammation, cancer and immune-mediated diseases.
New laboratory focuses on the human immunoregulatory mechanisms against food antigens
Guests at the New Cornerstone Science Laboratory unveiling ceremony included Professor John Chai, CUHK Council Chairman; Dr Ronald Lam, Director of Health in the Hong Kong government; the Hon Duncan Chiu, Legislative Council Member (Technology and Innovation Constituency); Professor Alan K.L. Chan, Provost of CUHK; Ms Rose Wang, Vice Chair and Secretary General of New Cornerstone Science Foundation; Professor Philip Chiu, Dean of Medicine; Professor Francis Chan, Choh-Ming Li Professor of Medicine and Therapeutics; Mr James Li, Vice President of Public Affairs of Tencent; and Professor Ng.
A group photo of all guests at the ceremony. (Photo: MagIC)
About the New Cornerstone Investigator Program
The New Cornerstone Investigator Program is a funding initiative that takes a forward-thinking approach to encouraging basic research spearheaded by leading scientists. The Program funds two major research fields, Mathematics & Physical Sciences and Biological & Biomedical Sciences, and encourages interdisciplinary research. Each investigator will be granted of 25 million RMB (approximately 3.5 million USD) for experimental research or 15 million RMB (approximately 2.1 million USD) for theoretical research over five years. At the end of the term, investigators will be eligible for renewal of funding, contingent upon evaluation and approval. To date, The Program has supported 104 outstanding New Cornerstone Investigators.
About 600 leading scientists applied in 2023. After several rounds of rigorous evaluation by national and international experts, 46 were selected, with Professor Siew Ng became the first scholar in Hong Kong selected as a New Cornerstone Investigator in the field of Biological and Biomedical Sciences. She was also the first female clinician-scientist selected in mainland China.
Useful Information
CPRO press release: Click HERE
Faculty of Medicine press release: Click HERE