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The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) organized the “Shanghai Fraternity Association Diligence Bursaries Recipients Gathering” at Shanghai Destiny, a clubhouse established by Shanghai Fraternity Association (the Association), on Thursday, 14 August 2025. Mr. Frank Lee and Mr. Jimmy Jim, Vice-President of the Association, Professor Anthony Chan Tak-cheung, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President of CUHK and honorable guests of the Association and over thirty recipients of Shanghai Fraternity Association Diligence Bursaries attended this delightful event.

In his welcoming address, Professor Anthony Chan extended his heartfelt gratitude for the staunch support received from the Association over the years. The Association always provides the students with different opportunities to broaden their horizons and expand their social circle. Professor Anthony Chan also extended his congratulations on the establishment of new clubhouse to the Association and expressed his appreciation to the Association for its generosity in offering the venue for hosting the gathering this year. Professor Chan encouraged the recipients to contribute to society in the future. He said, “I hope all of you will treasure your time in the University, embrace new challenges, set clear goals and make the best use of “Shanghai Fraternity Association Diligence Bursaries” to equip yourselves for the future. I encourage you to plan ahead, stay committed to your aspirations, and carry forward the spirit of the Association and the University, striving for the excellence.” Yang Wan-yi, one of the recipients, gave a vote of thanks on behalf of all recipients. She expressed earnest thanks to the Association for alleviating the financial burden on recipients and for providing them with opportunities to participate in activities that enrich their experiences.  

Shanghai Fraternity Association made a donation to CUHK for the establishment of the Shanghai Fraternity Association Diligence Bursaries in 2017. The program provides financial support to 125 undergraduate students with financial needs at CUHK, including 35 students from Lee Woo Sing College. The program aims at alleviating the financial burden on students, enabling them to concentrate on their academic pursuits and personal development.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) hosted the naming ceremony of the Lau Tat-chuen Research Centre of Brain Degenerative Diseases in Chinese (the Centre) recently. With a generous donation from Mr Lau Tat-chuen, the Centre is dedicated to developing innovative diagnostic methods and treatment strategies for common age-related brain diseases in the local Chinese population. The ceremony was officiated by Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK; Mr Lau Tat-chuen, Chairman of Sino International Industrial Limited; Mr Alex Lau Yiu-tung; and Professor Vincent Mok Chung-tong, Director of the Centre and Mok Hing Yiu Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics of CUHK’s Faculty of Medicine (CU Medicine).

Addressing the growing burden of age-related brain diseases in Hong Kong

Common brain degenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and cerebral small vessel disease (SVD), significantly impact an individual’s cognitive and motor function, functional independence, quality of life and lifespan. Ageing is the primary risk factor associated with these diseases. With Hong Kong’s rapidly ageing population, the prevalence of these brain diseases is expected to double or triple in the next 30 years. Therefore, developing effective preventive strategies is of critical importance to Hong Kong, our nation, and the global community.

Mr Lau Tat-chuen has entrusted CUHK to establish the Centre to further enhance research and therapeutic development for age-related brain diseases. The Centre will launch large-scale projects aimed at developing simple and accessible screening strategies for early AD and SVD in Chinese people and investigating the effectiveness and safety of an anti-diabetic drug in slowing early SVD progression. Findings from these projects hold the potential to reduce the increasing burden associated with common age-related brain diseases in our rapidly ageing society.

Professor Lo expressed his gratitude to Mr Lau and said: “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mr Lau for his invaluable support in establishing the Centre. Together, we shall advance research on brain degeneration and contribute to the understanding of Alzheimer’s disease among the Chinese population. We aspire for the Centre to pioneer new research exploration and popularise new diagnostic methods, enabling patients to receive timely treatment. Additionally, we aim to enhance public awareness of dementia and encourage attention to brain health.”

Developing affordable and accessible diagnostic methods for early AD and SVD detection

Studies over the past decades have shown that the pathological changes of AD and SVD evolve in ageing brains for years to decades, leading to secondary brain degeneration and eventual development of disabling symptoms such as dementia. Recent clinical studies have shown that through early identification of and intervention in individuals harbouring these pathological brain changes at the subclinical or mildly symptomatic stage, progression of the diseases and related symptoms may be slowed down.

While current detection methods, such as positron emission tomography (PET) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis are accurate in the detection of AD, they remain costly, invasive and inaccessible for widespread clinical use. While MRI is able to detect SVD, it is still costly and less accessible. To address these challenges, a research team from CU Medicine is collaborating with the Shenzhen Bay Laboratory to develop simple, safe, accessible biomarkers for brain health assessment, early detection of AD and SVD, and the monitoring of disease progression and treatment effectiveness.

Professor Mok explained: “Our Centre will establish a Chinese cohort aged 50 to 85 with mild cognitive symptoms. Among the various clinical, multi-modal imaging (retinal, MRI, PET), and plasma data collected, we will first focus in utilising advanced AI technology in developing novel AI models based on retinal imaging data for the detection of early AD and SVD. The retina is an extension of the brain and brain changes associated with AD and SVD are also reflected in the retina. Developing state-of-art AI model based on retinal pictures taken through a simple fundus camera is probably the most affordable and accessible method that can facilitate earlier detection and treatment of AD and SVD in the community, and potentially delaying the onset of dementia.”

Developing novel therapeutics for SVD

In the area of cerebral SVD treatment, the Centre will strategically explore the innovative approach of drug re-purposing. SVD elevates the risk of developing many symptoms that are commonly seen among older people, such as dementia, gait disturbance and depressive mood, and also increases the risk of stroke and AD. To date, specific pharmacological therapy for SVD is still not available.

Recent animal studies from CU Medicine have shown that a particular class of anti-diabetic drug, glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA), is able to reverse ageing-related SVD. Clinical trials are urgently warranted to clarify whether re-purposing the drug can effectively slow down SVD progression. To this end, the Centre will investigate its efficacy and safety in doing so, alleviating the escalating burden of common age-related brain diseases in our ageing society.  

(Reprinted from CUHK News Centre)

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has received over HK$400 million from the estate of Choa Leong Kwai-chiu, Peggy. A donation ceremony was held on 7 March 2025 to express gratitude to the late Mrs Choa, the wife of the late Professor Gerald Choa, Founding Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of CUHK, for her generous donation. The bequest gift from Mrs Choa will contribute to the development of CUHK’s Gerald Choa Neuroscience Institute (GCNI) and bring new breakthroughs to neuroscience research.

Professor Choa and Mrs Choa have demonstrated enduring passion for education and philanthropy, making tremendous contributions to CUHK. Professor Choa, with his visionary leadership, laid a solid foundation when establishing CUHK’s Faculty of Medicine, nurturing generations of compassionate and skilled medical professionals, and making a profound impact on the medical development in Hong Kong. Mrs Choa has also been dedicated to advancing medical research, playing a crucial role in the establishment of Gerald Choa Neuroscience Centre.

At the ceremony, Professor John Chai Yat-chiu, Chairman of the CUHK Council, and Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming, CUHK Vice-Chancellor and President, received the donation document signed by Ms Linda Leung and Ms Catherine Por, Executrices of the estate of Choa Leong Kwai-chiu, Peggy, witnessed by distinguished guests including Professor Arthur Li Kwok-cheung, former CUHK Vice-Chancellor and President; The Honourable Cheung Yu-yan, CUHK Council member; Professor Owen Ko, Director of GCNI; and other CUHK members and guests.

Professor Chai said: “Professor Choa and Mrs Choa are never mere benefactors but dear members of the CUHK family, whose vision and legacy continue to inspire us. Mrs Choa’s remarkable act of generosity, designating GCNI as the largest sole beneficiary of her estate, underscores her profound commitment to advancing neuroscience research for the betterment of humanity.”

Professor Lo said: “Professor Choa and Mrs Choa exemplified an unparalleled commitment to CUHK. The University is dedicated to providing world-class education to the next generation and exploring new frontiers in research. Amplifying the impact from the generous gifts of Professor Choa and Mrs Choa, we look forward to nurturing talent, fostering groundbreaking research, and advancing world-class projects across diverse fields.” 

Professor Ko said: “As director, my goal is to create an ecosystem that enables groundbreaking, field-advancing science, leveraging the wisdom and newest tools from other fields, such as AI, synthetic biology, and genetic engineering. I sincerely hope that with time, the scientific contributions of GCNI will be recognised by the world, making this institute a true legacy of Professor and Mrs Choa.”

Ms Leung and Ms Por reminisced about Professor Choa and Mrs Choa, expressing their gratitude to the CUHK members who established and support GCNI, in honour and memory of their uncle and aunt. They hoped that GCNI and its beneficiaries will always remember the selfless dedication of Professor Choa and Mrs Choa, uphold their passion for education and scientific research, and continue to drive the sustainable development of the Institute for generations to come. They encouraged everyone to pass on the legacy and contribute to the community.

Founded in 2017, Gerald Choa Neuroscience Centre, which was elevated to Gerald Choa Neuroscience Institute (GCNI) in 2022. It aims to advance the neuroscience research by collaborating with CUHK academic units. Its mission is to lead in neuroscience research and contribute to society through significant and world-class discoveries.

(Reprinted from CUHK News Centre)