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Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible central vision loss in elderly. A recent study by The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has discovered a protein called Angiopoietin2 that correlates with the severity of Wet AMD. Scientists from the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences of CUHK have found that the level of Angiopoietin2 is significantly elevated inside the eyes of patients with Wet AMD as compared to normal people and that it correlates with vision loss and macular swelling. The research team believes the finding can lead to a breakthrough in Wet AMD treatment. CUHK Pao So Kok Macular Disease Treatment and Research Centre opens today with the aim of enhancing macular disease treatment and research, which is expected to benefit more than 4,000 patients every year. 

Wet AMD patients have a higher level of Angiopoietin2 

AMD affects the central and most important part of the retina, which consists of numerous light-sensitive cells that cover the back of the eye. It can be divided into either a wet or dry type. Whereas 90% of patients have the dry form, the wet form has a more accelerated onset and, if left untreated, causes irreversible and severe central vision loss. Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow underneath the retina. Angiopoietin2 is a protein known to be involved in the growth of blood vessels elsewhere in the body, but this is the first time it has been associated with Wet AMD. Researchers discovered that patients with high level of Angiopoietin2 correlates with more severe swelling of the macula and worse vision. 

Dr. Mårten Erik BRELÉN, Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Director of CUHK Pao So Kok Macular Disease Treatment and Research Centre said, ‘We believe the study can lead us to further our work in clinical genetics, to help us identify specific gene variants within the angiopoietin gene that increase the risk of developing Wet AMD.’ 

Study helps generate new therapeutic target 

It is estimated that over 190 million people worldwide are suffering from AMD and 1 in 10 of these develop irreversible sight loss. Due to an aging population, it is predicted that the disease will affect over 280 million people worldwide by 2040. 

Dr. Danny Siu Chun NG, Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, added, ‘AMD is one of the most prevalent causes of permanent central vision loss in developed countries. With the discovery of the correlation between Angiopoietin2 and Wet AMD, we may potentially have a new therapeutic target for the treatment of this disease.’  

The research team at CUHK is now investigating whether the levels of Angiopoietin2 can predict long-term treatment outcomes. A clinical trial using a combination of anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (standard therapy) and anti-Angiopoietin2 treatment is being prepared. These two treatment modalities may complement each other and thereby improve patients’ treatment outcomes. 

CUHK opens the new Pao So Kok Macular Disease Treatment and Research Centre 

In 2010, the Hospital Authority anticipated over 3,000 new cases of Wet AMD every year. It is estimated that 500,000 people in Hong Kong are suffering from AMD with 10% of these having the wet type. The number of people affected by AMD is rapidly increasing due to an aging population. Today, around 15% of Wet AMD patients do not respond well to the standard treatment and continue to lose vision. The CUHK research team has therefore, been focusing its research efforts on identifying new diagnostic and therapeutic targets to improve vision outcomes for this group of patients. Mr. Chang Bei Ming and Mrs. Chang Pao So Kok have made a generous donation of HK$10 million to the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, and today the CUHK Pao So Kok Macular Disease Treatment and Research Centre is officially open. The Centre combines world-renowned expertise in clinical ophthalmology, retinal imaging, analytical chemistry and genetics, together with state-of-the-art diagnostic, treatment, and research equipment. It is estimated to serve more than 4,000 patients every year. 

Prof. Clement Chee Yung THAM, Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, said, ‘We are very grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Chang’s generosity. With the establishment of this important facility, further work on angiopoietin, other risk factors and treatment possibilities for macular diseases will be greatly enhanced.’ 

Prof. Francis Ka Leung CHAN, Dean of Faculty of Medicine, mentioned, ‘Population aging is a global trend and in Hong Kong, it is estimated that one-third of the population will reach the age of 65 or above in 2040. Age-related macular degeneration definitely needs our attention and I believe the establishment of CUHK Pao So Kok Macular Disease Treatment and Research Centre is definitely a good news to ophthalmology and to our older population.’

Source: Communications and Public Relations Office, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

In appreciation of the generous donation made by T Stone Group Limited (T Stone Group) to the Robotics Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has named the Institute ‘CUHK T Stone Robotics Institute’. 

The naming ceremony was held recently at Cho Yiu Hall and officiated at by Mr. Xiao Jianhua, Chairman of the Strategic Advisory Committee of T Stone Group, Prof. Joseph Sung, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK, Prof. Fanny Cheung, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President of CUHK and Prof. Liu Yunhui, Director of CUHK T Stone Robotics Institute. Prof. Satoshi Tadokoro, President of IEEE Robotics and Automation Society, was also invited to deliver a congratulatory address at the ceremony.

Prof. Joseph Sung expressed his deepest appreciation to T Stone Group for their generosity in supporting the development of the Robotics Institute. He remarked, “We look forward to collaborating closely with T Stone Group to identify venture capitalists to turn the research outcomes of the Institute into successful businesses which can benefit the community at large.”

In his speech, Mr. Xiao Jianhua admired the vision of the Robotics Institute in supporting outstanding researchers to develop state-of-the-art automation and robotics technologies for the betterment of mankind. Mr. Xiao strongly believed that innovative technology was one of the most significant strategic development goals of China. Researchers who engaged in innovative technology were chasing their personal goals and more importantly realizing the Chinese dream. He was confident that the Institute would become an important cradle of young entrepreneurs and world-class technology companies.

Prof. Liu Yunhui, Director of CUHK T Stone Robotics Institute, said, “The study of robotics is highly interdisciplinary which requires expertise from various fields including Engineering, Medicine and Social Science. Robotics is being considered as the technology, next to the Internet, that could change the world and human life. The Institute is dedicated to positioning itself as a world-class institute which plays a leading role in global robotics research and development and contributes to the technology and societal development of Hong Kong and the Mainland by knowledge transfer. With the support of T Stone Group, the Institute can further develop its strength in robotics research.”

To mark the official opening of CUHK T Stone Robotics Institute, a two-day Robotics Symposium was held after the naming ceremony. Renowned speakers from Nagoya University, the University of Tokyo and Tohoku University of Japan; the University of California, Berkeley of the United States; and the French Institute for Research in Computer Science and Automation, were invited to exchange ideas with local experts and professionals, and discuss the future directions of robotics research.

CUHK T Stone Robotics Institute

With the objectives of meeting the needs of Hong Kong and the Pearl Delta Area, and  enhancing the strength in robotics research of CUHK and the region, the CUHK T Stone Robotics Institute focuses its research efforts on two major research areas: medical robotics and service robotics.  

For medical robots, the Institute studies and develops surgical robots, rehabilitation and assistive robots as well as micro/nano medical robots.  Research projects include innovative robotic surgical instruments, assistive surgical robots and image-guided robotic surgery. To speed the recovery of the motor and cognitive functions of stroke patients, the Institute is designing robotic hands and knee braces.  The robotic brace can also assist the elderly with weak knee joints to walk.  Aiming at next-generation medical robots, the Institute is also developing micro/nano robots that can move inside the human body to perform scarless inspection and surgery. 

Hong Kong is facing an ageing population. There is an urgent need to invent robots for elderly care. Service robot for senior citizens is another major research area of the Institute. The Institute will develop service robots which can perform social interaction with senior citizens and monitor their health conditions.

The Institute will also encourage faculty members and students to establish robotics startups. In addition, the Institute will actively promote robotics innovation among undergraduate and secondary students by providing training courses and initiating robotics competitions. 

About T Stone Group Limited

T Stone Group is an integrated group of companies which focuses on the development of emerging industries, such as artificial intelligence, clean energy and new materials, in developing markets. Apart from investing in these industries, the Company also provides investment advisory and management services to their clients, in addition to their own private equity investments. T Stone Group and its parent company and subsidiaries have made multiple donations to support the scientific research development of many universities and research institutes, including Peking University, Tsinghua University and Harvard University.

Source: Communications and Public Relations Office, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

In appreciation of the generosity of Mr. Lau Chor-tak, Chairman of Lau Chor Tak Foundation Limited, for his long-term support towards the development of the Institute of Global Economics and Finance (IGEF) of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), the Institute has been renamed as ‘Lau Chor Tak Institute of Global Economics and Finance’.  

The naming ceremony was held recently and officiated at by Mr.Lau Chor-tak, Prof. Joseph Sung, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK, Prof. Lawrence Lau, former Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK, and Prof. Terence Chong, Executive Director of IGEF. It was graced by the presence of Mr. Lau’s family members, Prof. Benjamin Wah, Provost of CUHK, and key members of IGEF including Prof. Joseph Yam, Prof. Liu Pak-wai and Prof. Sung Yun-wing.

Prof. Joseph Sung expressed his deepest appreciation to Mr. Lau Chor-tak for his continued support. He remarked, ‘With the support from Mr. Lau, we are confident that the Institute will continue in its endeavor to become an important hub for contributing conceptual and policy ideas to the financial system, and offering executive education programmes to enhance participants’ knowledge and expertise in global finance and banking.  We are truly grateful for the staunch support from Mr. Lau and his family.’ 

As a highly acclaimed philanthropist, Mr. Lau Chor-tak has rendered tremendous support to the higher education sector in Hong Kong and mainland China for over half a century. With the objective of promoting scholarly exchange on global economics and finance, Mr. Lau made a generous donation to IGEF in 2013 for the establishment of the ‘Lau Chor Tak Distinguished Lecture on Global Economics and Finance’. In 2014, Mr. Lau donated a commercial property to the University, the rental income from which is used to support the development of IGEF. In recognition of Mr. Lau’s unfailing support, the University named the largest lecture theatre in the Yasumoto International Academic Park as ‘Lau Chor Tak Lecture Theatre’.   

Located on the 13rd floor of Cheng Yu Tung Building, the ‘Lau Chor Tak Institute of Global Economics and Finance’ was established in 2010 with the aim of contributing to the modernization of China’s monetary and financial systems by proposing new ways of thinking, making policy recommendations and identifying new paths for liberalization. 

Source: Communications and Public Relations Office, The Chinese University of Hong Kong