Announcements

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.

Professor John Chai (CUHK Council Chairman), delivered the welcoming remarks at the ceremony. (Photo: MagIC)

Dr Ronald Lam (Director of Health of HKSAR government), delivered a speech at the ceremony. (Photo: MagIC)

The Hon Duncan Chiu (Legislative Council Member, Technology and Innovation Constituency), delivered a speech at the ceremony. (Photo: MagIC)

Ms Rose Wang (Vice Chair and Secretary General of New Cornerstone Science Foundation), delivered a speech at the ceremony. (Photo: MagIC) 

Professor John Chai (left) and Professor Siew Ng (right)  presented a souvenir to Ms Rose Wang (centre). (Photo: MagIC)

A group photo including Professor John Chai (6th from right), CUHK Council Chairman; Dr Ronald Lam (4th from right), Director of Health of HKSAR government; the Hon Duncan Chiu (3rd from right), Legislative Council Member (Technology and Innovation Constituency); Professor Alan K.L. Chan (5th from left), Provost of CUHK; Ms Rose Wang (5th from right), Vice Chair and Secretary General of New Cornerstone Science Foundation; Professor Philip Chiu (4th from left), Dean of Medicine; Professor Francis Chan (3rd from left), Choh-Ming Li Professor of Medicine and Therapeutics; Professor Siew Ng (6th from left), the New Cornerstone Investigator; Mr Ethan Kwok (2nd from left), Deputy Director of the Greater Bay Area Public Affairs Department of Tencent; Mr Frank Ma (1st from left), Project Director of the New Cornerstone Science Foundation; Mr James Li (2nd from right), Vice President of Public Affairs of Tencent; and Mr Zhou Chuanghua (1st from right), Deputy Secretary-General of the New Cornerstone Science Foundation. (Photo: MagIC)

Professor Ng delivered a lecture titled “Food, Microbiome and Medicine: My Love Language”. She introduced her work under the New Cornerstone Investigator Program, which focused on deciphering the immunoregulatory mechanisms of the human body in response to different food antigens. (Photo: MagIC)

A photo of Professor Ng and Dr Gene Man (ORKTS, CUHK). (Photo: MagIC) 

A group photo of Professor Ng and her colleague/ student. (Photo: MagIC)

A group photo of Professor Ng and the working team from MagIC, the Faculty and Planning Office of Faculty of Medicine and ORKTS. (Photo: ORKTS) 

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