The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has long endeavoured to the development of translational medicine and biotechnology research. Together with alliance partners from the Guangdong - Hong Kong - Macau Greater Bay Area including Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen University, Macau University of Science and Technology, PolyU will initiate a collaboration with The State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo) and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. The MoU Signing Ceremony, which takes place on 2 February 2018 at PolyU and signed by these six universities/institutions, signifies the first biotechnology and translational medicine research platform for collaboration among the United States and the Guangdong – Hong Kong – Macau Greater Bay Area.
Witnessed by Mr. Nicholas W. Yang, Secretary for Innovation and Technology, The Government of Hong Kong SAR; Ms. Qiu Xuan, Deputy Director-General, Science, Technology and Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipality; Dr Lawrence Li Kwok-chang, Treasurer of the PolyU; Professor Timothy W. Tong, President of PolyU; Mr. Liu Zhi Ming, Deputy Director General for Education, Scientific and Technological Affairs, The Central People's Government in HKSAR; Professor Stephen Dunnett, Vice Provost, University at Buffalo;Professor Weiguo Zhu, President of Shenzhen University Health Science Center; Professor Jianrong Sun, Associate Vice President of Macau University of Science and Technology; and Professor Wing-tak Wong, Dean of Faculty of Applied Science and Textiles of PolyU, the MoU was signed by Ir Professor Ping-kong Alexander Wai, Vice President (Research Development) of PolyU; Professor Satish Tripathi, President of University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, U.S.A.; Professor Yeong Christopher Choi, cGMP Facility Director of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, U.S.A.; Professor Haipeng Xiao, Vice President of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Professor Qingquan Li, President of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China and Professor Manson Fok, Dean of Facility of Health Sciences of Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau SAR.
Mr. Nicholas W. Yang, Secretary for Innovation and Technology, The Government of Hong Kong SAR gave an opening remarks, “I am very pleased to witness the commitment of the PolyU, the State University of New York at Buffalo, and the Mainland and Macao partner institutions to establish a closer collaboration and ties to leverage on each other's strengths to spearhead translational research in biotechnology. I believe such collaboration is both timely and relevant. I am also confident that this international partnership will drive a new wave of world-class developments in biotechnology.”
Professor Ping-kong Alexander Wai, Vice President (Research Development) of PolyU remarked that the participating institutes have proven track record in biotechnology and life sciences related research, and in the translation of research to deliverables and commercialization.
The collaboration will pull together expertise from the collaborating parties and their networks, enabling the advancement of technology development. Leveraging the opportunities provided by the Greater Bay Area, the collaboration would foster more applied research in biotechnology, and bring innovations in the areas of cancer, genomics, translational medicine, and other related areas in biotechnology. The partners’ understanding of the regulatory procedures in their own countries will help expedite the translation of innovate technologies to applications and benefit the global community.
PolyU has already initiated collaborations with different partners in various areas such as “big health” with Sun Yat-sen University, joint research on drug delivery with the Shenzhen University, joint genomics research with Macau University of Science and Technology, and bioinformatics research with University at Buffalo. University at Buffalo is home to one of the top pharmacy schools in the US, and Roswell Park’s consistent success in cancer research has earned it the National Cancer Institute’s designation of “comprehensive cancer center.” It is the only facility in Upstate New York to hold this honor. Riding on the strength of each partner from the Guangdong – Hong Kong – Macau Greater Bay Area, the collaborative platform is expected to generate immense impact towards the development of the Greater Bay Area into a biotechnology hub.
The State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo) is a flagship institution in the State University of New York system and is the largest and most comprehensive university in the SUNY system. It earned distinction as one of the top 50 public universities in the nation and the top 1% university in the globe. Its renowned School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is one of the top of its kind in the US. http://www.buffalo.edu/
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (PRCCC) found in 1898, is a cancer research and treatment center in Buffalo. The institute’s consistent success in these areas have earned it the National Cancer Institute’s designation of “comprehensive cancer center” and is the only facility in Upstate New York to hold this honor. PRCCC has particular strengths in the areas of tumor immunology, cancer genetics and genomics, biophysical oncology, cancer prevention/epidemiology and cancer therapeutics development. https://www.roswellpark.org/
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has a strategic emphasis on applied research and advances the frontiers of knowledge and technology, to meet the changing needs of the society and the globe. It has made significant progress in contributing towards biotechnology development in Hong Kong that several candidates have been accepted by the US Food and Drug Administration as investigational new drugs and are already undergoing clinical trials in various countries. Various biotechnology and translational medicine projects are on the go including the establishment of Respiratory Virus Research Foundation by PolyU and The University of Hong Kong, the establishment of the Joint Institute of Translational Medicine with the government of Banan District of Chongqing City, as well as projects on anti-cancer drug, genomics research and clinical devices with the industry that further drives the biotechnology development. https://www.polyu.edu.hk
Sun Yat-sen University is in a leading position of the country in the scale of medical area, with 10 affiliated hospitals and enjoys top-ranked position nationally. Its outstanding performances in translational medicine are attributed to a large pool of key research teams and key laboratories of the medical schools. http://sysu.edu.cn/2012/cn
Shenzhen University is a multi-discipline university hosting over 34,000 students including 5,500 research students. Its School of Medicine facilitates the optimizing of Shenzhen’s medical service and its scientific research level with its robust development of the translational medicine research. http://www.szu.edu.cn/xxgk/xxjj.htm
Macau University of Science and Technology was founded in 2000 and has rapidly developed into the largest multi-disciplinary university in Macau and is also ranked as the youngest university among the Top 50 universities in the Mainland China, with approximately 11,000 students including 3,200 postgraduate students. Macau University of Science and Technology Faculty of Health Sciences Centre of Excellence for Professional Medical Development consists of laparoscopic and endoscopic skills training, quality medical courses, standardized patient training, mock hospital to develop Macau as a regional high-tech medical training and conference hub. Its University Hospital with the advanced medical facilities serves as the teaching arm of the Faculty of Chinese Medicine, the Faculty of Health Sciences and the School of Pharmacy. http://www.must.edu.mo/en
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