7
April 2005
Li
Ka Shing Foundation donates HK$60 million
to set up institute of health sciences at CUHK
¡@¡@The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has announced a major
donation of HK$60 million from the Li Ka Shing Foundation to establish
an institute of health sciences and to fund clinical studies and
health sciences research at the Faculty of Medicine.
¡@¡@The
newly established "Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences" will
devote its research effort mainly to areas related to the health
of individuals, with particular emphasis on sickness prevention,
clinical sciences, and regenerative medicine. Research foci include
early detection of severe diseases (e.g. cancers, genetic diseases,
common urban health problems, infectious diseases), innovative therapeutics,
and disease prevention through understanding of genetic susceptibility.
The Institute will also seek multi-disciplinary collaboration with
private and public partners in research projects related to personal
health and health education.
¡@¡@The
Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, to be headed by Dean of
Faculty of Medicine Professor Tai-fai Fok, will be housed within
a new 12-storey building at the Prince of Wales Hospital scheduled
for completion in the fourth quarter of 2006. The new medical sciences
building will be named after Dr Li Ka-shing in recognition of his
contribution.
¡@¡@The
Li Ka Shing Foundation has been a long-standing supporter of education
and healthcare related projects. Since its inception in 1980, the
Foundation has made over HK$2.3 billion in contributions related
to medical care and research, accounting for 35% of total commitments.
¡@¡@CUHK
and the Foundation have a history of successful collaborations.
Two specialist clinics at the Prince of Wales Hospital were built
with the support of the Foundation in 1984 and 1997, respectively.
In 2001, CUHK joined forces with Shantou University, which is one
of the Foundation's major ongoing projects, to found the Joint Shantou
International Eye Center to provide quality patient care and to
establish a new social model for medical relief through the establishment
of a platform and network for the delivery of medical skills and
technology.
¡@¡@In
thanking Dr Li for his generous donation, Vice-Chancellor of CUHK,
Professor Lawrence Lau, said the university admired Dr Li's legendary
philanthropy and public-spiritedness.
¡@¡@"We
are truly impressed by the many significant contributions Dr Li
has made over the years towards educational and medical causes in
Hong Kong and on the mainland," Professor Lau said.
¡@¡@The
Foundation and CUHK are in active discussion to explore new possibilities
for future collaboration in the education and medical spheres.
Captions:
An artist's impression of the Li Ka Shing Medical Sciences Building,
which will house the Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences when
completed in the fourth quarter of 2006. The institute will focus
on research in sickness prevention, clinical sciences and regenerative
medicine.
Captions:
Professor Tai-fai Fok will head the Li Ka Shing Institute of Health
Sciences. Professor Fok is currently Dean of Faculty of Medicine
of CUHK and a member of the Prince of Wales Hospital Governing Committee.
A paediatrician in his own right, Professor Fok is the President
of the Hong Kong College of Paediatricians and was honoured with
the Outstanding Asian Paediatrian Award in 2003.
About the Li Ka Shing Foundation
The Li Ka Shing Foundation was established in 1980 with a mission
to nurture "a culture of giving" in our society. The Li Ka Shing
Foundation focuses on a two-pronged approach: capacity empowerment
through education, and the building of a caring society through
medical and healthcare related projects. To date, the Li Ka Shing
Foundation and other private charitable Foundations established
by Dr Li have supported numerous charitable activities with grants,
sponsorships, and commitments of over HK$6.8 billion.
About
the Faculty of Medicine of The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Established in 1963, The Chinese University of Hong Kong is a comprehensive
research university of international renown. It has achieved academic
excellence in many areas and nurtured many distinguished graduates
who have made remarkable contributions to the local community and
worldwide. The Faculty of Medicine was established in 1977 with
the mission of "serving the community through quality education,
caring practice and advancement of health science". It admitted
the first cohort of students in 1981 and offers programmes at bachelor's,
master's and doctoral levels. The programmes in Nursing and Pharmacy
were introduced in 1991 and 1992 respectively. In 2001, the territory
first and only School of Public Health, which aims at promoting
public health through research and education into disease prevention,
health maintenance, and health care delivery, was opened. In the
same year, a reform in the medical curriculum was introduced. The
new system-based integrated curriculum enhances students' clinical
exposure and emphasizes the training of communicative techniques,
lifelong education capability and clinical skills. For the past
twenty years, the Faculty of Medicine has made great advances in
teaching and research, gaining international recognition as a medical
centre of excellence and producing top-notch medical professionals
for the community.