The School of Biomedical Sciences (SBS) participated in a delegation visit to Monash University, Australia between 15 and 17 February 2017, as coordinated by the Faculty of Medicine (the Faculty), The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).  This was a return visit since the last visits paid by Monash University to the Faculty on 4 March 2016, 12 May 2016 and 28 June 2016.

The delegation comprised seven Faculty members including Prof. Chan Wai-yee, Director of SBS cum Executive Director, Institute for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (iTERM); Prof. Rocky S.C. Tuan, Director of iTERM; Prof. Vincent C.T. Mok, Assistant Dean (Admission); Prof. Li Gang, Professor of Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology; Prof. Lee Tin-lap, Deputy Chief of Developmental and Regenerative Biology Program of SBS; Prof. Jiang Xiaohua, Assistant Professor of SBS; and Prof. Kathy O.L. Lui, Assistant Professor of Department of Chemical Pathology and Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, as well as three members of the Faculty of Engineering, including Prof. Raymond K.Y. Tong, Programme Director & Division Head of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering; Prof. Jonathan C.H. Choi, Assistant Professor of Department of Electronic Engineering; and Prof. Bian Liming, Assistant Professor of Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering. They were welcomed by the key representatives in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences of Monash University including Prof. Ross Coppel, Deputy Dean and Director of Research and Prof. Nellie Georgiou-Karistianis, Associate Dean, Graduate Research, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences; Prof. Peter Currie, Director of Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI); and Prof. Jeffrey Rosenfeld, Director of Monash Institute of Medical Engineering (MIME).

In the welcome meeting, Prof. Coppel first gave a presentation on “Overview of Monash’s Faculty Successes 2016”, followed by brief introduction from Prof. Currie on ARMI and from Prof. Rosenfeld on MIME, respectively.   Representing the CUHK, Prof. Chan Wai-yee and Prof. Raymond K.Y. Tong presented, respectively, on “Overview of CUHK Faculty Successes 2016” and on “Overview of PhD at CUHK and Expectation”, followed by a joint introduction of iTERM by Prof. Rocky Tuan and Prof. Raymond Tong .  On the second day, the delegation was arranged to visit ARMI where Prof. Chan Wai-yee, Prof. Rocky Tuan, Prof. Li Gang, Prof. Lee Tin-lap and Prof. Jiang Xiaohua exchanged latest research findings encompassing various topics on regenerative biology with the PIs of ARMI.  The extent of networking and collaboration, including the opportunities on conducting collaborative PhD research training between ARMI and CUHK, were also discussed.  Immediately after the visit to ARMI, the delegation was led to tour the Ritchie Centre, Monash Health Translation Precinct, and met with Prof. Graham Jenkin, Deputy Centre Head and Research Group Head, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine. The last day of visit was rounded up by a tour of MIME where the delegation shared the related research findings and research interests in common with MIMI’s researchers, and explored with them the possibility of joint PhD research training.

Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine has been identified as one of the strategic research themes in the CUHK Strategic Plan 2016-2020.  Through participation in these mutual visits, we earnestly hope that our School can contribute to the establishment of collaborative partnership between the two institutions, hence bringing new heights of excellence in these strategic research areas.

Snapshots taken during the visit