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HKU Genome Research Centre To hold the Advanced Study Institute funded by the Croucher Foundation

11 Feb 2006

The Genome Research Centre of the University of Hong Kong will host its first Advanced Study Institute with a grant of $580,000 from the Croucher Foundation. Seven distinguished speakers from leading universities in the United Kingdom and United States will give public lectures over a 5-day period after the opening ceremony to be officiated by HKU Vice-Chancellor Professor Lap-Chee Tsui who is also principal investigator of the Hong Kong HapMap Project.

The Advanced Study Institute, titled "Statistical Genetics: From Haplotype Maps to Disease Susceptibility Genes", will explore how the recently completed Haplotype Map can be used to find genes that affect the risk to common diseases. The goal is to disseminate the knowledge and insights gained from the International HapMap Project (www.hapmap.org) to researchers in Hong Kong, China, Australia, Thailand and other countries, and to review methods of using this information to identify genes that influence susceptibility to common diseases in the region. In Hong Kong researchers are using the HapMap for studies on diseases including schizophrenia, osteoporosis, degeneration of the intervertebral discs, diabetes, hypertension and cancers.

Members of the press are invited to attend the Advanced Study Institute. Details are:
Date/Time: 13 February 2006 (Mon) - 17 February 2006 (Fri)
Opening ceremony:
Speech by HKU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lap-Chee Tsui
13 February 2006 (Mon): 8:45am – 9:00am
Open Lectures:
13 February 2006 (Mon): 9:00am – 12:30pm
14 February 2006 (Tue): 9:00am – 12:30pm
15 February 2006 (Wed): 9:00am – 10:30am
16 February 2006 (Thur): 2:00pm – 5:30pm
17 February 2006 (Fri): 9:00am – 10:30am
Venue: Seminar Room 1 - 3, G/F, William M.W. Mong Block, LKS Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Rd, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.

The Director of the Advanced Study Institute is Professor Pak-Chung Sham of the University of Hong Kong and the co-director is Professor Nelson Tang of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Members of the organising committee include a group of researchers from the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Hong Kong Baptist University.

For further information please contact Ms. Esther Lai 2819 9848 of the Genome Research Centre or Ms. Cherry Cheung, Senior Press Officer, External Relations Office HKU at 2859 2606