State Key Laboratories and CAS-HKU Joint Laboratories

The University has a number of significant collaborations with research institutions in mainland China through the State Key Laboratories and Joint Laboratories with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

State Key Laboratories

HKU currently has five State Key Laboratories (SKLs), which are partnered with and work closely alongside SKLs in mainland China. Two of the SKLs, Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Emerging Infectious Diseases, were set up in 2005, and were then the first and only SKLs in their respective fields located outside of mainland China. Two more, Liver Research and Synthetic Chemistry, were established in 2010. The fifth one on Pharmaceutical Biotechnology was established in 2013. SKLs are regarded as key components of China's science and technology research system. They serve as the base for top-level basic research and applied basic research development, assembling and nurturing outstanding researchers, as well as scholarly exchanges for the country.

Brain and Cognitive Sciences (腦與認知科學)

This SKL provides a national platform for investigating the neural underpinnings of brain processes and functions. Riding on the research excellence of HKU in genomic research, molecular neuroscience, and cognitive-affective neuroscience, empirical data derived from multi-modality and multi-disciplinary investigations are applied to translational research to develop protocols for the promotion of health and mental well-being. Its partner in the mainland is the SKL of Brain and Cognitive Sciences (Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences).

Director: Professor T.M.C. Lee, Psychology (tmclee@hku.hk)

Emerging Infectious Diseases (新發傳染性疾病)

The four major research directions of this SKL are

ecology and evolution of avian influenza viruses
pathogenesis of influenza and SARS viruses
emerging viral pathogens
new vaccine technology

The mainland partner is the SKL for Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control (Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention).

Co-Directors: Professor K.Y. Yuen, Department of Microbiology (kyyuen@hku.hk) and Professor Y. Guan, School of Public Health (yguan@hku.hk)

Liver Research (肝病研究)

This SKL undertakes frontier basic research on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of liver diseases developed from hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The sequelae of chronic HBV infection, such as hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, are major causes of death in Hong Kong and mainland China. The SKL, while operating independently, is partnering with the SKL for Oncogenes and Related Genes of the Shanghai Cancer Institute.

Director: Professor I.O.L. Ng, Department of Pathology (iolng@hku.hk)

Synthetic Chemistry (合成化學)

The two main objectives of this SKL are to (1) create or identify novel chemical entities that are of fundamental interest with regard to structure and bonding and/or have unique properties that have useful applications; and (2) devise/develop new environmentally friendly methods for the synthesis of chemical entities of importance to society. The SKL is set up in collaboration with the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and is partnering with the SKL of Organometallic Chemistry of the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry.

Director: Professor C.M. Che, Department of Chemistry (cmche@hku.hk)

Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (生物醫藥技術)

This SKL, in strategic collaboration with the SKL of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at Nanjing University, aims to conduct basic, clinical and translational research on obesity, diabetes and its cardiovascular complications. It will serve as a key platform to strengthen collaborations and academic exchanges with the Mainland and international scientists, to train young researchers, and to support the pharmaceutical industries as well as clinical practice in Hong Kong and mainland China.

Director: Professor A. Xu, Department of Medicine (amxu@hku.hk)

HKU is also one of six collaborating local universities for the SKL in Marine Pollution, established in 2009 and hosted by City University of Hong Kong.

CAS-HKU Joint Laboratories

HKU currently has four joint laboratories with Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) laboratories based in mainland China. The first joint laboratory, on New Materials, was established in 1997, followed by Chemical Synthesis in 1999, Chemical Geodynamics in 2000, and Biomaterials in 2011.

New Materials (新材料合成和檢測)

This Joint Laboratory is dedicated to providing young CAS scientists and researchers at HKU with a well-equipped research platform for fostering interdisciplinary research at HKU and promoting national and international collaborations. The objective of the Joint Laboratory is to develop innovative photo-functional molecular materials and practical photo-catalysts for light to chemical conversion. The research programmes entail synthetic chemistry, photochemistry and excited state dynamics of molecular materials, hybrid materials and artificial photosynthetic systems. The Laboratory is set up in collaboration with the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry (TIPC), Beijing.

Co-Directors: Professor C.M. Che, Department of Chemistry (cmche@hku.hk); and Professor C.H. Tung (TIPC, CAS).

Chemical Synthesis (化學合成)

The Shanghai-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory on Chemical Synthesis was established in 1999 and is currently located at the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry (SIOC), CAS. In collaboration with research groups from HKU, the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and SIOC, the Joint Laboratory aims to cultivate talents from Hong Kong and the Mainland. The research focuses on the design of chiral ligands and its application in asymmetric catalysis, synthesis of natural products, structural chemistry and catalysis of metal complexes, molecular design and molecular recognition, self-assembly performance study, catalytic polymerisation, macromolecule assembly, computational chemistry and physical organic chemistry.

Co-Directors: Professor C.M. Che, Department of Chemistry (cmche@hku.hk); Professor X. Hou (SIOC, CAS); and Professor H.N.C. Wong (CUHK).

Chemical Geodynamics (化學地球動力學)

The Joint Laboratory undertakes research projects on the lithospheric evolution, in order to unravel the mechanism of magmatism, mineralisation and environmental change caused by orogenesis and mantle plume. The aim is to develop into a concrete earth science community in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area to study deep earth and surficial processes globally and tackle problems related to the exploitation of natural resources, environmental change, urban development, geohazards and pollution in the region. The Joint Laboratory is set up in collaboration with the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry (GIG).

Co-Directors: Professor G. Zhao, Department of Earth Sciences (gzhao@hku.hk); and Professor Y.G. Xu (GIG, CAS).

Biomaterials (生物材料)

This Joint Laboratory’s objective is to provide an R&D platform for the development and evaluation of biomaterials for human applications, including ageing osteoporotic bone fracture prevention and treatments, as well as other musculoskeletal injury repairs. The overall research direction is to investigate the treatment’s efficacy in animal models, then using the subsequent data, prepare for further clinical trials and product registration. The Joint Laboratory aims to serve as a collaborator in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area. It is set up in collaboration with the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT) and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).

Co-Directors: Professor W.W. Lu, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (wwlu@hku.hk); Professor L. Cai (SIAT, CAS); and Professor L. Qin (CUHK).

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