HKU Bulletin November 2009 (Vol. 11 No .1)

13 November 2009 Research STANDOUT SUCCESS IN research funding HKU scientists are big winners in the annual Areas of Excellence competition. Theory, Modelling, and Simulation of Emerging Electronics Professor F. Zhang (HKU) Professor P.C.H. Chan (HKUST) Professor G. Chen (HKU) Professor W.C. Chew (HKU) Professor H. Guo (McGill U, HKU) Professor J. Wang (HKU) Institute of Molecular Functional Materials, and Theory, Modelling, and Simulation of Emerging Electronics. In addition, HKU is a significant participant in a fourth project on network coding led by the Chinese University of Hong Kong. “[The] selected proposals that thrived in this highly competitive scheme are truly outstanding and their research teams are on par with leaders in the international research community in their respective fields,” the Convenor of the AoE Group, Professor Willard Fee, said. “We believe that the knowledge generated by the projects will contribute to the social, economic and academic development of Hong Kong.” Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lap-Chee Tsui, said the results were a testament to the University’s research excellence. “The latest AoE results indeed underscore the very high quality of research being conducted at HKU and the University’s commitment to inter-disciplinary and inter- institutional research collaboration at the cutting edge,” he said. Three of the five research initiatives awarded grants under the Areas of Excellence (AoE) competition are led by HKU scholars, a recognition of the stellar research capabilities of the University. The three projects together received $274 million, representing more than 70 per cent of the total funds available. The AoE is organized by the University Grants Council to help Hong Kong institutions further develop their existing research strengths. The three projects were titled Centre for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Research, the The Centre for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) Research will seek a better understanding of this disease at the molecular and genetic level with the aim of translating basic findings into the clinic and becoming an international hub for NPC research worldwide. NPC is prevalent in southern China but relatively rare elsewhere, and it tends to strike people in the prime of life. It is usually not detected until the late stage. The research team, led by Professor Maria Lung of the Department of Clinical Oncology, will investigate how the disease develops and identify new diagnostic tools for better and earlier diagnosis and more effective treatment strategies. They aim to improve current patient treatment outcomes, develop novel approaches for NPC treatment, and enhance the personalized care of patients. The Institute of Molecular Functional Materials will bring together expertise in chemistry, physics and engineering to develop new classes of molecular materials, with the aim of addressing energy-related issues from a chemistry perspective. The research team, led by Professor Vivian Yam Wing-wah, Philip Wong Wilson Wong Professor in Chemistry and Energy, includes members who have achieved national and international recognition for their expertise and it will involve working with leading research groups from around the world. The results are expected to have an impact on frontier science, particularly in the exploration of new frontiers in supramolecular science, the development of high efficiency organic and polymer light-emitting diode materials, high efficiency organic photovoltaic/organic thin film transistor materials, and robust photocatalysts, and contribute to the development of the high-technology industry in Hong Kong and the region. The Theory, Modelling, and Simulation of Emerging Electronics project is concerned with rapid advances in the miniaturization of electronics. Current devices will reach their physical limits before 2020 and new device structures and operation principles will need to be found to incorporate the emerging sub-22 nanometer technologies. Professor Zhang Fuchun of the Department of Physics is leading the research team, which will focus on modelling and simulation of sub-22 nanometer technology. The team will work closely with research institutes and semiconductor companies in the region, and aims to establish Hong Kong as a premier research centre for modelling emerging electronic devices and circuitries. Institute of Molecular Functional Materials Professor V.W.W. Yam (HKU) Professor C.M. Che (HKU) Professor H.F. Chow (CUHK) Professor T.C. Lau (CityU) Professor B.Z. Tang (HKUST) Professor R.W.Y. Wong (HKBU) Membership of AoE Teams Centre for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Research Professor M.L. Lung (HKU) Dr H.L. Chen (HKU) Dr A. Chiang (HKU) Dr D. Chua (HKU) Professor X.Y. Guan (HKU) Professor W. Hsiao (HKBU) Professor P.L. Khong (HKU) Professor D. Kwong (HKU) Professor A. Lee (Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital) Dr C. Liang (HKUST) Professor N.K. Mak (HKBU) Dr W.T. Ng (Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital) Dr R. Ngan (Queen Elizabeth Hospital) Professor R. Poon (HKUST) Dr R. Qi (HKUST) Professor G. Tsao (HKU) Professor W.I. Wei (HKU) Professor R. Wong (HKBU) Professor E.X. Wu (HKU) Dr Z.G. Wu (HKUST) Dr T. Yip (Queen Elizabeth Hospital) Dr G. Zhu (HKUST)