HKU Bulletin August 2010 (Vol. 11 No. 3)

1 August 2010 The Ministry of Science and Technology of the Central Government has given approval to HKU to establish a State Key Laboratory (SKL) of Liver Diseases. A State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry will also be established in collaboration with the Chinese University of Hong Kong. The decision was made by the Ministry in recognition of HKU’s excellence in research in the two areas, citing its outstanding research team and advanced laboratory facilities. The move represents another significant step in the collaboration between Hong Kong and the Mainland in frontier research that will ultimately benefit the country’s technological advancement. HKU Vice-Chancellor Professor Lap-Chee Tsui expressed delight at the decision of the Ministry. He believes the setting up of the two SKLs will provide good opportunities for HKU to further its academic and technological collaboration with the Mainland. The two SKLs are the newest additions to those already at the University, following the HKU CHOSEN TO SET UP TWO MORE STATE KEY LABORATORIES SKL of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and the SKL of Emerging Infectious Diseases established in 2005 at HKU, which were then the first and only SKLs in their respective fields located outside of the Mainland. The HKU SKL of Liver Diseases will be led by Professor Irene Ng Oi-lin, Loke Yew Professor in Pathology, Faculty of Medicine. It will partner with the SKL of Oncogenes and Related Genes of the Shanghai Cancer Institute, while operating independently. The SKL of Synthetic Chemistry will be directed by the HKU Dr Hui Wai Haan Chair of Chemistry, Professor Che Chi-ming. Professor Henry N.C. Wong, Professor of Chemistry of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, will act as Deputy Director. The SKL will partner with the SKL of Organometallic Chemistry of the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry. SKLs are regarded as key components of China’s science and technology research system. They Professor Che Chi-ming Professor Irene Ng serve as hubs for top-level basic research and applied basic research development, the assembling and nurturing of outstanding researchers, and for scholarly exchanges throughout the country. NEWS IN BRIEF 1 HKU Chosen to Set up Two More State Key Laboratories 2 Upholding Research Integrity 3 A Bald Move for Charity 4 Outstanding HKU Members Named Models of Humanity Writers Reveal their Secrets 5 95 Years Young! Celebrating Professor Jao Tsung-I’s Birthday at Dunhuang COVER STORY 6 The Brave New (and Old) World of Stem Cells 10 Save Your Wisdom Teeth 11 Helping Ailing Hearts to Beat 12 Restoring Movement 14 Stem Cells in Cancer 15 Secrets of Ageing RESEARCH 16 In the Line of Fire – Chinese Peasants on the Western Front 18 Disasters and Opportunities 20 Families in Crisis 22 From Killing to Curing 24 Taking the Rap 25 New Technology to Help Fight Crime TEACHING AND LEARNING 26 Launching the Common Core 28 The Holy Grail of Teaching PEOPLE 30 Hong Kong: Centre of Trade – and History? 32 Honours for First-in-the-Family Education Fund BOOKS 33 Celebrity in China 34 The Religious Question in Modern China ARTS AND CULTURE 36 Adventures in Poetry Contents News in Brief