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Four research projects led by The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) were awarded around $22 million from the 2023/24 Research Impact Fund (RIF) by the Research Grants Council (RGC). CUHK has been awarded the highest funding among all universities in Hong Kong for two consecutive years. Together with the matching fund from CUHK and its partners, the total funding amount, which exceeds $31 million, will support research that spans the fields of bioengineering, legal research, medical examinations and equipment development.

Professor Sham Mai-har, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of CUHK, said she is delighted that multiple projects led by CUHK have been successfully awarded funding. She added that CUHK has a longstanding commitment to investing in research, innovation and broader application to societal impact. RIF will support CUHK researchers to accelerate their impact and make even wider contributions to society.

The four projects are “Magnesium-Based Biodegradable Implants as Innovative Class III Medical Devices: From Implant Design, Biosafety, Efficacy to Clinical Translation”, led by Professor Qin Ling, Choh-Ming Li Professor of Orthopaedics and Traumatology and Assistant Dean (Mainland Affairs), the Faculty of  Medicine (CU Medicine); “Development of Liquid Biopsy Assays Based on Exosomal Small Non-coding RNAs for Non-invasive Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer”, led by Dr Wang Xin, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, CU Medicine; “Harmonization of Business and Commercial Laws in the Greater Bay Area: Concepts, Approaches, and Policy Options”, led by Professor Xi Chao, Professor and Associate Dean (Research), Faculty of Law; and “Quantitative Phase Imaging Promoting Cell Biology, Biomedicine, New Materials and Beyond”, led by Professor Zhou Renjie, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering.

The Research Impact Fund was launched in 2017 to encourage local universities to conduct more impactful research and collaborate with stakeholders outside academia. It offers maximum grants of $10 million to each successful project, with the university or other partner providing the remaining 30% of the project cost. The duration of each project must be three to five years.