Schools and Departments
Research Centres, Institutes and Units

The AIDS Institute of the University of Hong Kong was established in November 2007 to take HKU in a new strategic direction in fighting HIV global epidemic and help to make it a leader in the region in AIDS research, education and prevention. Scientists at the AIDS Institute are fully committed to conducting basic and applied research that facilitates the understanding of AIDS pathogenesis and the development of effective AIDS vaccines. Activities in the Institute include: basic research to examine the virological and immunological mechanisms underlying HIV pathogenesis; new concept, design, preparation and laboratory testing of vaccine candidates for HIV and other infectious diseases; and monitoring the evolution of HIV epidemic in Hong Kong and in the region.

Visit the Institute's homepage at med.hku.hk/aidsinst.

The Bau Institute of Medical and Health Sciences Education (BIMHSE) was established in 2004 to highlight the Faculty’s dedication to educational excellence. Their mission is to promote excellence, professionalism, innovation and collaboration in medical and health sciences education. To achieve these goals, BIMHSE recently restructured their core programmes to focus on advancing the quality of teaching, learning and assessment, facilitating staff and professional development, developing research and scholarship, as well as promoting the exchange of best practices. These core programmes are led by directors and members with expertise, experience and commitment to further medical education. They represent across a range of specialties including basic sciences, Medicine, Nursing, Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy. With this broad-based support and well-defined areas of focus, BIMHSE continues to be a leader in its field, influencing the progress and quality of medical and health sciences education locally, regionally and internationally.

Learn more about research postgraduate studies at the Institute.

Visit the Institute's homepage at https://bimhse.med.hku.hk/home.

Centre for Comparative Medicine Research (CCMR) is a service unit of Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine. The Centre was established in 1979 as the the Laboratory Animal Unit (LAU) and renamed in 2020. The primary function of the CCMR is the breeding of specific pathogen free laboratory animals for research and teaching, mainly for the Faculty of Medicine, although animals are also supplied to other University departments and units. Centralised animal holding and surgical facilities for biomedical research are also provided. The Centre also advises on matters relating to laboratory animal science and provides veterinary service to all departments and units of the University.

Visit the Centre's homepage at ccmr.hku.hk.

The Centre for Medical Ethics and Law was established in 2012 as a joint initiative between the HKU Faculty of Law and HKUMed. Its primary vision is to become a focal point for international research excellence in the area of medical ethics and law; to co-ordinate and provide training for university students and professionals; and to promote and disseminate their expertise for the benefit of the public. As the ethics of medical practice and research have become increasingly exposed to public and legal scrutiny, the Centre also acts as a leading forum for the discussion of issues that are of public interest and concern.

Visit the Centre's homepage at www.cmel.hku.hk.

The Centre for PanorOmic Sciences (CPOS) was established by the LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong to strategically support omics research, with aims to:

• Further strengthen the provision and development of cutting-edge core technological platforms and technological support/services to researchers;
• Reinforce the research and training components to complement the surge in multi-omics big data (genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, metabolomics, proteomics, microbiomics, etc.); and
• Carry out strategic research programmes which take a panoramic approach to understand health and disease mechanisms and facilitate the development of preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic measures.
  
   

Visit the homepage of the Centre and its core services:

CPOS Homepage

Organisational Chart
Biobank Core
Genomics Core
Proteomics and Metabolomics Core
Bioinformatics Core
Imaging and Flow Cytometry Core
Bioresearch Support Core
Bioreagent Core
LKS Cryo-EM Laboratory
HKUMed Laboratory of Cellular Therapeutics

The Centre for the Humanities and Medicine was established in 2009 as a joint initiative between the Faculty of Arts and HKUMed. The Centre is the first institution of its kind in Asia, and one of the few in the world with a mission to foster interdisciplinary research and teaching in relation to three broad interconnected themes – the challenges posed by the translation of biomedical technologies into society; the relationship between disease, health, culture and society; and the humanisation of our understanding and practice of medicine.

Visit the Centre's homepage at www.chm.hku.hk.

The Clinical Trials Centre is a leading academic research organisation dedicated to one-stop clinical research solutions. We are committed to enhancing global healthcare by promoting the quality and efficiency of clinical research and testing of new chemical drugs, biologics, vaccines, traditional Chinese medicines, medical devices and diagnostic tools with ethical consideration, scientific expertise, quality assurance and education. Our core competencies range from academic research consultation, training and education, protocol development, feasibility assessment and site identification. We are also involved in regulatory affairs, finance and contract management, project management and monitoring, data management, medical statistics, and central laboratory support for industry-sponsored clinical studies.

Visit the Centre's homepage at www.hkuctc.com.

With the Azalea (1972) Endowment Fund’s generous support, The University of Hong Kong (HKU) Primary Health Care Academy (PHCA) is being set up in February 2023 with Professor Sophia Chan as the Director. The HKU PHCA is a platform committed to generating evidence and disseminating knowledge of primary health care (PHC) as well as incubating the next generation of health care professionals in PHC for universal health coverage and the sustainable development of a healthy society in Hong Kong.

The HKU PHCA strives to advance the sustainable development of PHC locally, regionally, and internationally. It contributes to addressing the health challenges brought about by an ageing population and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, facilitating the government’s new journey in PHC development, improving the overall health of the public, and enhancing their quality of life.

Through the provision of a platform for innovative research, advanced training, testing evidence-based services, policy discussion, and knowledge exchange, the HKU PHCA aims to:
(1) enhance the knowledge and practice of nurses and other health care professionals in PHC;
(2) promote innovation research and testing evidence-based models of care on chronic disease prevention (primary, secondary, and tertiary) and management in the community to enhance the effectiveness of PHC services;
(3) strengthen health care professionals' capacity on providing effective PHC services through effective training models; and
(4) enable policy dialogue and advocacy locally, nationally, and internationally.

The Institute of Cardiovascular Science and Medicine (ICSM) strives for excellence in research, teaching and training of cardiovascular sciences to improve the prevention and patient management of cardiovascular diseases in Hong Kong. Established by a group of cardiovascular researchers in June 1996, ICSM aims to achieve academic/research excellence in cardiovascular sciences and medicine, in order to reduce the mortality and morbidity of cardiovascular disease and gain international recognition.

The Jockey Club Centre for Clinical Innovation and Discovery (CCID) is scheduled for completion in 2024 along with the Institute of Cancer Care (ICC), bringing scientific research, teaching and treatment under one roof. The CCID will be equipped with cutting-edge facilities and equipment to carry out research, focusing on genomics and DNA technologies to understand the causes of cancer. It will also undertake clinical research to develop precision diagnosis and medicine, advance the treatment of cancer and formulate new strategies for disease prevention.

Co-located with the Jockey Club Center for Clinical Innovation and Discovery (CCID), the Institute of Cancer Care (ICC) will focus on studying and providing care for the psychosocial and psychological needs of cancer patients and their families/caregivers. It will also develop evidence-based psycho-oncological practices to address the unmet demand for comprehensive, high-quality clinical care across the whole of Hong Kong, ensuring seamless cancer services from prevention, diagnosis and treatment to rehabilitation and survivor care.

Visit the Institute's homepage at jcicc.med.hku.hk.

The mission of the Research Centre of Heart, Brain, Hormone & Healthy Aging is to enhance and extend human health span, and improve the quality of life in the ageing population, through excellence in biomedical research. This is well achieved through the provision of a stimulating and collegial environment for a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary effort to ageing related research. The Centre aims at developing novel therapeutic and diagnostic approaches for the promotion of healthy ageing, through synergistic interaction and inter-laboratory collaboration. To enhance the critical mass on healthy ageing research in Hong Kong, the Centre will also strive to offer excellent training opportunities and postgraduate education, in both laboratory-based research and clinical medicine, on ageing related diseases.

Investigators of the Centre pursue in-depth and innovative research on ageing diseases of the cardiovascular, neurological and endocrine systems, using the tools of modern laboratory and clinical research. The Centre focuses on four major research themes:

• Degeneration and regeneration;
• Diabetes and metabolic syndrome;
• Vascular biology; and
• Cell therapy and tissue engineering.

Visit the Centre's homepage at med.hku.hk/hbha.