State Key Laboratories and CAS-HKU Joint Laboratories

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

State Key Laboratories

State Key Laboratories (SKLs) in Hong Kong partner with and work closely alongside SKLs in the Chinese Mainland. As key components of China's science and technology research system, the SKLs 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. The SKLs at HKU are as follows:

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 Chinese 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 the Chinese Mainland. 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 Chinese Mainland and international scientists, to train young researchers, and to support the pharmaceutical industries as well as clinical practice in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland.

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

Optical Quantum Materials (光量子物質)

The SKL of Optical Quantum Materials merges the fields of photonics and two-dimensional materials to pioneer advancements in quantum and metamaterials. With a focus on ultrafast processes and topological structures, the laboratory drives technological innovation and supports the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as a hub for cutting-edge research.

Director: Professor X. Zhang, President and Vice-Chancellor; Chair of Physics, Department of Physics
Deputy Director: Professor S. Zhang, Department of Physics (shuzhang@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 the Chinese Mainland. 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 Chinese 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 K.W.K. Yeung, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (wkkyeung@hku.hk); Professor L. Cai (SIAT, CAS); and Professor L. Qin (CUHK).

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