31 December 2021
Chinese medicine (CM) contains a wealth of traditional wisdom, and it is a significant part of our cultural heritage. In ancient times, CM doctors used their vast experience to develop CM formulae for a wide variety of ailments. While many of these traditional treatments and regimens continue to work effectively, following recent advances in technology, CM is increasingly adopting a more technological approach, and it is leveraging the latest scientific tools.
At HKBU, CM has long been a unique strength of ours, and we are taking a preventive and holistic approach to enhance the health and wellbeing of the community. For years, the University has been focusing on the translation of traditional Chinese medicinal wisdom into innovative and effective treatments and pharmaceutical products using cutting-edge technology, such as big data and artificial intelligence.
The Centre for Chinese Herbal Medicine Drug Development was recently established with funding from the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) via Health@InnoHK, and we are grateful for the ITC’s support and trust. The Centre aims to accelerate the development of Chinese herbal medicine based drugs, and in particular, it will develop treatments and cures for common diseases such as ulcerative colitis and chronic constipation. In addition, the Centre also plans to build a platform to enhance the quality of pre-clinical and clinical Chinese herbal medicine research, and it will nurture talent for Chinese herbal medicine research in Hong Kong.
Through the Centre, we are collaborating with top researchers around the world, including academics and practitioners at the University of Chicago and the University of Macao. In addition, we will progress the standardisation and internationalisation of CM for the betterment of mankind through this Centre and the upcoming Chinese Medicine Hospital (CMH), which is a dream come true. I’m confident that the Centre and the CMH will work in tandem to usher in a new era of CM in Hong Kong, and HKBU will be at the heart of the territory’s ongoing development of CM, and the discovery of new knowledge and drugs.
While CM scholars and artists may appear to have come from two different worlds, they are united by their care for the community. Just as our top scholars are advancing CM for the benefit of the community and the world, our artists are also pushing the boundaries of creativity in partnership with different members of society. Among the latter, Professor Mee-ping Leung of the Academy of Visual Arts shows us vividly how art is related to real life by working closely with the public to produce community-centric artworks.
Over the past 20 years, Professor Leung has engaged with different subsections of society, and she has taken often-mundane everyday objects and transformed them into thought-provoking exhibitions that explore various aspects of life. These artworks have also become an essential part of the community and cultural scene in Hong Kong, and Memorize the Future, an installation made of human hair, can be seen in the brand-new M+ museum in West Kowloon.
Other pieces can also be found in more unusual places. In particular, Home engaged with the shifting community in To Kwa Wan, and 102 residents generously shared personal items to illustrate their ideas of “home”. The spectacular results are now enlivening the To Kwa Wan MTR Concourse, and the project is an exemplary example of what can be achieved when our talented scholars and the community work together.
Professor Leung’s inclusive attitude to society and art continues to inspire our students and the public, and the latest BUers Say video and story explore her philosophy and innovative approach. Produced by our Academy of Film alumnus Leecat Ho, the arthouse-style video showcases the visionary talent present in the HKBU community. You can appreciate an artwork within an artwork by watching the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL4p8acjJA0
Now that 2021 is coming to an end, I’m glad that the first semester of 2021-22 has reached a successful conclusion. We managed to effectively resume face-to-face classes despite the lingering pandemic thanks to our COVID-19 control measures. We will continue to do all we can to provide our students and staff with a vibrant, healthy and safe campus life while coping with the uncertainties brought about by the pandemic.
As we celebrate the end of another year, I would also like to wish everyone a Happy New Year, and I look forward to a fruitful and exciting 2022.