First YASS 2024-2025 Sub-Conference Attracts Over 100 Participants Focusing on Cancer Research Advancing New Treatment Directions

The first sub-conference of the Young Academy of Sciences Summit (YASS) 2024/25 was successfully held today (10 March) at The University of Hong Kong. Outstanding young scientists from Hong Kong and Asia were invited to share their insights with more than one hundred scientists, professionals,and members of the public at the event, with many more participating online. Together, they explored new directions in cancer research, aiming to achieve future breakthroughs in treatment that will benefit cancer patients worldwide.

More than 100 participants attended the first sub-conference of the Young Academy of Sciences Summit 2024-2025, held today (10 March). The theme of the sub-conference was "From Cancer Discovery Science to Therapeutic Innovation". (Photo provided by YASS)

In her welcome speech, Professor Stephanie MA, Founding Member and Vice-President of The Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences (YASHK) and Associate Vice-President (Research and Innovation),Jimmy and Emily Tang Endowed Professor in Molecular Genetics of The University of Hong Kong, said that tens of millions of people worldwide are affected by cancer, and the unpredictable nature of cancer evolution underscores the urgency for scientists to diligently research and explore new treatment modalities to address these challenges. This conference has brought together many outstanding young scientists in the field of cancer research, providing a platform for in-depth exchange. It is hoped that this will bring new insights and advance cancer research and treatment, bringing hope to patients.

Professor Stephanie MA, Founding Member and Vice-President of The Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences (YASHK), said that the sub-conference brought together many outstanding young scientists in the field of cancer research to exchange ideas, with the hope of providing inspiration and advancing the direction of cancer research and treatment. (Photo provided by YASS)

Professor Alice WONG, Associate Vice-President (Research), Interim Director and Chair Professor of School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science of The University of Hong Kong, served as the guest of honour and delivered the opening remarks at the event.

Professor Alice WONG, Associate Vice-President (Research), Interim Director and Chair Professor of School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science of The University of Hong Kong, was the guest of honour and delivered the opening remarks. (Photo provided by YASS)

The theme of the sub-conference was "From Cancer Discovery Science to Therapeutic Innovation"and the discussion topics included "Prevention and Early Detection of Cancer", "Mechanisms of Cancer Development", “Advancements in Technologies for Cancer Research and Understanding Cancer Heterogeneity” and "Emerging Treatments for Cancer". Professor Jun YU, Member of The Hong Kong Academy of Sciences (ASHK), Assistant Dean and Choh-Ming Li Professor of Medicine and Therapeutics of the Faculty of Medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, shared her research findings during the sub-conference "Gut Microbiome in GI Cancer Prevention and Early Detection",providing new perspectives for early cancer detection.

Professor Lai Guan NG, Senior Investigator at the Shanghai Immune Therapy Institute, and Professor Wai Leong TAM, Deputy Executive Director of the Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), were invited to Hong Kong to share their latest findings in cancer research.

The theme of the YASS sub-conference was "From Cancer Discovery Science to Therapeutic Innovation" and one of the discussion topics focused on "Prevention and Early Detection of Cancer". The event brought together many outstanding scientists in the field of cancer research. (Photo provided by YASS)

Today’s discussions also delved into cutting-edge AI technologies, including a presentation on "AI-Powered Next-Generation Histological Imaging with Medical Diagnosis" by Professor Terence Tsz Wai WONG, Associate Professor of Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Sub-conference speakers shed light on innovative treatments as well, such as Professor Jingying ZHOU, Assistant Professor of School of Biomedical Sciences of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, who spoke on "Decoding the Immunoregulatory Role of Hepatic Innervation: A Novel Therapeutic Approach to Combat Liver Metastasis", and Professor Alan Siu-lun WONG, Associate Professor of School of Biomedical Sciences of The University of Hong Kong who discussed "Using Genome Editing and Combinatorial Genetics to Tackle Cancer".These presentations provided participants with valuable insights into the future directions of cancer treatment.

The Young Academy of Sciences Summit 2024/25 and its three sub-conferences are jointly organised by the Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences, Greater Bay Area Homeland Investments Limited and the Greater Bay Area Homeland Youth Community Foundation.

The First Sub-Conference of the Third Young Academy of Sciences Summit (YASS) continued today (21 March), bringing together leading international scientists to discuss "Cross-Organ Vascular Diseases". The event features a number of distinguished speakers, including Professor Wei KONG, Dean of the School of Basic Medical Science at Peking University, and Ms Yevgeniya NUSINOVICH, Senior Editor at Science. The presentation ceremony for the "Young Investigator Awards" and the cardiovascular research poster competition was also held today.

Today’s Sub-Conference of the Third YASS focused on exploring "Cross-Organ Vascular Diseases". The sixth session was moderated by Professor Hellmut AUGUSTIN, Professor of the Department of Vascular Biology at Heidelberg University (Third Left) .Speakers included Professor Wei KONG, Dean of the School of Basic Medical Science at Peking University (Third Right); Ms Yevgeniya NUSINOVICH, Senior Editor at Science (Second Right); Professor Ronald WANG, professor of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Second Left); Professor Rio SUGIMURA, Assistant Professor of the School of Biomedical Sciences at The University of Hong Kong (First Right) and Professor Wai Ho TANG, Professor of the School of Nursing and Health Studies at Hong Kong Metropolitan University (First Left). (Photo provided by organiser)

To conclude the two-day (20 to 21 March) event – "The Second Croucher Symposium and Seventh YASS Sub-Conference" – Professor Bin ZHOU, Professor of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Co-Director of the CAS-CUHK Joint Laboratory for Cardiovascular Sciences, and Professor Anderson SHUM, President of the Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences (YASHK), delivered closing remarks. Professor Anderson SHUM emphasised that interdisciplinary collaboration is key to driving innovation, and that building platforms for cross-border, cross-disciplinary, and cross-generational exchange can help break down academic silos. He expressed hope that the event would stimulate new insights into the treatment of cardiovascular disease and facilitate the translation of research outcomes into clinical practice.

Professor Anderson SHUM, President of the Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences, states that cross-disciplinary collaboration is key to driving innovation. He hopes that the exchanges taking place during the Sub-Conference will generate new insights into treatments for cardiovascular disease and facilitate the translation of research into clinical practice. (Photo provided by organiser)

This event attracted nearly 300 scholars, researchers, students, and members of the public to participate both in-person and online, injecting momentum into the advancement of life sciences and healthcare innovation in Hong Kong. It was jointly organised by the CAS-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science, YASHK, the Croucher Foundation and the Tencent Foundation.

Professor Bin ZHOU, Professor of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Co-Director of the CAS-CUHK Joint Laboratory for Cardiovascular Sciences, delivered the closing remarks at the first Sub-Conference of the third YASS. (Photo provided by organiser)

The Third YASS will host two more Sub-Conferences in June and September of this year, featuring various innovative science and technology topics and exploring future scientific development prospects.

For event details and highlights, please visit the official website: https://yass-hk.org/ or the YASHK Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/yashk20190609.