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.
The two-day event - the First Sub-Conference of the Third Young Academy of Sciences Summit (YASS) -kicked off today (20 March). The event brings together internationally renowned scientists, scholars, and professionals for in-depth discussions on three themes related to cardiovascular disease: "Cutting-edge Technologies," "Vascular Diseases," and "Cardiac Disease". The first day of the Sub-Conference attracted over 150 scholars, researchers, and students, with many more participating via online streaming.
The First Sub-Conference of the Third Young Academy of Sciences Summit kicked off today (20 March) with nearly 150 participants joining in person. Professor Philip CHIU, Dean of Medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Sixth Right); Mr. David FOSTER, Executive Director of the Croucher Foundation (Fifth Left); and Professor Kathy LUI, Founding Member of the Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences (YASHK) and Professor in the Department of Chemical Pathology at CUHK (Sixth Left) officiated the opening ceremony. (Photo provided by the organiser)
Titled "The Second Croucher Symposium and Seventh YASS Sub-Conference", this event is jointly organised by the CAS CEMCS – CUHK Joint Laboratory for Cardiovascular Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences (YASHK), the Croucher Foundation and the Tencent Foundation. Professor Philip CHIU, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Mr David FOSTER, Executive Director of the Croucher Foundation; and Professor Kathy LUI, Founding Member of the YASHK and Professor of the Department of Chemical Pathology Faculty of Medicine at CUHK, attended the officiating ceremony and delivered opening speeches to kick off the event.
In her speech, Professor Kathy LUI emphasised the significance of collaboration and stated that this event marks the first time that YASS has partnered with the Croucher Foundation. She noted that it provides an invaluable opportunity for leading international experts in cardiovascular and related diseases to convene in Hong Kong for in-depth exchanges, while also enabling emerging young scientists to participate.
Professor Kathy LUI, Founding Member of YASHK, expressed her hope that cross-disciplinary and cross-regional collaboration will drive medical breakthroughs to benefit patients. (Photo provided by the organiser)
In addition, Professor LUI said that local researchers should fully leverage Hong Kong’s international advantages and strong scientific foundation to contribute to national development and social welfare, aligning with the national "15th Five-Year Plan" and the growing support for Hong Kong's scientific research from the national and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. She underscored that safeguarding lives and public health through medical innovation is the mission and responsibility of young researchers, and expressed her hope that cross-disciplinary and cross-regional collaboration will drive medical breakthroughs, bringing hope to patients with cardiovascular diseases.
The first day of the Sub-Conference featured a number of distinguished international scholars, followed by interactive exchanges with attendees. Speakers included Professor Stefanie DIMMELER, Professor of Experimental Medicine and Director of Institute for Cardiovascular Regeneration at University of Frankfurt;Professor Thomas BRUAN, Director of Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research; Professor Sean M.WU, Associate Director of the Cardiovascular Institute at Stanford University; and Professor Hellmut AUGUSTIN, Professor of the Department of Vascular Biology at Heidelberg University.
The first day of the YASS Sub-Conference featured discussion sessions on "Cutting-edge Technologies," "Vascular Diseases," and "Cardiac Disease." The first session was moderated by Professor Thomas BRAUN, Director of the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research (Second Right). Speakers included Professor Bin ZHOU, Professor of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Co-Director of the CAS-CUHK Joint Laboratory for Cardiovascular Sciences (First Right); Professor Ralf ADAMS, Director of the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine (Second Left); and Professor Qingbo XU, Qiushi Professor and Chair of the Department of Cardiology at Zhejiang University Medical School (First Left). (Photo provided by the organiser)
The second day of the Sub-Conference (21 March) will continue with explorations into "Vascular Disease Across Organs". It will also feature the "Young Investigator Awards" academic presentations and an announcement on the results of the cardiovascular disease research poster competition. 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 YASHK, will deliver the closing remarks.
Details of the second day of the First Sub-Conference of the Third YASS are as follows:
Date: 21 March 2026 (Saturday)
Time: 9:00 am to 12:50 pm
Media registration: Starts at 8:30 am
Venue: YIA Lecture Theatre 2, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Programme rundown:
The Third Young Academy of Sciences Summit will also host two Sub-Conferences in June and September 2026, featuring various innovative science and technology topics and exploring future scientific development prospects.
