Third Cohort of IoP-NHC Scholarship and Fellowship Awardees Announced as Global University Network Expands to Eight

In collaboration with the National Health Commission (NHC) and funded by the Institute of Philanthropy (IoP), the third cohort of long-term programme scholarships and fellowships under the Institute of Philanthropy Medical and Health Scholarship-cum-Fellowship for Top Talent in the Mainland was officially announced at a presentation ceremony held on 21 August 2026 in Beijing. The event celebrated the selection of 30 top medical and health professionals from the Chinese Mainland, who underwent a rigorous two-tiered selection process conducted by expert panels from both the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong. They will undertake master’s, doctoral, or post-doctoral studies at eight universities in Hong Kong and overseas starting from August 2026.

The third cohort of the IoP Medical and Health Scholarship-cum-Fellowship for Top Talent in the Mainland awarded a total of 30 long-term programme scholarships and fellowships, supporting top medical and health talent in the Chinese Mainland to undertake master’s, doctoral, or post-doctoral studies at eight universities in Hong Kong and overseas during the 2026/27 academic year.

For the 2026/27 academic year, the programme has further expanded its global footprint. The number of host universities has grown from three in the inaugural cohort to eight, with academic programmes increasing from seven to 16 across four priority areas of national medical and health talent development: medical research, public health (including global health), life sciences, and health administration/management. Notably, premier global institutions such as the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) have joined as host universities, welcoming awardees in fields such as public health and health economics.

Established in March 2024, the initiative is now in its third year of nurturing healthcare leadership for the nation. Since its launch, the programme has supported 89 scholars and fellows for long-term programmes and provided 147 scholarships to senior medical professionals and health system executives for five short-term professional development courses covering medical care, disease prevention and control, and health governance. Together, these efforts have established a multi-tiered development framework for national health professionals.

Scholars and fellows from the previous cohorts have begun applying their learning in clinical practice, research, healthcare leadership, and workforce development. Several have contributed to research on artificial intelligence applications in disease diagnosis and treatment, undertaken collaborative research with Hong Kong institutions, and participated in comparative studies on healthcare management practices in the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong. In addition, a number of scholars and fellows have contributed to formulating development plans for their respective institutions, actively supporting national health priorities under the 15th Five-Year Plan. The initiative has also nominated four scholars and fellows from the previous cohorts to participate in prestigious international platforms,including the Prince Mahidol Award Conference (PMAC) 2026, fostering health leaders with global vision and strategic thinking.

Brian San, Secretary-General of IoP, viewed the third year of the initiative as a testament to the deepening collaboration and accumulated achievements in healthcare between the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong. IoP is honoured to join hands with the NHC to leverage Hong Kong's unique advantage in bridging top international educational and research resources, while cultivating medical and health talent equipped with deep professional expertise, strategic vision, and global perspectives to support the high-quality development of the nation's healthcare sector.

Director-General of the Health Human Resources Development Centre of NHC (Programme Management Office, “PMO”), Mr. Fang Jianning, believes that the implementation of this initiative not only reflects the National Health Commission's profound commitment to strengthening the healthcare workforce but also underscores the deep dedication of the Institute of Philanthropy to social welfare, particularly the health and well-being of the people. He delegated Lu Qing, Division Director, representing the PMO, to deliver remarks at the ceremony and convey his encouragement to the awardees.

The presentation ceremony was jointly officiated by senior representatives from the NHC and IoP. Officiating guests from NHC included representatives of the Department of Personnel and the Office of Hong Kong, Macao & Taiwan Affairs, and of the PMO, alongside representatives from the Institute of Philanthropy. Together, representatives from both sides celebrated the achievements of the third cohort and reaffirmed their commitment to nurturing top-tier talent in the medical and health sectors.

IoP representatives chatting and interacting with scholars/fellows.

The Institute of Philanthropy Medical and Health Scholarship-cum-Fellowship for Top Talent in the Mainland supports the development of high-calibre professionals in medical research, public health (including global health), life sciences, and health administration/management. The initiative demonstrates IoP’s support for the “Healthy China 2030 Blueprint” and the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Health, while contributing to efforts to strengthen healthcare capacity and advancing national health priorities.

Scholars/fellows interacting and networking at the event.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club (“The Club”) Charities Trust and the Institute of Philanthropy (“IoP”) co-hosted a regional health and development conference in Bangkok, Thailand, from 28 January to 2 February with 18 United Nations agencies and philanthropic foundations.

The week-long Prince Mahidol Award Conference (“PMAC”) 2025 was held under the theme “Harnessing Technologies in an Age of AI to Build a Healthier World”. Participants explored how to leverage the latest technologies to facilitate equitable, affordable and comprehensive health-care access for all. Conference co-hosts included Club’s Charities Trust and IoP, the World Health Organization (“WHO”), United Nations Development Programme (“UNDP”), Rockefeller Foundation, the Gates Foundation and The World Bank, etc.

Posing for a photo with panellists of the side-programme “Towards Universal Health Coverage: Innovative Technologies for Early Screening and Management of Diabetes” are Imelda Chan, Head of Charities (Positive Ageing & Elderly Care; and Healthy Community) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (5th right); Professor Juliana Chan, Chair Professor of Medicine and Therapeutics in the Faculty of Medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Founding Director of the Hong Kong Institute of Diabetes and Obesity (5th left); and Professor Ronald Ma, Associate Dean (External Affairs), S.H. Ho Professor of Diabetes of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (4th right).

IoP, a charitable organisation established by the Club and its Charities Trust in 2023, staged a special event at PMAC on 31 January entitled “Non-communicable Disease Management in a Primary Healthcare Setting”. There it announced a three-year pilot project in collaboration with the WHO to control and manage non-communicable diseases (“NCDs”) in primary-care settings.

Supported by a contribution of US$1.9 million (HK$14.8 million) from IoP, this will see the WHO’s Regional Office for the Western Pacific (“WPRO”) develop an end-to-end NCD control and management protocol in the Philippines, Tonga and Solomon Islands. It encompasses prevention, early identification, treatment and long-term management as well as prevention of complications and management of NCDs in primary-care settings.

“The launch of this NCD pilot project aims to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with NCDs in vulnerable countries, while at the same time illustrate an investment case for scaling up the end-to-end NCD control and management model in the whole Western Pacific region,” said Dr Tran Thi Giang Huong, WPRO’s Director of Division of Programmes for Disease Control.

Pictured at the Prince Mahidol Award Conference’s special event in Bangkok are Dr Tran Thi Giang Huong, Director of Division of Programmes for Disease Control, at WPRO (left); Dylan Lu, Co-Secretary-General (Programmes) at IoP (right); and moderator Sophia Chan (centre),Professor and Director of HKU Primary Health Care Academy.

Dylan Lu, Co-Secretary-General (Programmes) at IoP, said: “The Institute of Philanthropy is delighted to support the WHO in addressing the need to prevent and manage NCDs in the region. This donation clearly showcases our commitment to global health through collaboration with the WHO, together with the US$11.2 million funding pledge that IoP made at the WHO
Investment Round in May and October 2024.”

In addition, the Club’s Charities Trust and The Chinese University of Hong Kong in association with IoP co-convened a side-programme at PMAC 2025 on 29 January entitled “Towards Universal Health Coverage: Innovative Technologies for Early Screening and Management of Diabetes”. It explored data-driven approaches and digital innovations to strengthen diabetes care and management. This side-programme featured findings from two Trust-supported initiatives on a care model harnessing biogenetic markers, big data algorithms and the latest
wearable technologies to improve health outcomes and empower self-management for people living with or at risk of diabetes.

Heather Doyle, Team Lead, HIV & Health Group, Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, UNDP (5th right), and Dylan Lu, Co-Secretary-General (Programmes) of IoP (4th right), pose for a photo with panellists and moderators at the side-programme entitled “Catalysing Digital Technologies for Non-communicable Diseases in the Global South”.

IoP and UNDP also co-convened a separate side-programme at PMAC on the same day entitled “Catalysing Digital Technologies for Non-communicable Diseases in the Global South”. It highlighted case studies on innovative technologies being used for the prevention and management of NCDs to mobilise resources and foster collaboration in the Global South.

Established as a “think-fund-do” tank for China and Asia, IoP is dedicated to promoting philanthropic thought-leadership and enhancing sector capabilities at local, regional and global levels. It seeks to collaborate extensively with fellow foundations and contribute to WHO’s efforts to address global health issues. IoP pledged US$11.2 million (HK$87.4 million) to WHO’s Investment Round in May and October last year to promote, provide for and protect the health and well-being of people worldwide. The Investment Round is a new collaborative mechanism to generate sustainable financing for the WHO’s 14th General Programme of Work 2025-2028.