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The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, this afternoon (June 1) chaired a Health and Medical Research Council meeting to discuss the priority research areas and direction of the newly established Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF).
The HMRF was set up in 2011 by merging two existing research funds managed by the Food and Health Bureau, namely the Health and Health Services Research Fund (HHSRF) and the Research Fund for the Control of Infectious Diseases (RFCID). An addition of $1 billion was injected into the HMRF to broaden the scope for funding health and medical research in Hong Kong. Apart from the original research ambit, the HMRF will also finance research projects and facilities in areas of advanced medical research such as paediatrics, neuroscience, clinical genetics and clinical trials.
In the meeting, Dr Chow told the Council members that the HMRF would help to encourage, facilitate and support local health and medical research and promote Hong Kong's position as a centre of clinical excellence in the region, through generation and application of evidence-based scientific findings.
The Research Council comprises leading professionals in the local medical and academic sectors. Membership of the Research Council is as follows:
Chairman
The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow /
The Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Health), Mr Richard Yuen
Members
Dr Felix Chan Hon-wai
Professor Sophia Chan Siu-chee
Professor Fok Tai-fai
Professor Sian Meryl Griffiths
Professor Mary Ip Sau-man
Professor Nancy Ip Yuk-yu
Professor Cindy Lam Lo-kuen
Professor Lau Yu-lung
Professor Lee Sum-ping
Dr Patrick Li Chung-ki
Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming
Professor Joseph Sung Jao-yiu
Professor Paul Tam Kwong-hang
Dr Dominic Tsang Ngai-chong
Professor Maurice Yap Keng-hung
Professor Yuen Kwok-yung
Director of Health or representative
Chief Executive of Hospital Authority or representative
Ends/Friday, June 1, 2012
Issued at HKT 17:04
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