Introduction of FHS

With the vigorous support and joint efforts from numerous supporters, the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) has thrived since its establishment in 2013. As a fundamental academic unit, FHS, comprised of three departments (Department of Biomedical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Department of Public Health and Medicinal Administration), has quickly become one of the important regional powerhouses of fostering outstanding personnel for the workforce demand in biomedical sciences. FHS now offers three undergraduate programmes, two master programmes and two doctoral programmes and they are delivered by our excellent team of academics with outstanding background and strong passion, and this teaching team has guided and inspired over 750 young researchers and students in the lifelong quest of knowledge.

The research of FHS focuses on ten major themes, they are: (i) Precision Oncology, (ii) Stem Cell and Development (iii) Aging, Neural and Metabolism Disorders and Infectious Diseases, (iv) Biomedical Imaging, (v) Data Science, (vi) Drug Development, (vii) Neuropsychiatry, (viii) Structural Biology, (ix) Translational Medicine and x) Public Health. To support these research activities, FHS has established a state-of-the-art infrastructure that includes more than 40 research laboratories, 4 research centres and 4 core facilities. In addition, upon the approval of Ministry of Education, UM established the first Frontiers Science Center in Hong Kong and Macao in 2021, namely “Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology”, which is formed a team led by FHS, dedicating to carry out cutting-edge scientific research of common cancers in Macao. Furthermore, FHS researchers strive to carry out research studies on key health issues of both Chinese and global societies. As the principle unit, FHS initiated abundant projects, one of which is the National Key R&D Programme of China.

With this solid research support, the Faculty has recorded a steady increase in the number and the quality of publications and scientific discoveries. These research output signify the continual improvement in our overall influence worldwide in the biomedical research. Equally important, FHS has organized numerous symposia and seminars to deliver talks with topics both in cutting-edge science and popular science, and assisted local schools in devising and operating STEM education programmes, all of which benefit the general acceptance and understanding of biomedical science and health sciences by the community.

Development timeline of the Faculty of Health Sciences