The Second Macao Symposium on Biomedical Sciences, organised by the University of Macau (UM) Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), opened at UM today (10 July). Nearly 200 renowned scholars and researchers from around the world attended the symposium. Participants discussed the breakthroughs in biomedical sciences in recent years and the future trends, and exchanged ideas on issues related to global health research.
Officiating guests at the ceremony included Cheang Kun Wai, a committee member of the Science and Technology Development Fund of the Macao SAR; Dr Kuok Cheong U, deputy director of the Health Bureau and director of Hospital Conde S Januario; Dr Ma Hok Cheung, director of Hospital Kiang Wu; Huen Wing Ming, chair of the administrative committee of Dr Stanley Ho Medical Development Foundation; Cheong Kuai Tat from the Food Safety Centre of Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau; and Au Chong Kit, a member of UM’s University Council.
UM Rector Wei Zhao said that the event was organised by the FHS, which was founded only 18 months ago, and it was the first symposium of its kind after UM’s relocation to the new campus. Rector Zhao said the event provided a platform for experts in biomedical sciences to exchange ideas and explore new research areas. He believes that the FHS’s organising the symposium will not only benefit the faculty’s future development, but will also help to enhance public health research in Macao and its neighbouring regions.
FHS Dean Prof Chuxia deng said the symposium brought together distinguished biomedical scientists and provided an opportunity for participants to learn more about the FHS’s research areas and long-term objectives. He also discussed how the state-of-the-art research facilities in the FHS supports his research team in cancer research.
Participants in the symposium include Prof Ada Yonath and Prof Aaron Ciechanover, both Nobel laureates in chemistry; Prof Mien-Chie Hung, vice president for basic research at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer; Prof Ruth Arnon, president of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities; Prof Philip Hinds from Tufts University; Prof Yibin Kang from Princeton University; Prof Teh Bin Tean from Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore; Prof Liang Tong, head of the Biological Sciences Department at Columbia University; and Prof Richard Ye, deputy director of UM’s Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences. 10 scholars from the Faculty of Health Sciences also reported and share their research data during the symposium.
As the first part of the symposium, the Nobel laureate lecture, ‘Resistance to Antibiotics and Preserving the Microbiome’, by the Israeli scientist Ada Yonath, attracted a full-house audience. Another Nobel laureate lecture, titled ‘Are We Going to Cure All Diseases and at What Price?’, by Prof Aaron Ciechanover, will be held tomorrow (11 July). All are welcome.
A group photo of participants in the Second Macao Symposium on Biomedical Sciences
Rector Wei Zhao believes the symposium will help enhance public health research
Prof Chuxia Deng tells participants about the main research areas of the Faculty of Health Sciences