During a recent visit led by Prof. Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, Vice-Chancellor, University of Cambridge, on 27 February, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to promote joint research in autism and other areas. This is the first university-level partnership between the University of Cambridge and CUHK.

Prof. Fanny M.C. Cheung, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of CUHK, said, 'We are pleased to see our collaboration in autism research evolving in a new direction. In addition to studies undertaken by the Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care focusing on epidemiology and health care resource, a new stream of autism research will be pursued on autistic children who have comorbid attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. As this comorbidity was only recently formally recognized, it is timely to explore this new area to look for genes associated with this disorder. A multidisciplinary team of experts at CUHK comprising psychologists, psychiatrists, neurologists, and geneticists will be involved in the study.'

The Cambridge delegation led by Sir Leszek comprised Dr. Jennifer Barnes, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for International Strategy; Prof. Ian White, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Master of Jesus College; and Ms. Clare Birch, Chief of Staff, Development and Alumni Relations. The delegation met with the University's leadership and senior academics, including Prof. Joseph J.Y. Sung, Vice-Chancellor. Besides autism research, collaboration in other areas such as engineering, bioethics, ageing, and linguistics were also explored.

CUHK and Cambridge have established partnership since 2006 and Cambridge has been identified as a strategic partner of the University. A number of agreements are in place for multifaceted collaborations, including the Clare Hall Visiting Fellowship Programme, college-level student exchange, and cooperation in the Global Physician-Leadership Stream of the MB ChB Programme.