Bulletin Autumn‧Winter 2002

and Therapeutics, and Dr. Albert Y.W. Chan, adjunct associate professor in the Department of Chemical Pathology. They met Prof. Zhou Hong Hao, director of the i n s t i t u t e, a nd discussed plans for collaboration on research and postgraduate training, and proposals to f o r m the As i an So c i e ty of C l i n i c al P h a r m a c o l o gy a nd Pharmacogenetics in Ma y 2003. Exercise Prevents Elderly Fractures The D e p a r t m e nt of O r t h o p a e d i cs a nd Traumatology has designed a set of exercises for the elderly targeting factors that cause fractures. Designed by orthopaedic surgeons, Tai Chi masters, and physiotherapists, these exercises are based on t r a d i t i o n al Tai Chi w h i l e i n c o r p o r a t i ng musculoskeletal and biomechanical considerations. Prof. Leung Kwok-sui of the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology recently s u r v e y ed 560 elderly patients aged 60 or above w i t h bone fractures at the Prince of Wales Ho s p i t al to examine the causes of fractures. Microbiology Summer Course 2002 Young fellows specializing in microbiology f r om different institutions and hospitals i n m a i n l a nd C h i na a t t e n d ed the S ummer Course 2002 in M i c r o b i o l o gy organized by the Department of Microbiology f r om 5th to 18th June at the Prince of Wales Hospital. The course provided a chance for these specially s e l e c t ed p a r t i c i p a n ts to u p d a t e t h e i r l a b o r a t o ry s k i l ls a nd techniques; it also extended research c o l l abo r a t i on be t ween Ho ng Kong and the mainland and attracted participants to enrol in postgraduate courses offered by the department. Site-specific Drug Delivery System for Uveitis Sufferers Uveitis, a kind of eye inflammation, is classified ma i n ly into anterior and posterior types. A serious and sight t h r e a t e n i ng c o n d i t i o n, posterior uveitis is conventionally treated w i t h oral steroid or immunosuppressants. Orally prescribed steroid could, however, cause a l o t of u n d e s i r a b le side effects. Researchers in the US have recently developed a device that, wh en secured inside the eyeball, w i l l release d r u gs f or years. The C U H K Depa r tment of Op h t h a l mo l o gy and Visual Sciences is one of 40 l e a d i ng eye centres around the w o r l d chosen to participate i n a s t u dy to test the i mp l a n t. The s t u dy w i l l involve a total of 500 patients. The U n i v e r s i ty is the o n ly centre i n Ho ng Kong that provides the new treatment for uveitis. Project to Develop Affordable Bone Protein for Surgery The Un i v e r s i ty has entered into a research a g r e eme nt w i t h G e n i us I n t e r n a t i o n al H o l d i n gs L t d. to d e v e l op a technique to The agreement was signed by Mr. Peter Lam (left 2), group director of Genius, and Mrs. Alice Yip (right 2), director of the University's Research and Technology Administration Office, witnessed by Prof. Joseph Sung (middle), chairman of the Research Committee, and Dr. Li Ming (right 1), principal investigator of the project. 6 4 Chinese University Bulletin Autumn • Winter 2002