Bulletin No. 2, 2013

38   Chinese University Bulletin No. 2, 2013 Exploring the Mysteries of the World T he Research Grants Council (RGC) announced in July 2013 the funding results of the third round of the Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS) and the sixth round of the Areas of Excellence (AoE) Scheme. Four research projects led by CUHK researchers in the fields of human health, energy and its sustainable development secured funding of over HK $200 million. Prof. Joseph J.Y. Sung, Vice-Chancellor of CUHK said, ‘The funding results demonstrate CUHK’s leading position in many research disciplines.’ He said the University would continue to strive to scale new heights in research and aim at becoming a world leader in the selected areas. Centre for Organelle Biogenesis and Function (AoE) Led by Prof. Jiang Liwen (1st left), professor, School of Life Sciences, the centre aims at investigating the fundamentals of important biological processes. One of the projects’s groundbreaking developments is the discovery of a novel organelle named ‘EXPO’, which was responsible for an unconventional method of protein secretion that had previously been ignored by scientists. One of EXPO’s possible functions is to release antimicrobial agents into the plant’s exterior to combat bacteria, viruses or insects. Professor Jiang said, ‘The research will have potential application for the biotechnology industry to improve the value of plants as biofuel feedstocks and to enhance crop productivity in high-stress environments.’ Systematic Development of Molecular Targets for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) (TRS) Prof. Lo Kwok-wai (centre), professor, Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, leads the project to decode the DNA sequence of the entire NPC genome and thereby catalogue the whole spectrum of genomic changes involved in NPC tumorigenesis by whole genome sequencing. The team will systematically define driver mutations and identify key ‘molecular targets’ through large-scale whole genome and transcriptome sequencing, bioinformatics analysis and extensive validation in microdissected primary NPC samples with newly developed technologies. Professor Lo said, ‘We expect this project to make a strategic breakthrough in the molecular genetics of NPC and contribute significantly to the control of this deadly disease.’