Calendar 2002–03

Faculty andDepartmentalResearch/ConsultancyUnits 115 Dementia Research Unit Tel.:2632 3637 Fax.:2646 2284 E-mail :psychiatry@cuhk.edu.hk With the increasing size of the ageing population, dementia care has become a pressing issue for many countries. TheDementia ResearchUnit of theDepartment of Psychiatry was set up in 1998 to organize and promote research in this area. The unit invites local and international collaborations. Its research focus is the genetic, epidemiological and clinical aspects of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. Diabetes and Endocrine Centre Tel.:2632 2876 Fax.:2632 2811 E-mail :cscockram@cuhk.edu.hk Th e Diabetes and End ocr ine Cen tre was origin ally establish ed with in the Departmentof Medicine in 1985 as the MetabolicInvestigationUnit. It expanded into thecurrent centrein 1993. The cen tre combines h igh quality service provision with many r esearch activities.With the very significant increase in the number of people with diabetes in Hong Kong , the main focu s of th e centre’s activities is diabetes care and management,although a comprehensive range of other endocrinological services are also provided. Major research interests includethe genetics of type 2 diabetes in the young, obesity and diabetes, diabetic complications and theirmanagement, and the development of diabetic care models and outcome measures. The centre also plays an important educational ro le and organizes seminars and training workshops for all health professionals involved in diabetic care. Internation al collaborative projects ar e numer ous. Partners include the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region. The Drug and Poisons Information Bureau Tel.: 2635 1111 Fax.:2145 7160 E-mail: dpib@med.cuhk.edu.hk Website :http://dpib.med.cuhk.edu.hk The Drug and Poisons In formation Bur eau, r un by the Div ision o f Clin ical Ph armaco log y, was estab lished in 19 87 and began pr ovidin g a 24 -ho ur information service in December 1989. It gives advice to health care professionals on the diagnosis and treatment of all forms of poisoning and adverse reactions to medicinesas well ason drug usage in general. It ismanned by information officers who are nurses, pharmacists or junior physicians. These front-line staff are always backed up by an on-call consultant physician with a specialist interest in clinical pharmacology and toxicology. The bureau has access to various international databases listing over 500,000 drugs, chemical entities and other items as well as