Newsletter No. 218

Nobel Laureate in Chemistry Gives 40th Anniversary Distinguished Lecture at CUHK P rof. Lee Yuan Tseh ( r i gh t ) , Nobel laureate in chemistry 1986 and president of Academia Sinica, Taiwan, visited the University from 2nd to 6th March as its 40th Anniversary Distinguished Speaker and Distinguished Visiting Scholar of United College 2002-3. During his visit, Prof. Lee delivered two public lectures. The first lecture, 'Global Trends in Educational Reform', took place on 4th March at Sir Run Run Shaw Hall, and the second lecture, 'Molecular Beam/Chemical Dynamics', took place on 5th March at T.Y. Wong Hall. Prof. Lee enjoys world acclaim as an expert in chemical dynamics. He was awarded the Nobel Prize together with Prof. Dudley R. Herschbach of Harvard University and Prof. John Polanyi of the University of Toronto. Upcoming Anniversary C e l e b r a t i o n s March 22nd (Saturday) Tourism Forum Time: 9.00 a.m. - 12.45 p.m. Venue: MBA Town Centre, 1/F, Bank of America Tower, Central Language: English Organizer: School of Hotel and Tourism Management Enquiries: 2609 8590 23rd-25th (Sunday-Tuesday) University Presidents' Global Forum 2003: Universities In the 21st Century Over 50 presidents and vice-chancellors of universities from mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia will exchange views on the topic of 'Universities in the 21st Century' at the University Presidents' Global Forum. For programme details, please refer to pages 3 to 6. Please visit http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/40thanniversary fo r the latest information. CUHK Pioneers Improved Treatments to Save Eyesight G laucoma is the number one cause of blindness in Hong Kong. Angle-closure glaucoma, a common type of the disease in the Far East, including Hong Kong, is usually manifested in a sudden rise of eye pressure of up to two to four times the normal range. Patients experience a sudden blurring of vision, severe eye pain or even headache, and nausea. Besides the optic nerve, the cornea, and the lens may also be damaged. Conventional treatment of the condition is far from perfect. The medication takes time to work and often causes annoying side-effects that may even become life-threatening in some rare cases. The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences of the University has pioneered the use of argon laser peripheral iridoplasty (ALPI) and paracentesis as a first-stage treatment for acute angle- closure glaucoma. ALPI involves using laser to produce contractile burns over the peripheral part of the iris so as to reopen the drainage angle. In paracentesis, a small knife is used to drain out small amounts of fluid from the anterior compartment of the eye. Both methods can result in speedy normalization of eye pressure. The efficacy and safety of ALPI and paracentesis have been studied with very encouraging results. The clinical features of acute angle-closure glaucoma and the new treatments were presented by Prof. Dennis Lam, Dr. Jimmy Lai, and Dr. Clement Tham of the Department Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at apress conference held on 25th February 2003 at the Prince of Wales Hospital. Major Cancer Workshop on Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma C lose to 500 experts from 20 countries attended the 4th International UICC (International Union Against Cancer) Symposium on Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) held in conjunction with the 8th Scientific Symposium of the Hong Kong Cancer Institute 'UICC NPC Workshop 2003' — from 14th to 16th February 2003 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The three-day symposium was sponsored by the Hong Kong College of Radiologists with representatives from all the five major cancer centres in Hong Kong. The aim of the symposium was to bring together internationally renowned basic scientists and clinicians to focus upon the recent developments in NPC research and clinical management. The pivotal contributions of CUHK researchers in basic, translational and clinical areas were highlighted enabling further collaborations with international and mainland experts in this disease, which is prevalent in southern China. Prof. Sir Anthony Epstein, discoverer of the Epstein-Barr virus, delivered the opening Kadoorie Charitable Foundation Lecture entitled 'The Oncogenic γ -Herpesviruses'. A wide range of topics were discussed at the meeting, including the Epstein-Barr virus and NPC, molecular pathogenesis and molecular monitorings, diagnostic imaging, IMRT and boost techniques, and chemoradiation strategies. Officiating at the opening ceremony of the workshop were Dr. E.K. Yeoh, Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food of the HKSAR government; Prof. Ambrose King, vice-chancellor of the University; Dr. Lilian Leong, president of the Hong Kong College of Radiologists; and Dr. Brian O'Sullivan, Princess Margaret Hospital at the University of Toronto, who was also representative of the UICC. 1 No. 218 19th March 2003