Newsletter No. 249

CU Wins Silver Poster Awa rd at Global Proteome Research Congress A poster created and presented by a team from the University beat over a thousand other entries to win second prize at the third Human Proteome Organization (HUPO) Annual Congress held in Beijing from 25th to 27th October 2004. The team was headed by Prof. Mary Waye of the Department of Biochemistry and comprised Prof. K. P. Fung, Prof. Stephen Tsui, and postgraduate students Carol Lau and T.L. Yeung. Their poster was entitled 'Functional Characterization of RhoC and Rab14 in Liver Cancer Cells'. HUPO is an international organization that coordinates a world-wide effort to map all the proteins in the human body. Over 1,500 delegates from the world over took part in the congress themed 'Proteomics: Decoding the Genome'. Among the scientists attending the event were Prof. Lee Hartwell, Nobel laureate in physiology or medicine 2001, and Human Genome Project member Prof. Leroy Hood. The two men also served as keynote speakers. Global Business Programme Launched by Business Schools f rom Three Continents T he University's Faculty of Business Administration is partnering with Kenan-Flagler Business School of the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, and Copenhagen Business School (CBS) to launch a pioneering international programme in undergraduate business in October. Students of this innovative programme 一 the Global Learning Opportunities in Business Education (GLOBE) Programme, will study at all three campuses, learn about international business from expert faculty members at all three schools, build and apply teamwork and leadership skills, visit corporations in Brussels, Berlin, Shanghai, Tokyo, Washington D.C., and Research Triangle Park in North Carolina, and collaborate as members of virtual teams in their learning. 'There's a need to break through the traditional model of business curriculum to extend the experience beyond national borders,' said Prof. T.S. Lee, dean of the CUHK Faculty of Business Administration. 'Through GLOBE, we will guide students through the dynamic landscape of a convergent market place where international companies engage in fierce competition around the world. ...CUHK business professors are well placed to contribute their expertise in Asian-related issues to the GLOBE curriculum. Together with our partners, a truly international team of faculty members will challenge our students... and embolden them to think and act with a global mindset.' The first GLOBE students will be selected for the three-year programme at CUHK and CBS in autumn 2005, and for UNC's two-year programme in autumn 2006. GLOBE was officially launched on 27th October at the annual Partnership in International Management Conference in Hong Kong. (From left) Prof. Finn Junge-Jensen, president of CBS, Prof. Kenneth Young, CUHK acting vice-chancellor, Prof. Mark Scullion, associate director of global programmes, UNC Kenan-Flagler, and Prof. T.S. Lee at the official launch of the programme on 27th October More Top Business Leaders Lend Their Expertise to CUMBA Elite Mentorship Programme T he new class of full-time MBA students at the University have the chance to learn from top-notch business leaders under the CUMBA Elite Mentorship Programme which kicked off its second year on 6th November 2004. The programme, with 40 mentors from 32 last year, has received resounding success for the support it enjoys from CUMBA alumni. 'Our mentor list continues to look like a direct copy of the Hong Kong Who's Who Directory with many well-known faces and well-known names who are undoubtedly movers and shakers in Hong Kong society,' said Prof. T.S. Lee, dean of the Faculty of Business of Administration. Mr. Armstrong Lee, principal architect of the programme and managing director of Worldwide Human Capital Consulting Ltd., is very impressed by the continued support from the programme's alumni. 'We have many outstanding alumni in the top echelons of management in the public and private sectors. By having mentors share their guidance and insight into the world of commerce, the programme makes a valuable contribution to the education of Hong Kong's future business leaders,' he said. Ryan Tarn, a participant of the 2003 programme, believes the programme gave him much valuable experience. His mentor Mr. Michael Wong, executive director of Sun Hung Kai Properties, was eager to share experience, business expertise, and personal values with him. 'During my eight-week internship, I was given the opportunity to work on different projects and become acquainted with different types of tasks in the field of investment,' said Ryan. Mr. Armstrong Lee, Ms. Miranda Cheung executive director (finance) of Hutchison Harbour Ring Ltd. and chairman of the CUMBA Alumni Association, and Prof. T.S. Lee Funding Support for CUHK Research T he following seven research projects undertaken by faculty members of the University have attracted funding support from various sources: • Bimodal Modelling for Expressive Text-to-Visual Synthesis in Putonghua and Cantonese (HK$474,148) Sponsors: National Natural Science Foundation of China and Research Grants Council Principal investigator: Prof. Helen Meng (Department of Systems Engineering and Engineering Management) • Aqueous-aqueous Emulsion for Microencapsulation of Delicate Proteins for Sustained Release (HK$397,110) Sponsors: National Natural Science Foundation of China and Research Grants Council Principal investigator: Prof. Chow Hee Lum (School of Pharmacy) • Microsatellite Instability Profiles and Their Correlation with Clinico-pathological Features in Endometrial Cancer (HK$ 16,700) Sponsors: Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Research Grants Council Principal investigator: Prof. Wong Yick Fu (Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology) • MGIS for Maritime Sustainability Development (HK$139,600) Sponsors: Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Research Grants Council Principal investigator: Prof. Lin Hui (Department of Geography and Resource Management) • 2004-5 Chinese Opera Information Centre (HK$300,000) Sponsor: Hong Kong Arts Development Council Principal investigator: Prof. Chan Sau-yan (Department of Music) • Hong Kong Xiqu Newsletter (Issues 8 to 10) (HK $47 ,000) Sponsor: Hong Kong Arts Development Council Principal investigator: Prof .Chan Sau-yan (Department of Music) • Programme of Training Fall and Fracture Prevention Professionals (HK$ 104,000) Sponsor: Professional Services Development Assistance Scheme Principal investigator: Prof. Leung Kwok-sui (Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology) Sexual Dysfunction Heralds Life-threatening Complications in Diabetic Men A recent study conducted by the Faculty of Medicine on the sex life of diabetic middle-aged men revealed that up to 70 per cent had reduced sex drive and performance, felt the need to reduce sexual activities, and expressed lack of confidence and satisfaction with their sex life. The survey was initiated by Prof. Juliana Chan, professor in the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, and conducted at the Prince of Wales Hospital in July 2003. It involved 123 Hong Kong Chinese men aged 41 and 64 with varying durations of diabetes; and evaluated patients' libido, confidence in maintaining erection, sexual performance and satisfaction, as well as mental and physical health. The objective was to improve understanding of the quality of sex life of middle-aged men with diabetes and its impact on physical health and general well-being. Among the participants, 40.2 per cent admitted to having reduced sexual desire, 36.9 per cent felt the need to reduce sexual activities, 41.8 per cent felt their sexual performance had declined, close to half did not have confidence in having or maintaining penile erection, 72.7 per cent had reduced sexual performance, and 60.7 per cent were not satisfied with their sexual performance. More importantly, all such changes for the worse were associated with long duration of disease, high blood pressure, increased protein in urine, and reduced kidney function, which, in turn, were associated with heightened risk of kidney failure and heart disease. In light of the data, experts at the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics advise diabetic men to adopt an open attitude towards their sex life, increase communication with their partners, and seek advice from their doctors when they have problems. 2 No. 249 19th November 2004