TRS Symposium 2022 | The University of Hong Kong

About TRS

Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS) aims to focus academic research efforts of UGC-funded universities on themes of strategic importance to the long-term development of Hong Kong.

There are four designated research themes under the TRS. Under the four research themes, there are 20 grand challenge topics. The themes and grand challenge topics are as follows:

Theme 1: Understanding Diseases and Disease Prevention

1. Infectious Diseases
2. Understanding Disease Mechanisms to Improving Health
3. Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine
4. Disease Prevention and Management

Theme 2: Developing a Sustainable Environment

1. Water Pollution and Water Treatment

2. Sustainable Built Environment

3. Energy Efficiency, Conservation, Conversion and Harvesting

4. Air Quality

5. Food Production and Food Security

Theme 3: Enhancing Hong Kong’s Strategic Position as a Regional and International Business Centre

1. Hong Kong’s Future as an International Financial Centre

2. Promoting Hong Kong’s Business through Networking Capability

3. Promoting Hong Kong as a Centre of Excellence for Business Services

4. Innovation Ecology and Business Creation in Knowledge Economy

5. Financial Technologies (FinTech) and Regulatory Technologies (RegTech)

Theme 4: Advancing Emerging Research and Innovations Important to Hong Kong

1. Big Data and Artificial Intelligence

2. Imaging, Robotics and Smart Manufacturing

3. Urban Infrastructure and Smart City

4. Education and Digital Citizenship

5. Quantum Technology

6. Integrated Circuits

Program Rundown

Time	Programme
9:00 – 9:15	Opening Ceremony (by Chair of Research Grants Council) Professor Yuk-shan WONG
9:15 – 9:45	Plenary Session – Funding Mechanism of TRS (by Chair of Collaborative Research Projects Steering Committee) Professor Paul KL YU
	Lecture Theatre T1	Lecture Theatre T2
9:45 – 10:30	THEME 1 – A1 Plasma DNA as a Platform Technology for Cancer Detection Professor Dennis Yuk-ming LO The Chinese University of Hong Kong	THEME 2 – B1 Diagnosis and Prognosis of Intensifying Eutrophication, Hypoxia and the Ecosystem Consequences around Hong Kong Waters: Coupled Physical-biogeochemical-pollution Studies Professor Jianping GAN The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
10:30 – 11:15	THEME 1 – A2 Understanding Cancer Stemness in Liver Cancer – From Regulation to Translational Applications Professor Irene Oi-lin NG The University of Hong Kong	THEME 2 – B2 Enhanced Separation and Sludge Refinery for Wastewater Treatment – Solving the Nexus of Pollution Control and Resource Recovery in Mega Cities Professor Xiao-yan LI The University of Hong Kong
11:15 – 11:30	Tea Break
11:30 – 12:15	THEME 1 – A3 Gastric Cancer Genomics and Beyond – Moving from Patient Samples to 3D Organoid Cultures for Integrative Genomics Analysis, Drug Sensitivity Assays, Cell Biological Studies and Animal Models Professor Suet-yi LEUNG The University of Hong Kong	THEME 2 – B3 Creation of Rechargeable Electron-fuels for Stationary Power Supplies and Electric Vehicles Professor Minhua SHAO The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
12:15 – 13:00	THEME 1 – A4 Translational Studies for Elucidating the Tumor Heterogeneity and Molecular Evolution in Metastatic Gastrointestinal Tract Cancers for Personalized Medicine Professor Simon Ying-kit LAW The University of Hong Kong	THEME 2 – B4 Photochemical Air Pollution in Highly Urbanized Subtropical Regions: From Micro Environments to Urban-terrestrial-oceanic Interactions Professor Tao WANG The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
13:00 – 14:30	Lunch Break
14:30 – 15:15	THEME 1 -A5 Functional Bone Regeneration in Challenging Bone Disorders and Defects Professor Ling QIN The Chinese University of Hong Kong	THEME 4 – B5 A Compact System for Terahertz Imaging and Spectroscopy Professor Chi-hou CHAN City University of Hong Kong
15:15 – 16:00	THEME 4 – A6 Big Data for Smart and Personalized Air Pollution Monitoring and Health Management Professor Victor On-kwok LI The University of Hong Kong	THEME 4 – B6 Learning and Assessment for Digital Citizenship Professor Nancy Wai-ying LAW The University of Hong Kong

9:45 – 10:30

Plasma DNA as a Platform Technology for Cancer Detection

Professor Dennis Yuk-ming LO

9:45 – 10:30

Diagnosis and Prognosis of Intensifying Eutrophication, Hypoxia and the Ecosystem Consequences around Hong Kong Waters: Coupled Physical-biogeochemical-pollution Studies

Professor Jianping GAN

10:30 – 11:15

Understanding Cancer Stemness in Liver Cancer – From Regulation to Translational Applications

Professor Irene Oi-lin NG

10:30 – 11:15

Enhanced Separation and Sludge Refinery for Wastewater Treatment – Solving the Nexus of Pollution Control and Resource Recovery in Mega Cities

Professor Xiao-yan LI

11:30 – 12:15

Gastric Cancer Genomics and Beyond - Moving from Patient Samples to 3D Organoid Cultures for Integrative Genomics Analysis, Drug Sensitivity Assays, Cell Biological Studies and Animal Models

Professor Suet-yi LEUNG

11:30 – 12:15

Creation of Rechargeable Electron-fuels for Stationary Power Supplies and Electric Vehicles

Professor Minhua SHAO

12:15 – 13:00

Translational Studies for Elucidating the Tumor Heterogeneity and Molecular Evolution in Metastatic Gastrointestinal Tract Cancers for Personalized Medicine

Professor Maria Li LUNG (Nov 2017-June 2022)
Professor Simon Ying-kit LAW (July 2022-Oct 2022)

12:15 – 13:00

Photochemical Air Pollution in Highly Urbanized Subtropical Regions: From Micro Environments to Urban-terrestrial-oceanic Interactions

Professor Tao WANG

14:30 – 15:15

Functional Bone Regeneration in Challenging Bone Disorders and Defects

Professor Ling QIN

14:30 – 15:15

A Compact System for Terahertz Imaging and Spectroscopy

Professor Chi-hou CHAN

15:15 – 16:00

Big Data for Smart and Personalized Air Pollution Monitoring and Health Management