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CUHK Professor Edwin Chan receives The Spirit of Innovation Award at The Spirit of Hong Kong Awards
Professor Edwin Chan Ho-yin, Director of the School of Life Sciences in the Faculty of Science at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), recently received The Spirit of Innovation Award at the 13th Spirit of Hong Kong Awards. The accolade recognises his enduring dedication to researching rare neurological and neuromuscular diseases and his pioneering efforts in translating scientific breakthroughs into clinical applications that benefit society.
Professor Chan expressed his profound gratitude, saying: “I am deeply honoured to receive the The Spirit of Innovation Award and I am grateful for the unwavering support of my family, my team, CUHK and Hong Kong Science Park. The resilience of rare disease patients and their families has always been the greatest driving force behind our research. This award is not only a recognition of our scientific achievements and clinical translation efforts but also a gesture of support for the entire rare disease community. The fundamental purpose of scientific research is to improve human lives, and I will continue to dedicate myself to scientific innovation, to bring hope to more patients with rare diseases.”
Professor Chan received undergraduate training in Biochemistry from CUHK, doctoral training at The University of Cambridge and postdoctoral training at The University of Pennsylvania. Since 1999, he has dedicated his career to the study of rare neurological and neuromuscular disorders. In 2014, he established an intercontinental research collaboration network on rare neuronal diseases, including Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), myotonic dystrophy and spinocerebellar ataxia, significantly advancing the medical community’s understanding of these conditions.
Beyond his scientific achievements, Professor Chan is deeply committed to community service. He serves as a consultant to the Hong Kong Spinocerebellar Ataxia Association and Chairperson of its Scientific and Medical Advisory Committee. He is a Founding Member of The Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences and served on its inaugural Executive Committee from 2019 to 2022. In 2023, he co-founded a biomedical startup, Rare Power Limited. The company aims to provide exceptional services to rare disease patients through the core philosophy of the three Cs: care, check and cure. It is dedicated to pioneering novel therapeutic directions for patients with rare diseases.
About the Spirit of Hong Kong Awards and The Spirit of Innovation Award
Established in 2013, The Spirit of Hong Kong Awards is an annual campaign co-organised by Sino Group and the South China Morning Post to celebrate the achievements of truly remarkable people who might otherwise be off the radar.
The Spirit of Innovation Award honours an individual who is behind breakthrough technologies or innovations for the good of society.
For more information, please visit: https://spiritofhk.scmp.com/
Professor Edwin Chan (middle) received The Spirit of Innovation Award, which recognises his enduring dedication to researching rare neurological and neuromuscular diseases and his pioneering efforts in translating scientific breakthroughs into clinical applications that benefit society.
Professor Chan’s research employs Drosophila models to develop peptide-based biologics aimed at clearing harmful molecules implicated in neurodegeneration, bringing new hope for the treatment of rare diseases.
Professor Chan’s research employs Drosophila models to develop peptide-based biologics aimed at clearing harmful molecules implicated in neurodegeneration, bringing new hope for the treatment of rare diseases.
