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Professor Gary Choi Pui-tung, Vice-Chancellor Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has been honoured with the Croucher Tak Wah Mak Innovation Award 2025 by the Croucher Foundation in recognition of his outstanding contributions in scientific research. The award provides HK$5 million over five years to support Professor Choi’s pioneering research, fostering innovation in Hong Kong’s scientific community.

Professor Choi said: “I am deeply honoured and grateful for the recognition by the Croucher Foundation. The award is among the most prestigious awards for early career researchers in Hong Kong. It is an important recognition of my research contributions and also motivates me to pursue further innovations.”

Professor Choi’s research focuses on developing sophisticated mathematical tools to better model and visualise complex anatomical structures, aiming to improve medical imaging for diagnosis and surgery. Addressing the limitations of existing computational techniques, his project aims to create a comprehensive suite of tools that handle intricate geometry and topology. This includes efficient parameterisation, automatic feature detection, topology-aware 3D shape reconstruction, and an integrated platform for managing these structures.

Utilising applied and computational geometry, differential geometry, and mathematical imaging, Professor Choi’s work enhances the accuracy and efficiency of shape analysis while reducing geometric distortions. Additionally, his research leverages surface harmonics and data-driven optimisation to accelerate computations, facilitating real-time applications. His work aims not only to deepen scientific understanding but also to improve medical imaging and quantitative biology, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes through better diagnostic and surgical tools. Professor Choi added: “This work will greatly simplify the visualisation and modelling of a wide range of medical structures, thereby aiding in disease prognosis and diagnosis.” He hopes that his research would arouse public interest in mathematics and attract more young people in Hong Kong to conduct interdisciplinary mathematical research.

About the Croucher Tak Wah Mak Innovation Award: https://croucher.org.hk/en/funding/research-fellowships/croucher-tak-wah-mak-innovation-awards