CUHK strengthens Hong Kong-Shenzhen medical collaboration to advance a new vision for academic and healthcare development in the GBA

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 30 October 2026 – The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has been deeply engaged in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) for more than two decades. Through 45 years of dedicated development, the CUHK Faculty of Medicine (CU Medicine) has become a world-leading medical school. Recognising the immense growth potential and future healthcare needs of the GBA, CUHK will fulfill its distinctive “One Brand, Two Campuses” vision, integrate the complementary strengths of its campuses in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, and advance cross-campus collaboration by appointing Professor Philip Chiu Wai-yan, Dean of Medicine at CUHK, to concurrently serve as Dean of Medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen). Professor Chiu will also be appointed as Associate Vice President (Medical Affairs) of CUHK-Shenzhen, with a term aligned with his current tenure as Dean of Medicine at CUHK. The appointments will take effect on 1 November 2026. He will oversee the strategic development, academic planning and collaboration initiatives of both medical schools, while leading global recruitment efforts to attract top medical talent.

CUHK’s Dean of Medicine Professor Philip Chiu appointed Dean of Medicine at CUHK-Shenzhen

This appointment marks a significant strategic move under the “One Brand, Two Campuses” vision. It will further strengthen the capabilities and advantages of both campuses in medical education, translational research and clinical excellence. By leveraging the crucial clinical and research platforms provided by the two CUHK medical centres in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, CUHK aims to advance medical innovation and the internationalisation of medical education, cultivate top global healthcare professionals, elevate regional healthcare standards and serve the broader GBA. The initiative is also aligned with the National 15th Five-Year Plan and the First Five-Year Plan of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Under the governance and management framework of CUHK, Professor Chiu will be accountable to both CUHK and CUHK-Shenzhen campuses. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of CUHK Medical Centre. Under his leadership, the two medical schools will further deepen collaboration under their respective governance principles and frameworks, making full use of the two teaching hospitals, namely CUHK Medical Centre and CUHK-Shenzhen Medical Centre, to enhance clinical research capacity, accelerate the translation of cutting-edge medical technologies, strengthen medical talent development and contribute to improving medical education and clinical research across the GBA.

Deep roots in the GBA and a strong foundation of Hong Kong-Shenzhen collaboration

CUHK has maintained a presence in the GBA for more than 20 years. As early as 2006, it co-established the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, gradually building a multi-layered network of academic, research and healthcare partnerships. Founded in 2014, CUHK-Shenzhen inherits CUHK’s educational philosophy to “combine tradition with modernity, and to bring together China and the West”. It serves as CUHK’s campus in Shenzhen and extends CUHK’s educational brand into the GBA.

To support the national GBA development strategy, CUHK and CUHK-Shenzhen have prioritised medical collaboration since 2018 through the establishment of the School of Medicine at CUHK-Shenzhen and the development of a comprehensive teaching hospital. The two campuses will maintain close strategic coordination in management and development. while continuing collaboration in teaching, research and talent cultivation.

Drawing on the experience of CU Medicine, these initiatives aim to nurture healthcare professionals with international perspectives, professional excellence and humanistic values to meet the healthcare and public health needs of the GBA, as well as the nation as a whole.

Strategic appointment to realise the synergy of “One Brand, Two Campuses”

Professor John Chai Yat-chiu, Chairman of the CUHK Council, highly commended the appointment: “As an important manifestation of the ‘One Brand, Two Campuses’ strategy, this dual-appointment brings together the medical research strengths and advantages of Hong Kong and Shenzhen. It will expand the clinical research network and educational platforms of both medical schools, enhance the Greater Bay Area’s competitiveness in international medical innovation and cultivate globally-minded healthcare talent. It will also help attract leading medical professionals from around the world to the region, creating mutual benefits for the development of academic medicine and healthcare systems across the Greater Bay Area, while supporting the National 15th Five-Year Plan and the First Five-Year Plan of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.”

Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming, CUHK’s Vice-Chancellor and President and Chairman of the Governing Board of CUHK-Shenzhen, said: “Rooted in Hong Kong, contributing to the nation and connected to the world, CUHK is taking an important step in focusing on the long-term development of the Greater Bay Area and advancing its strategic footprint in healthcare innovation across the region through this appointment. Professor Philip Chiu’s outstanding academic achievements and international vision make him exceptionally well suited for this role. Under his leadership, the two medical schools will deepen collaboration while adhering to the established governance principles, injecting new momentum into the development of medical technology and higher education in Hong Kong, Shenzhen and across the nation.”

Professor Xu Yangsheng, President of CUHK-Shenzhen, warmly welcomed Professor Chiu’s appointment: “Since its establishment, the School of Medicine at CUHK-Shenzhen has been committed to developing a world-class system for medical education and research, raising healthcare standards across the Greater Bay Area and the broader nation. Professor Chiu is internationally renowned and possesses extensive leadership experience. We look forward to his leadership in accelerating the growth of the medical school, attracting outstanding global talent and serving the healthcare and public health needs of the Greater Bay Area, as well as the nation as a whole.”

Professor Chiu expressed his gratitude and shared his vision for the future: “Strengthening collaboration between Hong Kong and Shenzhen in medical education and research is key to driving high-quality healthcare development in the Greater Bay Area and across the wider nation. I will devote my full efforts to fostering deep-level synergy between the two medical schools across education, research and clinical innovation to achieve a powerful ‘1 + 1 > 2’ effect. This appointment will enable CU Medicine to further expand its clinical data and translational research platforms, reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as an international hub for medical innovation. At the same time, it will accelerate the internationalisation of the School of Medicine at CUHK-Shenzhen, attract top-tier medical talent and drive breakthroughs at the frontiers of medicine. Through close collaboration between the two campuses, we aim to align with the national “Healthy China” agenda and the Greater Bay Area’s innovation development strategy, jointly building a globally influential hub for medical innovation and talent development.”

This strategic cross-boundary appointment reflects the forward-looking strategic vision and holistic perspective of both Hong Kong and Shenzhen. CU Medicine has a strong foundation in medical education, clinical services, frontier research and healthcare innovation, while Shenzhen offers a vibrant innovation ecosystem and significant opportunities for clinical research and technology translation.

By serving concurrently as dean of both medical schools, Professor Chiu will help align and complement the development strategies of the two institutions, strengthen communication and coordination, capitalise on the unique advantages of Hong Kong and Shenzhen, support the advancement of the School of Medicine at CUHK-Shenzhen toward greater internationalisation and academic excellence, and expand CUHK’s footprint in healthcare innovation.

This initiative not only serves as a key measure to align with the national GBA strategy and support the implementation of the “Healthy China” agenda, but also represents a visionary, epoch-making alignment with the global frontier of medicine. It will inject powerful momentum into jointly building an internationally influential medical technology innovation ecosystem across both cities, while advancing the development of human health and healthcare worldwide.

CUHK website: https://www.cuhk.edu.hk/ CUHK-Shenzhen website: https://www.cuhk.edu.cn/ Video of CUHK Integrating into the Greater Bay Area: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTZtdXKJu-Q

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