The 2025 Distinguished Scholars Forum
The University of Macau (UM) and Dr. Stanley Ho Medical Development Foundation (SHMDF) jointly held the 2025 Distinguished Scholars Forum as part of the ‘Set Sail for New Horizons, Create the Future’ Grant. The forum aimed to serve as a platform for advancing medical research, healthcare excellence, and scientific innovation.
In his opening remarks, Ge Wei, vice rector of UM, highlighted the university’s transformation into a research-oriented institution of international standing, ranking among the top 1% in 16 research fields in the Essential Science Indicators (ESI) database. Among these fields, engineering, computer science, and pharmacology & toxicology are ranked in the top 0.1%. Ge also shared the development progress of UM’s campus in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. He emphasised the university’s commitment to systematically contributing to the development of education, technology, and talent cultivation in the Greater Bay Area while enhancing its international influence.
In his speech, Huen Chung Yuen, vice chairman of the Board of Trustees of SHMDF, emphasised the foundation’s dedication to fostering innovation in health sciences and artificial intelligence (AI). He highlighted additional funding for advancing research on AI applications this year, noting that ‘medicine and engineering are inseparable’ and that new materials and AI have a significant impact on medical research and treatment. SHMDF is dedicated to directing its resources towards initiatives that integrate AI with health sciences.
During the forum, He Qianjun, distinguished professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, discussed his research on hydrogen and its relevance to life and health sciences. Mok Seng Peng, professor in the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) at UM; Zhong Junwen, assistant professor in FST; Qu Songnan, professor in the Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering at UM; Chen Xiuping, professor in the Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences (ICMS) at UM; and Hoi Pui Man, associate professor in ICMS, also shared their research progress and the results of their funded projects.
In his closing remarks, Xu Cheng-Zhong, dean of FST, said that the forum showcased pioneering research in biomedical innovation, AI applications in healthcare, and next-generation diagnostic technologies. He also expressed gratitude to SHMDF for its unwavering support and stressed the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration.
Those attending the forum included Huen Wing Ming, chairman of the Board of Trustees and Board of Directors of SHMDF; Michael Ching, director of operations (Macao) of SHMDF; Poon Kai Tik, director of operations (Hong Kong) of SHMDF; and Kenrick Fok, research director of SHMDF.
