55 Prof. Ip also led the establishment of the Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, in collaboration with the Stanford University School of Medicine and University College London under the Health@InnoHK research cluster program. Since 2020, the Center has brought together expertise from the three institutions to accelerate progress in understanding and developing precision diagnosis and treatments for devastating neurodegenerative diseases. In the long run, this Center will support a collaborative scientific hub for neurodegenerative disease research in Hong Kong. Prof. Ip’s impact on Hong Kong’s research landscape can also be seen in her role as a Hong Kong deputy to the 13th National People’s Congress, in which she has constantly advocated for cross-boundary collaboration at a higher level. In 2018, she took the initiative, alongside other Hong Kongbased fellows of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, to request the Central Government to make cross-boundary remittance of Mainland science and research funding to Hong Kong, which succeeded, improving the flow of funding and resources into Hong Kong. This will certainly give a boost to scientific research in the region, enhancing the overall competitiveness of the Greater Bay Area. Prof. Ip’s commitment to growth and development is evident on many fronts, from personal and institutional to regional and national. Having progressed steadily through the ranks from a junior faculty member to the President of HKUST (with effect from October 2022) in nearly three decades, she is grateful to have the opportunity to grow with the institution that she finds much pleasure working at. As she turns a new page in her career, she is equally excited to see the university realize its strategic vision of HKUST 2.0, starting with the opening of HKUST (Guangzhou), which will unleash exceptional opportunities for discovery, learning, and innovation. Upon being chosen as President, Prof. Ip said, “I am humbled by the trust placed in me, and I will work tirelessly to build upon our foundation of excellence as we embark on HKUST 2.0, the next chapter of our university’s development. Once our new campus in Guangzhou opens in September 2022, we will have expanded capabilities and resources, wider expertise, and stronger support for both exploratory and mission-encouraged research, all of which will be available to our members on both campuses.”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDk5Njg=