CUHK chief Dennis Lo ‘calm’ about talk of Nobel Prize for groundbreaking test

Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming, the vice-chancellor and president of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), remains composed when discussing the possibility of winning a Nobel Prize. In an exclusive interview with the South China Morning Post, Lo expressed his calm disposition and credited his achievements to his team, rather than individual effort.

The molecular geneticist is widely recognized as a potential Nobel laureate, but he downplayed the speculation, emphasizing that awards are beyond one's control. Lo's work, which has already garnered prestigious accolades such as the Lasker Award and the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, continues to benefit over 100 million pregnant women worldwide through his non-invasive prenatal testing invention.

The CUHK president, who is focused on neuroscience and life science technology, unveiled his university's latest five-year plan, highlighting plans to build a new 300,000 sq ft medical faculty building in Pak Shek Kok. The facility will house a neuroscience research center, accommodating around 850 staff members and researchers.

Lo stated that neuroscience is crucial for the 21st century, citing diseases like Alzheimer's as significant health threats. While acknowledging the challenges of managing the hospital's debt, including a HK$4 billion government loan, Lo expressed pride in the hospital's progress and its role as a bridge between public and private healthcare services.