HKU to Join the RUBICON Project Funded by the European Commission
31 Jan 2016
The University of Hong Kong will partner with other nine renowned key global institutions to join the “Research on molecUlar and Biomechanical Interactions in CONnective tissue disorders” (RUBICON) funded by the European Commission. It is also the only university in greater China being invited to take part in this exciting project. Professor Danny Chan, Professor of School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong (HKU) participated the kick-off ceremony of the RUBICON Project, held in Rome, Italy on January 28, 2016 by tele-conferencing, which marks the beginning of this unique interdisciplinary project and reinforces the strength of research in skeletal and connective tissues in Hong Kong.
RUBICON Project
RUBICON is an innovation staff exchange network under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 and coordinated by the University of L'Aquila, Italy. It gathers the experts in the areas of cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics and clinical sciences who will cross-fertilise their respective research fields. The role of each international partner is providing training opportunities for young researchers across borders and they will rotate among the participating institutions to improve their interdisciplinary training. All partner laboratories have an excellent international reputation, are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and high level mentoring. The long-term goal of RUBICON is to consolidate a class of young scientists to secure future developments in the connective tissue arena, create a solid basis for further collaboration in this field and create strong partnerships between the countries and regions involved.
The project involves 10 key global institutions with five European institutions, namely University of L'Aquila (Italy), Newcastle University (UK), The University of Manchester (UK), Erasmus University Rotterdam (The Netherlands) and University of Copenhagen (Denmark), and five non-European institutions, namely The University of Hong Kong, University of Cape Town (South Africa), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (US), Anna University of Chennai (India) and Murdoch Childrens Research Institute (Australia).
RUBICON benefits researchers in Hong Kong
Professor Danny Chan, Professor of School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine, HKU says, “Rubicon is the name of a river in Italy. It also refers to Julius Caesar 's perseverance of passing a point of no return. The participation of HKU in RUBICON will enhance the competitiveness of researchers in Hong Kong and to consolidate young talents, secure future developments in the understanding and treatment of musculoskeletal diseases involving tendons, cartilage and bone, that are of major global health issues in an ageing population like Hong Kong. It is also further proof of the world-class research excellence of the HKU in similar interdisciplinary collaboration.”
“I am excited with this partnership and the fantastic opportunities for young researchers in Hong Kong, and would be in line with the ambition of the Hong Kong government to invest in science and technology. It is also fitting that the Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong recently put forward a call for other researchers to participate in Horizon 2020 program with matching research funding from RGC,” says Professor Danny Chan.
"The work ahead will be exciting and the future is bright for skeletal research in Hong Kong," says Professor Kathryn Cheah Song-eng, Professor and Chair of Biochemistry, Jimmy and Emily Tang Professor in Molecular Genetics, School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine, HKU. Professor Kathryn Cheah is also the Director of the theme-based research scheme project “Functional analyses of how genomic variation affects personal risk for degenerative skeletal disorders”. She adds, “Our young researchers are all excited to participate in this project to acquire valuable scientific and technical knowledge to enhance their academic career in Hong Kong and competitiveness of Hong Kong in the international arena.”
To use the press release photo(s) for any publishing, publicity and related purpose, photo courtesy should be given to “Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong”
(From left) Mr Marco Ponzetti, Dr Alfredo Cappariello, University of L'Aquila, Italy, Dr Suvro Chatterjee, Anna University of Chennai, India, Professor Karl Kadler, The University of Manchester, UK, Professor Michael Briggs, Newcastle University, UK, Dr Bram van der Eerden, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands, Mr Michael Baldwin, Engedi Science Ltd, UK, Dr Nadia Rucci, Professor Anna Maria Teti, University of L'Aquila, Italy, Professor Malcolm Collins, University of Cape Town, South Africa and Professor Stig Peter Magnusson, University of Copenhagen, Denmark participated the kick-off ceremony of the RUBICON Project, held in Rome, Italy on January 28, 2016.
Professor Danny Chan, Professor of School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine, HKU points out that the participation of HKU in RUBICON is further proof of the world-class research excellence of the HKU’s interdisciplinary collaboration in biochemical sciences.
The young researchers led by Professor Danny Chan (Right 2) are excited to participate in the RUBICON Project to acquire valuable scientific and technical knowledge to enhance their academic career in Hong Kong.