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The Research Fund for the Control of Infectious Diseases (RFCID) is a concrete measure of the Government to further enhance Hong Kong's research base in infectious diseases, the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, said today (May 21).
Addressing a contract signing ceremony to commission the University of Hong Kong (HKU) to carry out research projects under the RFCID, Dr Yeoh said the experience with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and avian influenza had highlighted the importance of infectious disease research and cross-boundary research collaboration within the Pearl River Delta Region.
"The $500 million RFCID was set up to encourage, facilitate and support research on the prevention, treatment and control of infectious diseases in Hong Kong, in particular emerging infectious diseases such as SARS," he said.
Of this sum, $50 million had already been provided to support research projects on infectious diseases in the Mainland through the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology.
The remaining $450 million would support two categories of projects -- commissioned projects and investigator-initiated projects.
Commissioned projects are those that address specific research needs, fill in gaps in scientific knowledge and respond to public health needs and threats identified by the Government. HKU is one of the institutions invited to carry out commissioned projects.
Speaking on the commissioning of HKU under the RFCID, Dr Yeoh said HKU was internationally recognised for its pioneering work in identifying the SARS coronavirus and the outstanding work in avian influenza H5N1 research and surveillance, adding that the university was well recognised for its solid track record and international profile of many of its investigators.
"The funding to the university will further consolidate their initiative through a focused research programme.
"With enhanced microbiological, virological and epidemiological facilities provided under the RFCID, HKU can certainly leverage its considerable expertise to further knowledge and improve the safety and protection of the public," he said.
The RFCID will provide $8 million to enhance the research infrastructure of HKU, facilitating the completion of construction of a state-of-the-art Biosafety Level 3 laboratory.
Another $22 million will be provided to the university to undertake a portfolio of research in basic laboratory, epidemiological and public health research in emerging infectious diseases. The research will span five years producing results from almost 30 different research projects.
Also addressing the signing ceremony, Vice-Chancellor of HKU, Professor Tsui Lap-chee, said he was grateful to the Government for its support towards the university's research on infectious diseases.
The setting up of the RFCID had not only shown the government attached importance to local research work but it had also demonstrated its commitment in safeguarding public health and making Hong Kong a healthier international city to live in, he said.
He believed with the Government's support in HKU's research work, both the academic community and the business sector would be encouraged to pitch in more resources to push forward the development of biotechnology, thus making it possible for Hong Kong to develop into a biotechnology centre in the Asian region in the long run.
Today's signing ceremony was witnessed by the Acting Dean of Faculty of Medicine, HKU, Professor Raymond Liang, and the Head of Research Office of the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau, Dr Lo Su-vui.
Members of HKU's research team, Professor Yuen Kwok-yung and Professor Lam Tai-hing, also took the opportunity to present their research plans commissioned under the RFCID.
As regards the investigator-initiated projects, the research community had responded positively to two open rounds of calls for grant applications by the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau.
So far, 25 investigator-initiated projects on infectious diseases with a funding commitment of $18.7 million were supported. These projects covered basic research, etiology, epidemiology and public health as well as clinical and health services research. The Research Council will further consider another 13 investigator-initiated projects for funding in its June meeting.
The Government announced the setting up of the RFCID in July last year after the World Health Organisation removed Hong Kong from the list of areas with recent local transmission of SARS.
Ends/Friday, May 21, 2004
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