(CN - HKG) HKU gets $30m to fund disease research

[Guest guest]

South China Morning Post

Saturday, May 22, 2004

http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZH1O1LXRD.html

HKU gets $30m to fund disease research

by PATSY MOY

 

The University of Hong Kong has received $30 million in grants to

carry out scientific research on infectious diseases and to help build an

advanced laboratory to carry out testing on animals.

 

The $30 million is part of the government's $500 million special

research fund for the control of infectious diseases set up in July.

 

Of the $30 million, $8 million will help cover the cost of

constructing the university's $24 million bio-safety level three

laboratory - scheduled to be completed by next year - to carry out tests on

animals.

 

Bio-safety level three laboratories are equipped to deal with

potentially deadly diseases that have a potential for respiratory

transmission, such as tuberculosis and Sars. Access to the labs is

controlled and they have specialised ventilation systems to keep all

pathogens inside.

 

Both microbiologist Yuen Kwok-yung and Lam Tai-hing, chair professor

and head of the university's department of community medicine, promised to

safeguard academic freedom and the free flow of information, despite the

heavy government funding.

 

The pair spoke during the signing ceremony of the $500 million

Research Fund for the Control of Infectious Diseases, held at the government

offices in the Murray Building in Central, yesterday.

 

" We would not accept any conditions which bound us to do research in a

certain way, " Professor Lam said. " I also believe the government does not

intend to exert any influence. "

[Guest guest]

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South China Morning Post

Saturday, May 22, 2004

<http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZH1O1LXRD.html>

http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZH1O1LXRD.html

HKU gets $30m to fund disease research

by PATSY MOY

 

The University of Hong Kong has received $30 million in grants to

carry out scientific research on infectious diseases and to help build an

advanced laboratory to carry out testing on animals.

 

The $30 million is part of the government's $500 million special

research fund for the control of infectious diseases set up in July.

 

Of the $30 million, $8 million will help cover the cost of

constructing the university's $24 million bio-safety level three ;

laboratory - scheduled to be completed by next year - to carry out tests on

animals.

 

Bio-safety level three laboratories are equipped to deal with

potentially deadly diseases that have a potential for respiratory

transmission, such as tuberculosis and Sars. Access to the labs is

controlled and they have specialised ventilation systems to keep all

pathogens inside.

 

Both microbiologist Yuen Kwok-yung and Lam Tai-hing, chair professor

and head of the university's department of community medicine, promised to

safeguard academic freedom and the free flow of information, despite the

heavy government funding.

 

The pair spoke during the signing ceremony of the $500 million

Research Fund for the Control of Infectious Diseases, held at the government

offices in the Murray Building in Central, yesterday.

 

" We would not accept any conditions which bound us to do research in a

certain way, " Professor Lam said. " I also believe the government does not

intend to exert any influence. "

 

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