CUHK chief Dennis Lo stays calm on Nobel talk
SCMP · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Chinese University of Hong Kong vice-chancellor and president Dennis Lo Yuk-ming said he is taking a calm view of speculation that he could receive a Nobel Prize for his scientific work. In an interview, the molecular geneticist said awards are beyond a scientist’s control and stressed that his attention remains on research and on CUHK’s future development, including a new medical faculty building and a stronger neuroscience focus
Key Points
- Dennis Lo, vice-chancellor and president of CUHK, is widely regarded as the Hongkonger closest to winning a Nobel Prize in science
- Lo invented non-invasive prenatal testing, a breakthrough that has been used by more than 100 million pregnant women worldwide
- He said he would “maintain a calm attitude”, adding that scientists can do science but cannot control whether awards are granted
- Lo said the honours he has received, including the Lasker Award, Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences and Future Science Prize, recognise his whole team’s work
- He also linked those awards to Hong Kong’s scientific progress over the past 30 years and discussed CUHK plans in medicine and neuroscience
Why It Matters
Lo’s remarks place the spotlight not only on one researcher’s international standing, but also on how Hong Kong’s universities present their scientific achievements to the world. His emphasis on team science and long-term university development points to a broader effort to turn research prestige into institutional strength at CUHK