The Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) selects International Fellows (FTERM) every three years at its World Congress. It is widely known as one of the most distinguished academic honours. Professor Rocky S. TUAN, Vice-Chancellor and President, Lee Quo Wei and Lee Yick Hoi Lun Professor of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), has been elected as FTERM in the 2021 class for his eminent research achievement in skeletal tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Among the six new fellows, Professor Tuan is the only representative from the Asia-Pacific Region and becomes the first-ever Hong Kong scholar to be named a FTERM, among a global membership of just 45.
Development of translational applications
Professor Tuan’s outstanding research achievements cover basic science and engineering, as well as translational and clinical applications. He integrates “smart” biomaterial and bioengineering technologies with stem cells and has successfully developed translational applications for the repair and regeneration of human tissues. Recently, he engineered the first-ever “microJoint”, a 3D joint-on-a-chip that is used to study and screen for potential therapeutic agents for debilitating osteoarthritis and other joint diseases.
Professor Tuan believes that, as the global population is getting older, regenerative medicine offers hope and promise to patients suffering from various conditions associated with ageing or degeneration. With regenerative medicine recognised as a key research theme at CUHK, the University has active collaborations with world-leading institutions and Professor Tuan hopes that his scientific inventions and knowledge can continue to play a role in driving the development of technological innovation both locally and globally.
