The School of Chinese Medicine (SCM) at Hong Kong Baptist University hosted the “2025 Symposium on Autophagy, Aging, Cancer and Neurodegeneration: Therapeutic Potential of Chinese Medicine” on 28 July 2025.

The event featured six distinguished speakers, including Professor Lu Jiahong, Deputy Director (Research and Technology Transfer) of the Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences at the University of Macau; Professor Shen Hanming, Associate Dean (Teaching) of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Macau; Professor Ye Keqiang, Dean of the Faculty of Life and Health Sciences cum Head of the Biology Department at the Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology; Professor Zhao Yanxiang, Associate Head of the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Professor Zong Weixing, Distinguished Professor of Chemical Biology in the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers University in the U.S.; and Professor Song Juxian from the School of Pharmacy at Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, who delved into the significant role of autophagy in ageing and its related cancers and neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. They also explored the therapeutic potential of Chinese Medicine in modulating autophagy for cancer treatment and neuroprotection, aiming to seek innovative therapeutic strategies and underscoring the value of cross-disciplinary collaboration in advancing treatments for age-related diseases. 

The symposium was supported by the Mr. and Mrs. Ko Chi Ming Centre for Parkinson’s Disease Research and the Golden Meditech Centre for NeuroRegeneration Sciences. Established through generous donations from Mr. and Mrs. Ko Chi Ming in 2014, and Mr. Kam Yuen, Founder of Golden Meditech Holdings Limited, in 2018, these centres are dedicated to advancing SCM’s research and development in the field of neurodegenerative disease treatments. 

The symposium gathers a highly engaged audience, sparking lively and fruitful discussions