Supported by the Croucher Foundation, Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) successfully hosted the Croucher Advanced Study Institutes (ASI) on “Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Biomedicine” from 26 to 28 November 2025, bringing together over 80 scientists, AI researchers, hospital practitioners, and students from across the region for an in-depth exploration of AI in healthcare.

Organised by the Department of Computer Science and the Research Office, the programme featured 12 lectures by six renowned experts from world-leading institutions such as Stanford University and Yale University. Topics spanned generative AI, large-scale foundation models, neural image recovery, computational pathology, and unmet biomedical research needs, with a particular focus on integrating AI-driven healthcare and drug discovery with Chinese medicine – a unique research area at HKBU.

Among the distinguished guests attending the event were Ms. Cissy Lo, Head of Grants at the Croucher Foundation, along with HKBU representatives: Professor Terence Lau, Interim Chief Innovation Officer; Professor Liu Jiming, Associate Vice-President (Research Development); Professor Xu Jianliang, Head and Chair Professor of the Department of Computer Science; Professor Yuen Pong Chi, Chair Professor of the Department of Computer Science; and Professor C. Mohan, Distinguished Professor of Science.

The intensive programme included mingle sessions and two poster presentations showcasing nearly 40 AI projects. In his opening remarks, Professor Liu Jiming said, “This gathering not only equipped participants with cutting-edge AI tools for biomedicine but also sparked cross-disciplinary collaborations that are set to drive meaningful breakthroughs in this new era of AI-driven healthcare.” He further emphasised HKBU’s strategic commitment to fostering its research clusters in “Health and Drug Discovery” and AI applications, where transformative innovations arise at the convergence of these disciplines.

This year’s ASI Director, Professor Yuen Pong Chi, expressed his sincere gratitude to the Croucher Foundation for enabling an event of this calibre to advance Hong Kong’s scientific excellence. He remarked that while the ASI programme lasted only three days, the connections forged will seed a rich network for research collaborations at HKBU, driving a lasting impact on biomedicine and AI, both regionally and globally.

Founded by the late Mr. Noel Croucher in 1979, the Croucher Foundation is dedicated to promoting the standard of the natural sciences, technology and medicine in Hong Kong. The Foundation has organised the ASI programme in partnership with local universities since 1998. By inviting world-renowned scientists to deliver short, high-level courses, the programme promotes the exchange of knowledge and facilitates global scientific cooperation and networking.