Fall Issue, 2014

www4.hku.hk/hongrads On October 18, 2014, Professor Shinya Yamanaka (2 nd right), the 2012 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine, was conferred the degree of Doctor of Science honoris causa for his contributions to the field of stem cell research. Trained as a surgeon, Professor Yamanaka changed his career to be a researcher and is now one of the leading stem cell experts in the world. Started at the Nara Institute of Science and Technology, his innovative reprogramming of pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) has brought him many prestigious awards including the Nobel Prize, the Shaw Prize, the Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award and many others. Currently he is Director of the Centre for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), which was founded in 2008 in response to his discovery, at Kyoto University, and was named Senior Investigator at the Gladstone Institutes from 2007. Stem Cell Breakthrough to Future Cures The magical moment of truth came in 2006 when the correct gene combination was confirmed. It meant that it was no longer necessary to use living human embryos to provide stem cells - rather an existing adult cell could be reprogrammed by adding a small number of key genes into its primitive or pluripotent stem-cell form. The technique was first derived from using adult mouse fibroblasts, but subsequently proven to be equally applicable to human adult fibroblasts. The resulting cell was named induced pluripotent stem cell, or iPS cell. Professor Michael Wilkinson Public Orator Honorary Degree As a once-failed surgeon who left clinical medicine, that my career change may save far more lives than I ever would have in the operating room gives me humble pleasure. Professor Shinya Yamanaka 山中伸彌 19