In 2005, the University celebrated the inauguration of the first 8 Endowed Professorships,
a milestone in the University's history.
To date, a total of 120 Endowed Professorships have been established.
Back
Ms Ruby Loke Yuen-Kin and Professor Loke Yung-Wai

Loke Yew Professorship in Pathology

“Loke Yew played a pivotal role in the founding of The University of Hong Kong. He also established a scholarship fund in support of medical and engineering students. The present Loke Yew Hall in the University is named in his honour. We, his grandchildren, have endowed this Professorship in Pathology to continue his legacy." 

Ms Ruby Loke Yuen-Kin and Professor Loke Yung-Wai

Irene O L Ng

Irene O L Ng

Appointed in 2008

Pathology and pathologists have become ‘center-stage’ in clinical practice and research. The pivotal role of pathologists in patient management through accurate and timely diagnosis is duly recognized by our professional colleagues. Pathologists are also playing a leading role in basic science and translational research. In the Department of Pathology, active research on cancers, immunity and infection plays a major role in the professional portfolio of the Department, which is also dedicated to teaching in undergraduate and postgraduate programs, postgraduate professional training, and providing diagnostic pathology services to Queen Mary Hospital as well as updating cutting edge clinical services to the community.

Professor Irene Ng is Professor and Director of the Laboratory of Liver Cancer and Hepatitis Research in the Department of Pathology and Assistant Dean (Research Affairs) in the Faculty of Medicine. Her main area of research is in hepatitis and liver cancer, which is a major malignancy worldwide. In Southeast Asia and Hong Kong, liver cancer is the second commonest fatal cancer, as a result of the high prevalence of hepatitis B viral infection.

Professor Ng, who graduated with an M.B.B.S. degree from this University in 1980, is a leading international expert in liver cancer. Professor Ng is acclaimed for her work on the identification and characterization of novel tumor suppressor genes. Through the work of her research team, Professor Ng aims to delineate the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of this cancer. Her laboratory is investigating major oncogenic signaling pathways and the co-operation and crosstalk of these pathways. Significantly, she has established useful pathological and biological parameters with prognostic significance for patient management. Her research studies have provided important insight in the understanding of liver cancer development and may help to identify potential targets in novel cancer therapy.

She is prolific in publications, with 400 publications including journal articles, book chapters, and conference papers, and ranks among the top 1% of most cited scientists in ‘Clinical Medicine’ and ‘All Fields’ of ISI Essential Science Indicators.

Professor Ng is the Chief Pathologist responsible for liver transplantation pathology service at Queen Mary Hospital and carries out consultations for universities in Mainland China for liver transplantation pathology diagnosis. She has also provided training in diagnostic pathology to specialists from the Mainland and Southeast Asia.

She won the Croucher Senior Medical Research Fellowship 2005-06 and Outstanding Researcher Award 2005 by The University of Hong Kong. She was the Director for the Croucher Foundation awards to organise Advanced Study Institute on “Molecular genetics & cell signaling in cancers” in 2005 and on “Molecular genetics & cell signaling in cancer and cancer metastasis” in 2007.

Professor Ng is a member of a number of international professional societies including the Royal College of Pathologists (UK), the International Liver Cancer Association, the American Association for Study of Liver Disease and American Association for Cancer Research. Locally she is a Council member of the Hong Kong College of Pathologists, a member of the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (Biology and Medicine Panel) and a member of the Nursing Council of Hong Kong and was the President of the Hong Kong Pathology Society from 1992-93.