Established in 2016 as one of the essential treatment and research facilities of the CUHK Eye Centre, the Pao So Kok Macular Disease Treatment and Research Centre (MDTRC) aims to strengthen research and education on detection and treatment of macular diseases. The overall goal of the MDTRC is to develop and enhance the diagnostic capabilities of counter-fighting the sinister and important macular diseases like Age-related Macular Degeneration disease (AMD), Diabetic Retinopathy (DR), Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) and Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). The Pao So Kok Macular Disease Treatment and Research Centre was established with a generous donation by Mrs Chang Pao So Kok.
Thanks to a very generous donation by Mr. Chang Bei Ming and Mrs. Chang Pao So Kok, the Pao So Kok Macular Disease Treatment and Research Centre is established in 2016 as a core facility within the CUHK Eye Centre. The Centre aims to provide state-of-the-art detection and treatments for macular diseases, and to significantly strengthen our clinical and laboratory research on macular diseases. It will also be a vital part of our training and education of doctors and the public on macular diseases.
The Centre provides diagnostic and treatment expertise for common and important macular diseases, such as Age-related Macular Degeneration disease (AMD), Diabetic Macular Edema (DME), Retinal Vein Occlusions (RVO), and Macular Dystrophies.
In 2010, the Hospital Authority anticipated over 3,000 new cases of Wet AMD every year. It is estimated that 500,000 people in Hong Kong are suffering from AMD with 10% of these having the wet type. The number of people affected by AMD is rapidly increasing due to an aging population. Today, around 15% of Wet AMD patients do not respond well to the standard treatment and continue to lose vision.
The CUHK research team has therefore, been focusing its research efforts on identifying new diagnostic and therapeutic targets to improve vision outcomes for this group of patients. Mr. Chang Bei Ming and Mrs. Chang Pao So Kok have made a generous donation of HK$10 million to our Department, and on 26 April 2016, the CUHK Pao So Kok Macular Disease Treatment and Research Centre is officially open. The Centre combines world-renowned expertise in clinical ophthalmology, retinal imaging, analytical chemistry and genetics, together with state-of-the-art diagnostic, treatment, and research equipment. It is estimated to serve more than 4,000 patients every year.
Prof. Clement Chee Yung THAM, Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, said, ‘We are very grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Chang’s generosity. With the establishment of this important facility, further work on angiopoietin, other risk factors and treatment possibilities for macular diseases will be greatly enhanced.’
Prof. Francis Ka Leung CHAN, Dean of Faculty of Medicine, mentioned, ‘Population aging is a global trend and in Hong Kong, it is estimated that one-third of the population will reach the age of 65 or above in 2040. Age-related macular degeneration definitely needs our attention and I believe the establishment of CUHK Pao So Kok Macular Disease Treatment and Research Centre is definitely a good news to ophthalmology and to our older population.’
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