The
Symposium
marks
HKGI’s
first
collaboration
with
Rare
Diseases
International
(RDI)
and
The
Lancet
Commission
on
Rare
Diseases
(LCRD),
which
is
jointly
led
by
RDI
and
The
Lancet,
the
world’s
most
influential
medical
journal.
The
event
will
welcome
local
and
international
genomics
leaders
from
over
20
countries
and
regions,
including
clinicians,
scientists,
and
researchers
from
Mainland
China,
Europe,
North
and
South
America,
and
Australia.
Distinguished speakers at the Symposium will focus on key global topics such as clinical genetics, rare diseases, genomic medicine, AI, data sharing, as well as ethical and legal matters involved, facilitating in-depth discussions on the latest groundbreaking research and clinical insights. Specifically, thematic sessions will be dedicated to experience sharing by experts from Mainland China and Hong Kong. By showcasing case studies from the Hong Kong Genome Project, these exchanges will help demonstrate practical applications of personalised medicine in managing common disorders such as cardiomyopathy and kidney disease. Developments in rare diseases in Mainland China and drug development opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area will also be covered, opening doors of opportunity for regional collaboration and innovation.
Dr Lo Su-vui, Chief Executive Officer of HKGI said, “With the strong support from the Health Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government, HKGI has been working closely with the Department of Health, Hospital Authority, medical schools of local universities and various stakeholders to accelerate the development of genomic medicine in Hong Kong. In just a few years, the Institute has achieved significant milestones in medical research, clinical applications, and international collaborations. We have successfully recruited over 47,000 participants for the Hong Kong Genome Project, continuously expanding our genome database featuring the Southern Chinese population. We have also accumulated clinical application cases and established synergistic collaborative research platforms. These achievements highlight Hong Kong’s strong capabilities and advantages in genomic medicine, laying a solid foundation for further collaboration with internationally recognised authorities.”
Dr Lo continued, “We are greatly honoured to partner with RDI and LCRD to organise this prestigious global event. Genomic medicine is the future of medicine with wide-ranging applications, spanning from common to rare diseases, from clinical diagnosis and personalised treatment to disease prevention and health management. This Symposium will undoubtedly serve as a critical platform for healthcare experts, academics, and researchers from around the world to exchange knowledge, fostering collaboration, and driving medical innovation, ultimately bringing immense benefits to patients in Hong Kong, Asia and beyond.”
The one-day Symposium is expected to attract nearly 300 industry professionals. Following the Symposium, the LCRD will hold its annual meeting in Hong Kong on 18-19 November to further discuss insights and deepen cross-regional collaboration. This will be the first time for the LCRD to host its annual meeting in Asia, highlighting Hong Kong’s distinctive position in leading international medical innovation.
For information about the Symposium programme and speakers, please refer to the appendix. For enquiries about the Symposium, please contact HKGI (symposium@genomics.org.hk) or RDI-LCRD (lcrd@rarediseasesint.org).
International Genomic Medicine Symposium
17 November 2025, Hong Kong
Time |
Programme |
Speaker |
09:00 |
Keynote |
Prof
Lo
Chung-mau,
BBS,
JP Secretary for Health Hong Kong SAR Government, Hong Kong, China |
09:15 |
Opening
Ceremony |
|
Panel
1 |
Session
Chairperson: |
Dr
Ronald
Lam,
JP Director of Health Hong Kong SAR Government, Hong Kong, China |
09:30 |
Developing
Rare
Disease
Models
in
China:
Service,
Teaching
and
Research |
Prof
Zhang
Shuyang President Peking Union Medical College Hospital, China |
10:00 |
Unraveling
Molecular
Pathogeneses
to
Enhance
Patient
Care
and
Family
Well-being |
Prof
Kym
Boycott Co-Chair Lancet Commission on Rare Diseases Professor of Pediatrics University of Ottawa, Canada |
10:30 |
Panel
Discussion |
|
Panel
2 |
Session
Chairperson: |
Dr
Libby
Lee,
JP Under Secretary for Health Hong Kong SAR Government, Hong Kong, China |
11:15 |
Insights
into
Rare
Diseases: Focus on Inborn Errors of Metabolism |
Prof
Roberto
Giugliani Co-Chair Lancet Commission on Rare Diseases Professor of Genetics Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil |
11:45 |
Hong
Kong
Genome
Project
Case
Sharing
(1)
–
Unlocking
the
Genomics
of
Cardiomyopathy:
A
New
Era
in
Heart
Health |
Dr
Derek
Lee Hong Kong College of Physicians – Hong Kong Genome Institute Scholar Hong Kong, China |
12:00 |
Hong
Kong
Genome
Project
Case
Sharing
(2)
–
Precision
Medicine
in
Nephrology |
Dr
Becky
Ma Hong Kong Academy of Medicine – Hong Kong Genome Institute Scholar Hong Kong, China |
12:15 |
Panel
Discussion |
|
12:30 |
Lunch |
|
Panel
3 |
Session
Chairperson: |
Prof
Philip
Chiu Dean of Medicine The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China |
14:00 |
Revolutionising
Plasma
DNA
Analysis
in
Transforming
Non-invasive
Testing
and
Cancer
Detection |
Prof
Dennis
Lo,
SBS,
JP Vice-Chancellor and President The Chinese University of Hong Kong Board Member Hong Kong Genome Institute Hong Kong, China |
14:30 |
Publishing
at
The
Lancet |
Dr
Chloe
Wilson Senior Medical Editor The Lancet |
15:00 |
Panel
Discussion |
|
Panel
4 |
Session
Chairperson: |
Prof
Lau
Chak-sing,
BBS,
JP Vice-President & Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health) Dean of Medicine The University of Hong Kong Board Member Hong Kong Genome Institute Hong Kong, China |
15:35 |
AI
in
Action: The Journey from Clinical Record to Personalised Treatment |
Prof
Gareth
Baynam Medical Director Rare Care Centre Perth Children’s Hospital, Australia |
16:05 |
Harnessing
the
Power
of
Electronic
Healthcare
Records
in
Scientific
Research
and
Innovation
in
Genomic
Medicine |
Prof
Yong
Chen Professor of Biostatistics University of Pennsylvania, USA |
16:35 |
Panel Discussion | |
Panel
5 |
Session
Chairperson: |
To
be
confirmed |
16:50 |
The
Health
Rights
of
Children
and
Genomic
Newborn
Screening |
Prof
Bartha
Knoppers Director Centre of Genomics and Policy McGill University, Canada |
17:20 |
Hong
Kong
Genome
Project: Advancing the Genomics Frontier |
Dr
Brian
Chung Chief Medical and Scientific Officer Hong Kong Genome Institute, Hong Kong, China |
17:40 |
Genomics
as
a
Catalyst
for Drug Development in the Greater Bay Area |
Prof
Aya
El
Helali Clinical Assistant Professor Department of Clinical Oncology, School of Clinical Medicine, The Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China |
18:00 |
Panel
Discussion |
|
18:15 |
End
of
Symposium |
(Last
updated
on
25
June
2025)
Hong Kong Genome Institute
Website: www.hkgp.org
Email: symposium@genomics.org.hk
Rare
Disease
International
Website:
www.rarediseasesinternational.org
Email:
lcrd@rarediseasesint.org
Hashtag: #HongKongGenomeInstitute
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