NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Baylor College of Medicine announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese University of Hong Kong to create a center to advance genetics research and training in Asia.
The planned Chinese University of Hong Kong-Baylor College of Medicine Joint Center for Medical Genetics in Hong Kong aims to design, establish, and conduct training in clinical genetics and genetic counseling tailored to the Hong Kong, mainland China, and Asia region.
It will also establish a referral center in Asia for the prenatal and postnatal diagnosis and treatment of genetic disorders; conduct interdisciplinary basic and translational research in genetic disorder screening, diagnosis, and treatment; uncover the underlying mechanisms of genetic diseases; and host a series of pan-Asian symposia on clinical genetics care and research.
"This partnership will bring Baylor genetics activities onto the international stage, and together with the Chinese University of Hong Kong, we hope to be the leaders in genetics care, education, and research in Asia," Brendan Lee, chair of the department of molecular and human genetics at Baylor, said in a statement.
"Through the integration of clinical expertise and advances in genetic and genomic technology, the goal of the center is to bring breakthroughs in medical genetics, of which the scope is not confined to prenatal diagnosis but also extends to personalized medicine," Tak Yeung Leung, head of maternal and fetal medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, added.
Lee and Leung will act as co-directors of the new center.