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Professor Kathryn Cheah, Emeritus Chair Professor of the School of Biomedical Sciences at the LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKU), has been elected as a Foreign Member of Academia Europaea (Academy of Europe). This prestigious international honour recognises Professor Cheah’s lifelong dedication to the field of biomedical sciences and her transformative contributions to the understanding of developmental genetics.

As an internationally renowned authority in her field, Professor Cheah has focused her research on the genetic and molecular mechanisms that drive hereditary and degenerative skeletal disorders. Her pioneering work utilises human and mouse embryonic stem cells alongside advanced genetically modified mouse models to unravel the complexities of bone development and associated diseases. These efforts have been instrumental in advancing the diagnosis and treatment of debilitating conditions such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and intervertebral disc degeneration, bridging the gap between fundamental laboratory research and potential clinical therapies.

Professor Cheah expressed her gratitude for the honour, stating, “I am deeply honoured to be elected to the Academia Europaea. This recognition is not only a personal milestone but also a testament to the dedication of my research team of research assistants, students and postdoctoral fellows, the vibrant scientific community at HKU and generous international collaborations. I hope our continued exploration into the genetic foundations of life will lead to meaningful breakthroughs that improve human health and inspire the next generation of biomedical researchers in Hong Kong and beyond.”

Founded in 1988, the Academia Europaea is a non-governmental association comprised of international top scientists from various research fields. To become one of the Members, scholars must demonstrate sustained academic achievement and outstanding status in their field. Scholars have been selected to membership after being nominated by existing Members, following a rigorous peer review process and approval from the Board of Trustees.

This election to Academia Europaea marks the latest milestone in a career defined by global academic excellence. In recent years, Professor Cheah has received several of the highest honours in science, including being appointed Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) in 2013, her election as a Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Sciences in 2021 and being awarded the prestigious British Society for Matrix Biology (BSMB) Medal in 2022. Her international standing was further cemented in 2023 when she became the first scientist from Hong Kong to be elected as an Associate Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO). This elite community comprises over 2,000 leading life scientists worldwide, including 91 Nobel Laureates, making her inclusion a historic achievement for the Hong Kong scientific community.