Center for Neuromusculoskeletal Restorative Medicine (CNRM)

Accelerating Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine Developments With Collaborative Research

Around the world, people living with neuromusculoskeletal issues, or conditions involving the nerves, muscles, soft tissues and bones, are seeking rehabilitation services to heal their bodies and enhance the quality of life. Individuals suffering from functioning limitations and disability caused by musculoskeletal conditions are especially unable to work, contributing to wider societal concerns such as healthcare costs, productivity losses and mental health decline.

The Center for Neuromusculoskeletal Restorative Medicine (CNRM) has been established to advance biomedical research and development related to neuromusculoskeletal medicine. Combining the expertise in stem cells, biomaterials, 3D bioprinting, tissue engineering, and personalised and translational medicine of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and Sweden’ s Karolinska Institutet (KI), the Center is devoted to restoring structure and function to injured, diseased and degenerated (due to ageing or trauma) neuromusculoskeletal tissues and organs. This multi-disciplinary, international consortium aims to apply convergent principles and technologies of biomedical science and engineering to ultimately address mobility impairments and improve patients’ overall well-being.

Local Project Leaders of CNRM (From left 3rd in the front: Prof Woody WY Chan, CRNM Co-director; Prof Rocky S Tuan, CUHK VC; Prof Patrick SH Yung, CNRM Director).

Local Project Leaders of CNRM had a visit at KI-MWLC on Nov 13, 2021.

Professor Woody WY Chan, CRNM Co-director, Professor Rocky S Tuan, CUHK VC, Professor Patrick SH Yung, CNRM Director at Karolinska Institute Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine.

Building on the talent and infrastructural research capabilities of CUHK and the research setup of the KI Hong Kong Ming Wai Lau Centre (MWLC) for Reparative Medicine in HKSTP, CNRM gathers multi-disciplinary investigators to lead projects across its five research programmes:

1. Stem Cells and Cell-Based Therapies
2. Tissue Engineering and 3D Microtissue Modeling
3. Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms
4. Preclinical and Clinical Translation
5. Enabling Technologies

CNRM will work with CUHK to further expand its talent pool by joining relevant incubation programmes. The Center will also pursue progressive transition and commercialisation efforts, industrial partnerships, and patient advocacy to effectively evaluate and translate the therapeutic agents, procedures, and technologies resulting from its research activities.