The strength of HKUST's programs in biology, biochemistry, and biotechnology owes much to the early establishment of the Biotechnology Research Institute with the generous support of The Hong Kong Jockey Club. A multidisciplinary effort has played a key role in the emergence of molecular neuroscience as one of the most promising areas of research and development. Collectively, discoveries in this area have helped to lay a solid foundation for the initiation of a number of cutting-edge research programs that are aimed at identifying effective therapeutics against neurodegenerative diseases. Through more than a decade's continuous effort, HKUST now possesses exceptional capabilities to explore neurobiological processes, identify neuro-proteins of therapeutic importance, discover novel drug candidates, and conduct early stage preclinical drug developments. These represent unrivalled capabilities in Hong Kong that are increasingly sought after by the biopharmaceutical industry.

With a shortage of candidates in the drug development pipeline and aging populations worldwide, the pharmaceutical industry is increasingly relying on academic partners for drug discovery. Given its track record in the field of molecular neurobiology, HKUST is perfectly positioned to become a regional center and a preferred strategic partner for neuro-drug development, providing much needed expertise on the delineation of disease mechanisms as well as pre-clinical assessments of drug candidates. With biotechnology companies and pharmaceutical manufacturers as partners, HKUST will lead Hong Kong into the area of discovery and development of new drugs to fight the debilitating effects of neurodegenerative diseases.