The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is proud to feature Professor Tom Hiu Tung CHEUNG, S H Ho Professor of Life Science, Associate Head (Research and Development) of the Division of Life Science, Director of Biotechnology Research Institute, Associate Director of Biosciences Central Research Facility, Associate Director of Center for Aging Science, and Assistant Center Director of the Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (HKCeND). He is a scientist and builder who believes that one good question can travel far beyond the lab.

Since joining HKUST in 2013, Prof. Cheung has centered his research within the Life Sciences, focusing on how adult stem cells “sleep,” how they “wake,” and what happens when that rhythm breaks down with age. At Cheung Laboratory, his team focuses on utilizing stem cells to uncover the signaling pathways that regulate stem cell quiescence, activation and tissue regeneration. This work lays a foundation for future interventions aimed at promoting healthy aging and tackling muscle and aging associated disorders.

Prof. Cheungʼs path reflects deep training and cross-sector impact. He earned his PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Colorado at Boulder (2006) and completed postdoctoral training at Stanford University School of Medicine. Today, he also serves as the director for multiple HKUST platforms that bridge discovery and translation, including the Biotechnology Research Institute, the HKUST-Nan Fung Life Sciences Joint Laboratory, and the HKUST-MGI Joint Research Center. He is also the Co-Founder of Fountain Therapeutics, whose aim is to turn academic advances into tools that can one day reach patients.

At HKUST, Prof. Cheung cultivates not just cells but people and ideas, creating spaces where discovery flourishes and where scientific breakthroughs ultimately serve a deeper purpose: helping people live not just longer, but fuller lives.