CU Medicine Secures Global No. 2 Spot in Gastroenterology

Beyond its global standing, the faculty dominates the Asian academic landscape, holding the top position in both Gastroenterology & Hepatology and Endocrinology & Metabolism for five straight years. The institution’s reach extends across seven distinct disciplines, where it currently ranks first in Hong Kong, including surgery, oncology, and neuroscience.

This sustained leadership stems from a focus on high-impact clinical science, particularly within gut microbiome research. The faculty operates the region’s first Microbiota Transplantation and Research Centre, where scholars recently identified links between Streptococcus anginosus and gastric cancer. Their work in non-invasive diagnostics—such as the development of stool-based biomarkers for colorectal cancer—has shifted the focus toward earlier, less traumatic patient intervention.

Dean Philip Chiu attributes this success to a willingness to pursue uncharted scientific territory. Beyond the laboratory, the faculty is integrating advanced technology into patient care, serving as a testing ground for AI-powered endoscopic systems and pioneering endoluminal robotics. These efforts have translated into 3,000 patents and the launch of over 20 startups, proving that the institution’s research output is as much about commercial application as it is about academic prestige.