Daniel C K Yu Professorship in Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology

The Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology runs a comprehensive programme on teaching, research and the clinical management of patients with rheumatic and immunologic disorders.

Professor Lau Chak-Sing took up his current appointments as Professor, Chair of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, and Director of the Institute of Medical and Health Sciences Education on his return to The University of Hong Kong in 2010. He is also Vice-President of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine and Chairman of the Examination Committee of the Hong Kong College of Physicians.

Professor Lau has a particular research interest in systemic lupus erythematosus. He and his colleagues are investigating the best way to evaluate the extent of the underlying immunological / inflammatory changes in this condition and to use the information to guide them in the diagnosis and management of these patients. The ultimate aim is to be able to correct these immune aberrations as a form of treatment for lupus.

Besides lupus, Professor Lau and his team have also set up a comprehensive research programme on the assessment and treatment of common inflammatory arthritis including rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis.

Professor Lau graduated MBChB at the University of Dundee in 1985. He later specialised in Rheumatology at the Ninewells Hospital and Medical School between 1988 and 1992, and his MD thesis on Raynaud’s phenomenon was awarded with Honors by the University in 1993. He joined The University of Hong Kong in 1992 and was promoted through the ranks to the position of Professor and Assistant Dean in Medicine until 2007 when he accepted the appointment of Chair of Rheumatology at the University of Dundee.

With the welfare of the community close to his heart, Professor Lau founded the first local charity organisation for people with rheumatic disease, the Hong Kong Arthritis & Rheumatism Foundation, in 2001. Locally, he was President of the Hong Kong Society of Rheumatology between 1997 and 2001. Over the years he also co-founded the Asian Congress on Autoimmunity, the Huaxia Congress on the Management of Rheumatic Diseases, Ten Topics in Rheumatology, Asian Lupus Consortium and Asian Pacific Lupus Working Group.

Professor Lau was President of the Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR) between 2006 and 2008, and now serves as the Chairman of its Education Committee with its task being to set up the region’s treatment guidelines for various rheumatic conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, osteoporosis and lupus.

He is also on the editorial board of Arthritis Research & Therapy, Clinical Rheumatology, Inflammation and Inflammopharmacology, Lupus and Nature Reviews Rheumatology, and served as the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases, the official journal of APLAR between 2004 and 2012.

Professor Lau has published over 250 full articles and book chapters, and has delivered over 380 presentations at various learned meetings, including over 170 invited lectures.