Yu Professorship in Nephrology

The Division of Nephrology at the Department of Medicine has gained international recognition for its pioneering work in many areas of nephrology and cell biology. The Division cares for people with kidney diseases and is at the forefront of research into the treatment various nephropathies including IgA nephropathy, the most common form of primary kidney disease in the world.

Professor Sydney Tang, a physician and nephrologist by training, is recognised for his research in IgA nephropathy and for his scientific observations of the pathogenesis of proteinuric and diabetic nephropathy. His team is among the first to recognize the impact of excessive urinary proteins in inducing kidney tubule inflammation and injury as a critical step in the progression of chronic kidney disease to end-stage kidney failure.

As a researcher, Professor Tang has made significant contributions to the field of basic and clinical sciences in Nephrology. While as a clinician, he cares for patients with kidney disease, ranging from the management of acute and chronic nephropathies to the care of dialysis and kidney transplant patients.

Professor Tang graduated from The University of Hong Kong in 1991, and obtained MD and PhD degrees in 2001 and 2005, respectively. He has received training at Guy’s Hospital, at the University of London, and at Seattle Children’s Research Institute, University of Washington, in the USA. He joined The University of Hong Kong as Clinical Associate Professor in 2006 and was promoted to Clinical Professor in 2010.

His research achievements are reflected by his prolific bibliography, editorships in various international journals, authorships in review articles and commentaries in journals of high ranking in his field. Professor Tang also lectures as a plenary speaker at international conferences.

Professor Tang has been awarded the Faculty Teaching Medal in 2009 for his excellence in teaching. At the postgraduate level, he mentors PhD, MD and MPhil students, and serves the Hong Kong College of Physicians as Secretary of the Basic Physician Board and Committee Member of the Specialty Board in Nephrology. He is also a sub-committee chairman of the Licentiate Committee of the Hong Kong Medical Council.

As a Council Member of the Hong Kong Society of Nephrology, Honorary Treasurer of the Asian Pacific Society of Nephrology, and Core Subcommittee Member of the International Society of Nephrology Global Outreach Programme, he extends his service to provide education to patients and nephrology trainees across Hong Kong, mainland China, the Asia Pacific Region and beyond.

Professor Tang serves a number of local education bodies as well as the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society as Executive Member and the Hong Kong Tuberculosis, Chest & Heart Diseases Association as Director. He has been awarded Ten Outstanding Young Persons of Hong Kong in 2007, and is presently Vice-Chairman of The Outstanding Young Persons’ Association.