Renowned molecular biologist Dennis Lo has been recommended as Chinese University's next vice chancellor, RTHK understands.

Now an associate dean of the university's faculty of medicine, Lo will meet with the institution's governing council as early as Thursday, according to sources.

Council members will meet again the next day to discuss the matter.

Under current procedures, a candidate would be endorsed if he or she receives support from three quarters of council members.

Lo, who chairs the department of chemical pathology, specialises in DNA testing and is well known for inventing non-invasive prenatal diagnosis.

That scientific milestone earned him the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award in 2022, regarded as the United States' top biomedical research prize, as well as the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences in 2021.

The incumbent head of CUHK, Rocky Tuan, resigned at the start of this year, just days after his three-year contract extension kicked in. He is due to step down in January.