Acclaimed scientist Dennis Lo says he’s setting his sights on leading the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) to become one of the world’s top institutions, after he was unanimously approved as its next vice-chancellor and president.

The governing council on Friday gave Lo the green light for a five-year term starting January 8, to replace incumbent Rocky Tuan, who resigned earlier this year.

Professor Lo – an award-winning molecular biologist feted internationally for his pioneering research on non-invasive pre-natal tests – told reporters he wants to bring CUHK to new heights in research and innovation, while maintaining its distinctiveness.

"My vision is that Chinese University of Hong Kong should maintain its uniqueness among the world's institutions and our uniqueness is that we have a mission to bring Chinese culture to the world and to bring the best of the world culture back to China," he said.

"I would like us to be recognised in selected subjects to be amongst the best in the world, and also because of my technology background, I also hope that Chinese University of Hong Kong will contribute towards the development of Hong Kong and China into a technology power and to use such technology for the betterment of humankind."

Lo also said the university is now “back on track” following the 2019 unrest, and that academic freedom must go hand in hand with the need to comply with the law.

"I think that academic freedom is a cornerstone of universities and I believe actually that in Hong Kong, we have very good academic freedom, and of course, we have to bear in mind that we have to be law abiding and I will continue to push forward research excellence with my tenureship," he said.

Lo added that he hopes to collaborate closely with the university council and the management team to further elevate the school’s standing.

He also praised his predecessor Rocky Tuan, saying his dedicated service has improved CUHK's international reputation and ranking.

Lo, who’s currently CUHK’s associate dean of medicine, expressed hopes that he could continue his research even after taking on his new positions.

He said while his top priority would be leading the university, he’d love to continue his research as he believes it would greatly benefit the healthcare system.

The renowned molecular biologist is best known for devising a non-invasive blood test to detect fetal abnormalities such as Down syndrome.

The revolutionary technique spares pregnant mothers from having to go through invasive procedures, which sometimes increase the risk of miscarriage.

The discovery earned him top honours, including the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences in 2021 and the Lasker Award the following year.