Introduction: A Hong Kong honour that rewrote the fate of a rare blood cancer
“3 scientists win Hong Kong’s Shaw Prize for developing therapy for rare leukaemia” — this news has recently generated widespread resonance across the international scientific community. Three leading scientists from Europe and Asia were awarded the 2023 Shaw Prize in Life Science and Medicine for their revolutionary treatment for acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL). This internationally recognised award, established in Hong Kong, not only highlights Hong Kong’s standing within the global scientific evaluation system, but also transformed a rare blood cancer that was once extremely fatal into a curable disease. For Hong Kong jobseekers focused on medical innovation and career development, this honour conceals a rapidly expanding research and development industry chain, along with a wealth of interdisciplinary employment opportunities.
This article begins with the significance of the Shaw Prize, breaks down in detail the research contributions of the three laureates and the breakthrough principle behind the therapy, and analyses the research talent demand and career insights that this honour brings to Hong Kong. By tracing this milestone, we hope to help Hong Kong professionals and local talent interested in entering the biomedicine field grasp the industry direction for the next five to ten years.
The Shaw Prize: Hong Kong’s calling card in the global scientific evaluation system
The Shaw Prize was established in 2002 by the late media magnate Sir Run Run Shaw. It is awarded annually in three fields — astronomy, life science and medicine, and mathematical sciences — to recognise scientific achievements that have a profound impact on human civilisation. The prize places no restriction on the nationality or region of its laureates, and past winners include numerous Nobel laureates, earning it the reputation of the “Nobel Prize of the East”. For Hong Kong, the selection and presentation of the Shaw Prize are rooted locally, demonstrating the city’s capacity as an international hub for scientific exchange, and consistently attracting world-class scholars and research funding to the city.
This year’s Life Science and Medicine prize attracted particular attention because the winning breakthrough directly addresses a problem that had troubled the haematology community for decades: how to turn a rare leukaemia with an extremely high short-term mortality rate into a disease treatable with oral medication and boasting a survival rate of over 90%. This is not only a scientific victory but a public health revolution. Especially for a city like Hong Kong, which has an advanced healthcare system yet a persistent shortage of specialist talent, such breakthroughs often drive the growth of new-drug clinical trials, the expansion of hospital specialist centres, and biotechnology start-ups, creating a large number of high-value-added jobs in the market.
Three scientists awarded: how they rewrote the history of rare leukaemia treatment
This year’s laureates are French haematologist Laurent Degos, Professor Chen Zhu of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and his wife Professor Chen Saijuan. As early as the 1980s, Degos collaborated with the Chinese team to introduce all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) into the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukaemia. Subsequently, Professors Chen Zhu and Chen Saijuan conducted in-depth research into the pathogenic mechanism of the leukaemia gene PML-RARα fusion protein, and promoted the clinical application of arsenic trioxide (commonly known as arsenic), successfully establishing the dual-induction regimen combining ATRA with arsenic trioxide.
The emergence of this regimen completely reversed the treatment outlook for APL. Before this, APL patients often died early from bleeding complications caused by chemotherapy, with an average survival time of only a few weeks. The research of the three scientists not only revealed the molecular mechanism of the disease, but also identified a precise target for “treating the disease at its root”. After 2000, as multi-centre clinical trials confirmed, the combination of ATRA plus arsenic trioxide achieved a complete remission rate of 95% for APL, with a five-year disease-free survival rate of over 90%, and the regimen rapidly became the global standard treatment guideline. This achievement also echoes the core mission of the Shaw Prize — to honour science that can substantially improve human wellbeing.
It is worth mentioning that this achievement has deep ties with Hong Kong’s research community. The Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and the Faculty of Medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) have established joint research centres in the field of blood cancers, and in their early years participated in medication monitoring and genetic analysis for some Asian populations, further strengthening the city’s voice in the field of precision medicine.
Rare leukaemia APL: from a “fatal emergency” to a “curable chronic disease”
Acute promyelocytic leukaemia is a rare subtype of acute myeloid leukaemia, accounting for about 5% to 15% of all adult acute leukaemias. Its pathogenesis lies in a translocation between chromosomes 15 and 17, forming the PML-RARα fusion gene, which causes promyelocytes in the bone marrow to fail to differentiate normally, accumulating in large numbers and releasing pro-coagulant substances. Patients often suffer severe bleeding or thrombosis in the early stages of diagnosis, making it one of the most dangerous emergencies in haematology.
In the past, standard treatment was based on chemotherapy. Although some patients could achieve remission, the early mortality rate was extremely high, and the long-term side effects and risk of relapse left both doctors and patients deeply frustrated. The research of the three Shaw Prize laureates pioneered the concept of “differentiation induction therapy”: using high-dose all-trans retinoic acid to induce leukaemia cells to mature and undergo apoptosis, then combining arsenic trioxide to deeply clear residual stem cells. This strategy, which does not rely on the traditional toxic killing of cancer cells by chemotherapy, greatly reduced treatment-related complications, and also gave many elderly or frail patients who could not tolerate chemotherapy a new lease on life.
Taking Hong Kong as an example, there are about 15 to 25 new APL cases each year. With the widespread adoption of this targeted treatment, public hospital haematology wards have almost stopped seeing tragedies of patients dying from early APL bleeding. Local doctors have even exported their treatment experience to Southeast Asia, promoting the simultaneous improvement of regional healthcare standards.
The chain reaction of the award-winning therapy on Hong Kong’s research and employment market
Hong Kong’s Shaw Prize for developing therapy for rare leukaemia not only inspires basic research, but also brings a series of industrial chain reactions. First, Hong Kong is actively developing the biotechnology and new-drug innovation industry; the translational medicine centres in the Lok Ma Chau Loop area and the Science Park have attracted several pharmaceutical companies to set up their Asia-Pacific headquarters. The success of the ATRA and arsenic trioxide combination therapy has prompted more drug manufacturers to choose Hong Kong as the site for clinical research on their haematological tumour drug pipelines. This directly drives demand for positions such as Clinical Research Coordinators (CRC), biostatisticians, drug safety specialists, and laboratory technical experts.
Second, the fields of precision medicine and genetic testing are expanding rapidly in Hong Kong. The diagnosis of APL requires fast and accurate testing of the PML-RARα fusion gene, and many third-party testing laboratories and start-ups are actively developing more convenient point-of-care diagnostic tools. Such companies tend to prefer talent with backgrounds in molecular biology and bioinformatics, and graduates of relevant master’s programmes at several Hong Kong universities have become highly sought after.
In addition, as cross-boundary healthcare cooperation in the Greater Bay Area deepens, the “Hong Kong and Macao Drug and Device Connect” policy allows innovative drugs registered in Hong Kong to be used in designated Greater Bay Area medical institutions. With the backing of the Shaw Prize, the promotion of the APL therapy and related derivative drugs in the Greater Bay Area will create more positions in market expansion, medical academic communication, and healthcare education. For Hong Kong jobseekers interested in moving north, this represents a clear career path: accumulate experience at local research institutions, then extend into the regional market to play key roles.
Insights for Hong Kong jobseekers: how to seize the new wave of medical technology innovation
Faced with the inspiration brought by the Shaw Prize, how should Hong Kong’s young scientists, medical professionals, and cross-disciplinary talent equip themselves? The following trends are worth noting:
- Cross-disciplinary skills as the entry ticket: The talent most lacking in the pharmaceutical industry of the future is the versatile professional who simultaneously understands clinical pain points, data analysis, and business operations. Pure laboratory technical positions are fiercely competitive, but if you can master real-world evidence (RWE) analysis, AI-assisted drug design, or healthcare market access strategy, you will have stronger negotiating leverage.
- Biotech start-ups bring non-traditional careers: Hong Kong is seeing a wave of start-ups focused on liquid biopsy for haematological tumours and targeted therapy development. They value adaptability and creativity more, with positions ranging from research assistant to product manager, and promotion often faster than at large institutions.
- Continuing education and an international perspective are indispensable: The story of the three Shaw Prize laureates proves that international collaboration is the key to breakthroughs. Local talent can seize the life science master’s programmes at Hong Kong’s universities, the specialist training of the Hospital Authority, and the incubation programmes of the Science Park to accumulate cross-regional research experience.
- Integrating public health policy with industry implementation: In recent years the Hong Kong government has allocated HK$10 billion to develop innovation and technology, with biomedicine being a key area. Jobseekers may wish to follow relevant funding schemes, start-up competitions, and industry exhibitions, proactively build networks, and turn the latest research into career capital.
The Shaw Prize’s alignment with international awards cements Hong Kong’s status as a research city
The Shaw Prize’s Life Science and Medicine award has long contributed greatly to haematology and cancer biology. In 2011, the prize recognised scientists who discovered haematopoietic stem cells and leukaemia stem cells; this year’s renewed focus on haematological tumours highlights Hong Kong’s long-term attention to this academic frontier. Precisely because of this tradition, Hong Kong has accumulated rich data in haematology clinical research, precision diagnostics, and the pharmacogenomics of Asian populations, also providing local specialist talent with an unparalleled arena for practice.
Compared with neighbouring regions, Hong Kong enjoys intellectual property protection under the common law system, free flow of capital, and internationally recognised clinical trial ethics review. These advantages attract a large number of multinational pharmaceutical companies to set up regional centres here, closely linking the local employment market with the global pharmaceutical industry chain. A more important signal behind the Shaw Prize news is this: when the world recognises a Hong Kong prize born of international collaboration, Hong Kong’s role as a “research super-connector” will be further consolidated, and all of this will ultimately translate into tangible employment opportunities.
FAQ
1. What is the Shaw Prize? How does it differ from the Nobel Prize? The Shaw Prize is an international science award founded by Hong Kong’s Sir Run Run Shaw. It is awarded annually in three major categories — astronomy, life science and medicine, and mathematical sciences. It places no restriction on laureates’ nationality and focuses on recognising highly original and far-reaching scientific achievements. Many laureates later also received the Nobel Prize, but the two differ in their review mechanisms and scope, with the Shaw Prize placing greater emphasis on cross-disciplinary innovation.
2. Which leukaemia does the award-winning therapy mainly target? The therapy targets acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL), a rare but extremely aggressive subtype of acute myeloid leukaemia. The laureates developed a regimen combining all-trans retinoic acid with arsenic trioxide, which induces cancer cell differentiation without traditional chemotherapy and has become the global standard treatment.
3. Who are the three award-winning scientists? They are French haematologist Laurent Degos, Professor Chen Zhu of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and Professor Chen Saijuan. Degos was the first to apply all-trans retinoic acid to APL, while Professors Chen Zhu and Chen Saijuan elucidated the molecular mechanism and promoted the clinical use of arsenic trioxide.
4. How is this news relevant to Hong Kong jobseekers? The Shaw Prize strengthens Hong Kong’s research reputation and drives the development of the local biotechnology, clinical trial, and precision diagnostics industries, creating a large number of high-skilled positions. Jobseekers can watch for further education and employment opportunities in related fields, especially in genetic testing, data analysis, and translational medicine management.
5. Which institutions in Hong Kong are conducting haematological tumour research? The medical faculties of the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, biotechnology companies in the Science Park, and the haematology departments of various public hospitals are all actively participating in local and international multi-centre research. Some private genetic testing centres also undertake APL diagnostic commissions for the Asia-Pacific region.
Conclusion: With Hong Kong as the stage, opening the next chapter of life sciences
Through relentless research into a rare leukaemia, three scientists not only won the Shaw Prize but also brought rebirth to tens of thousands of patients worldwide. Although this story begins in the laboratory, it radiates enormous medical-economic momentum — especially in a city like Hong Kong, which possesses both the height of international award selection and a strong tilt toward the biotechnology industry. For every Hong Kong jobseeker, rather than passively watching, it is better to proactively understand the talent demand behind research translation, and turn seemingly distant science news into a precise coordinate on one’s own career path. When “3 scientists win Hong Kong’s Shaw Prize for developing therapy for rare leukaemia” becomes an epitaph of an era, you and I may well be the next Hong Kong talent pushed by this wave onto a higher stage.