Professor W. John Kao, Head of the Institute for Translational Research (ITR), Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, helps drive the development of biomedical technology ecosystem covering therapeutics, diagnostics, health informatics, medical devices and various core facilities and services including the IncuBio programme. In addition, ITR provides education programmes to enable technology translation from lab to marketplace. The Healthy Ageing Platform under the Institute facilitates the development and adoption of gerontechnology to address age-related needs.

Professor Kao is the Chair Professor of Translational Medical Engineering and the immediate past Vice-President & Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global) at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). He has led the HKU’s global networks of collaboration, built key relationships with relevant stakeholders in Mainland China and overseas, maximised opportunities across teaching & learning, research, and knowledge exchanges, and deepened the University’s presence and engagement worldwide. Before joining HKU, he was the Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor of Pharmacy, Surgery, and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin – Madison in the US where he also served as the Associate Executive Director of the Institute for Clinical and Translational Research. The Institute was funded by NIH NCATS in one of the largest federal grants at UW. There, he oversaw a dozen core facilities and broadened the impact of translational sciences through innovative education and new research programs with partners across the Midwest.