A $10.5 million gift from an internationally renowned clinician and research leader will advance The University of Queensland’s global contributions to reproductive medicine.
UQ alumnus Professor Christopher Chen, who achieved the world’s first IVF triplet pregnancy, has enabled the University’s first fully funded chair of reproductive medicine, The Professor Christopher Chen Chair in Reproductive Medicine.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Høj thanked Professor Chen for his vision and generosity.
Professor Høj said the gift would enable the University to continue to develop reproductive medicine of global impact.
“Professor Chen sets a fine example for young researchers striving for results that can be transformed into global benefits,” Professor Høj said.
“He has combined success as a peer-reviewed researcher with tangible human outcomes; for instance an egg-freezing technique he pioneered has led to the birth of more than 1000 babies.
”The University is humbled by the generosity of such an outstanding alumnus with truly global impact.”
UQ Health Sciences Executive Dean, Professor Nicholas Fisk, said the chair had attracted sterling international candidates, all keen to be the first Professor Christopher Chen Professor in Reproductive Medicine.
“The prospect of recruiting a world-leader in reproductive medicine as the inaugural Chair to lead the University’s research efforts is humbling and exciting,” Professor Fisk said.
In 1986, Professor Chen made Australian and World medical history with the publishing of his paper titled ‘Pregnancy after human oocyte cryopreservation’, in one of the world’s leading medical journals, The Lancet.
The paper is recognised as reporting the world’s first successful pregnancy from a frozen human egg.
“My greatest hope is that the Chair will be able to expand upon the research I began over 30 years ago, and achieve medical advances that will benefit the University, academia, and all mankind,” Professor Chen said.
Professor Chen is the past World President of the International College of Surgeons, Editor in Chief of the Journal, 'International Surgery', an Honorary Professor of The University of Queensland, a Conjoint Professor of the University of Newcastle, and heads the Christopher Chen Centre for Reproductive Medicine at Gleneagles Hospital in Singapore.
This gift asserts Professor Chen’s place in UQ’s philanthropic history, which has previously benefited from major donations by Dr James O’Neil Mayne and Miss Mary Mayne, Atlantic Philanthropies, Mr Graeme Wood, and Mr Andrew Brice.
Media Contacts: Kirsten Rogan, Communications and Media, University of Queensland Faculty of Health Sciences, 07 3346 4713, 0412307594 or k.rogan@uq.edu.au
