Healthy lifestyle: Permanent Secretary for Food & Health (Health) Sandra Lee says since 1993, three health-related funds have supported 520 research projects worth more than $272 million.

Since 1993, three health-related funds have supported 520 research projects worth more than $272 million, Permanent Secretary for Food & Health (Health) Sandra Lee says.

Speaking at the opening of the Health Research Symposium 2007 today, Ms Lee said the Government has invested for more than 10 years in applied and basic research through a variety of health-related funds to prevent and control disease and promote a healthy lifestyle, noting that good health is the cornerstone of social stability, economic productivity and general harmony and happiness.

They include the Health & Health Services Research Fund, Health Care & Promotion Fund, and the Research Fund for the Control of Infectious Diseases.

"The research that has been supported has been quite literally life-changing and of enormous benefit to enhancing public health in Hong Kong.  Indeed, several studies supported by the bureau have gone on to be acclaimed internationally by health experts," she added.

More than 500 participants attended the symposium. Three international experts, Professor Martin Buxton and Dr Liam O'Toole from UK and Prof Rejean Landry from Canada gave keynote speeches to highlight the overall impact of health and health services research in the past decade focusing on health gains, clinical effectiveness and improvements in service delivery and quality.

In addition, 17 leading local researchers from a variety of scientific and health-related disciplines, who had completed high-quality research projects supported by funds administered by the Food & Health Bureau, shared their research experience and outcomes at the symposium.