For more than two decades, Professor Edwin Chan Ho-yin has pursued one of medicine’s toughest challenges by developing treatments for rare neurodegenerative diseases.

His pioneering work, now channelled through his biotech start-up Rare Power, bridges academic discovery with real-world application, earning him a place as a finalist in this year’s Spirit of Hong Kong Awards in the Innovation category.

The Spirit of Hong Kong Awards is co-organised by the South China Morning Post and Sino Group to recognise the efforts of the city’s unsung heroes who contribute to the community or inspire others with stories of how they overcome personal challenges.

Chan’s path as a scientist has been shaped as much by empathy as by intellect.

He began his research career in the United States but decided to return home in 2002 after reading a Hong Kong newspaper article about patients suffering from spinocerebellar ataxia, a rare genetic disorder that affects balance and coordination.

“I remember sitting on the plane with that paper in my hand,” he recalled. “It struck me that if Hong Kong has patients in need, we should also have scientists working for them here. That story brought me back.”