Announcing 2025 CABS K. Fong Award in Life Sciences
Date: September 13, 2025 @ 8:00 am – @ 8:00 pm
Location: South San Francisco Conference Center
Chinese American Bio/Pharmaceutical Society (CABS) Honors Dr. Liqun Luo with the 2025 K. Fong Award in Life Sciences
South San Francisco, CA - The Chinese American Bio/Pharmaceutical Society (CABS) proudly announces Dr. Liqun Luo, Ann and Bill Swindells Professor of Biology at Stanford University, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, as the recipient of the prestigious 2025 CABS K. Fong Award in Life Sciences. Marking the 12th anniversary of this esteemed accolade, the award honors Dr. Luo for his exceptional contributions to neuroscience research, education, and translational innovation. The award will be presented at the 2025 BioPacific Conference on September 13, 2025, at the South San Francisco Conference Center.
A native of Shanghai, Dr. Luo received his Ph.D. from Brandeis University and completed his postdoctoral training at UCSF, following undergraduate studies at the University of Science and Technology of China. Since launching his lab at Stanford in 1996, he has become one of the foremost leaders in modern neurobiology.
Dr. Luo has pioneered the development of powerful genetic tools for neural circuit mapping, including transsynaptic tracing and intersectional genetic strategies, and has made major discoveries in how olfactory and cortical circuits are organized. His research has revealed how neurons choose their synaptic partners and how these connections affect brain function and behavior.His work has had far-reaching impact, providing critical insights into autism spectrum disorders, neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s), and psychiatric conditions. Discoveries from his lab have helped identify novel drug targets and diagnostic biomarkers, and his technologies have been licensed to industry to support gene and cell therapy research.
Dr. Luo’s influence also extends to scientific education and mentorship. He is the sole author of the widely adopted textbook Principles of Neurobiology, now in its second edition. He has mentored a generation of scientists, biotech company founders and CEOs. Many of his trainees have gone on to lead companies and innovation in the biopharmaceutical industry.
Dr. Luo is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a recipient of the 2025 NAS Award in Neurosciences, among numerous other accolades. His service to the field includes editorial roles for top journals such as Neuron and Cell, and advisory positions with major scientific foundations.
CABS is honored to recognize Dr. Liqun Luo’s outstanding achievements, which have advanced the frontiers of brain science and contributed to improved human health. His commitment to rigorous research, education, and innovation exemplifies the values of the K. Fong Award in Life Sciences.
For media inquiries and press registration for the award ceremony, please contact: info@cabsweb.org.
About CABS K. Fong Award in Life Sciences
The CABS K. Fong Award in Life Sciences is an esteemed annual recognition presented to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the fields of life sciences and the biopharmaceutical industry including outstanding scientific findings, recognized efforts in promoting life science education and initiatives in improving life science community, and those who bring therapeutic breakthroughs to the market and improve healthcare and quality of life.
Candidates eligible for this award must be nominated by an active member of CABS. Selection criteria are based on candidate’s accomplishments in life sciences and contribution to the life science community, including one or all of the following:
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Proven achievements in therapeutic breakthroughs (including discovery, process, or clinical development), diagnostics or research reagent/equipment markets.
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Significant contribution to the promotion of academic and industrial R&D in biomedical sciences and applications.
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Significant contribution to the CABS community and promotion of international collaborations in life sciences.
The CABS K. Fong Award in Life Sciences aims to celebrate and honor exceptional individuals whose achievements and commitment have not only expanded the frontiers of life sciences but have also positively impacted global healthcare and well-being.
About Dr. Kenneth Fong
Dr. Kenneth Fong has spent the last 41 years in the biotech industry after completing his academic pursuit in biomedical research.
He is best known for founding the biotech company, Clontech in 1984 which he built into one of the largest biomedical tool companies founded by an Asian American in the US (400 employees including 65 PhD scientists). Clontech was acquired by Becton Dickinson in 1999 and Ken has continued his career as a Venture capitalist with Kenson Ventures that he founded. He has since cultivated 12 highly successful entrepreneurs, advising them and working with them on the growth of their companies.
Currently, he sits on the board of 4 biotech companies and he was intimately involved with the M/A and IPO of more than 15 companies that are worth more than $7 billion. These companies range from research tools, medical diagnostics and drug development. In almost all cases, Dr. Fong has been instrumental in providing strategies for sustainable growth, value creation and liquidity. Those successful entrepreneurs have moved on to assume leadership in other start-up and mid-sized companies, which in turn led to a new generation of entrepreneurs.
Ken has held a number of leadership positions over the years. He served as the President of the Society of Chinese Bioscientists in North America (2006-2007) and President of the Bay Area Asian American Manufacturers' Association (AAMA, 1987). He was also a member of the Board of Trustees of the California State University System (2006-2013). His philanthropic interests include scholarships to San Francisco State University, the Kenneth Fong-Hearst endowed scholarships to the CSU system and 40 student scholarships to Peking University. In 2003, he was involved with establishing the Fong Optometry and Medical library at UC Berkeley, and more recently an endowed professorship at Stanford University and a technology translation endowed fund at San Francisco State University.
Ken obtained his PhD from Indiana University and his post-doctoral studies at UCLA & NIH.
Past recipients of CABS K. Fong Awards
2024: Dr. Zach Sweeney, Venture Partner at Versant Ventures, CEO and co-founder of Interline Therapeutics, CSO at Denali Therapeutics for his exceptional contributions and transformative impact on the pharmaceutical and biotechnology fields.
2023:Dr. Corey Goodman, Managing Partner at venBio, for his groundbreaking discoveries in neural development and axon guidance, as well as his visionary leadership in translating science into successful biopharmaceutical ventures that have significantly advanced human health.
2022: Dr. Scott Liu, Founder and CEO of HanchorBio, for his outstanding and pioneering contribution to the development of multiple biologic products from research to launch.
2021: Dr. John O. Link, Vice President of Gilead Sciences for his work on the drug discovery of Hepatitis C inhibitors and the HIV Capsid Inhibitor; and Dr. Xian-Ping Lu, Chairman, CEO of Shenzhen Chipscreen Biosciences Co. LTD, for their extraordinary achievements in research, innovation and entrepreneurship.
2019: John V. Oyler, Chairman, Co-Found and CEO of BeiGene, for his entrepreneurship and business leadership to establish BeiGene as a world-class biopharmaceutical company.
2018: Dr. Yuling Luo, Founder, CEO and Chairman of Alamar Biosciences (formerly the founder & CEO of Advanced Cell Diagnostics, ACD), and Dr. Guoliang Yu, Executive Chairman of Crown Bioscience, for their successful serial entrepreneurship in the life science business.
2017: Dr.Yinxiang Wang, Co-founder and CSO of Beta Pharma, for his role in leading development and commercialization of Conmana®, the first small molecule oncology drug specifically targeting cancer cells that was completely developed in China; and Dr. Edgar Engleman, for his pioneering research that was the basis of the Sipuleucel-T (Provenge) prostate cancer vaccine, the first active immunotherapy for cancer to be approved by the FDA.
2016: Dr. Gerald Chan, Co-founder of Morningside, for his extraordinary vision and leadership in cultivating a generation of successful entrepreneurs and life sciences companies.
2015: Dr. Irving Weissman, Professor of Stanford University, for his pioneering work in stem cell research.
2014: Dr. Ge Li, Founder and CEO of Wuxi Apptec, for pioneering and shaping the CRO business model in China; and Dr. Hing L. Sham, formerly of Abbott for his leading role in the discovery of life-saving HIV protease inhibitors, ritonavir and Iopinavir.
2013: Dr. Peter Hirth of Plexxikon & Sugen for his pivotal role in advancing 4 successful drugs to the market; and Dr. Jean Cui, formerly of Pfizer for her role as the lead designer and investigator of crizotinib, a successful kinase inhibiting drug used in personalized medicine.
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