2025 CABS BioPacific Annual Conference
Nomination For K. Fong Award in Life Sciences
Deadline for nomination: April 30, 2025
The CABS K. Fong Award in Life Sciences is presented annually to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the life sciences and biopharmaceutical industries. This includes:
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Outstanding scientific discoveries.
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Notable efforts in promoting life science education.
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Initiatives that enhance the life science community.
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Therapeutic breakthroughs that bring new treatments to market and improve healthcare and quality of life.
Nomination Process:
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Candidates must be nominated by an active CABS member.
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Nominees should have a certain level of involvement in CABS activities previously.
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Selection will be based on the candidate’s overall accomplishments and contributions to the life science community, including one or more of the following:
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Proven achievements in therapeutic breakthroughs (e.g., discovery, process, or clinical development), diagnostics, or the research reagent/equipment markets.
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Significant contributions to the advancement of academic and industrial R&D in biomedical sciences and applications.
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Notable involvement in the CABS community and efforts in promoting international collaboration in life sciences.
Winners will be selected by the CABS Award Selection Committee. The recipient(s) will receive a Plaque of Merit at CABS BioPacific Annual Conference on September 13, 2025, at the South San Francisco Convention Center.
About Dr. Kenneth Fong
Dr. Kenneth Fong is a renowned entrepreneur, investor, and mentor to many biotech founders. He is a dedicated community leader and philanthropist with significant contributions to higher education and the biotech industry. Currently, Dr. Fong serves as the Chairman of Kenson Ventures, LLC—a venture capital firm specializing in financing and strategic consulting for biotech companies. He is also the founder and former CEO of Clontech, which developed and marketed molecular biology products to academic and pharmaceutical laboratories in the United States and 30 other countries. In addition, he serves on the boards and advisory boards of several biotech organizations in the US, China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
Dr. Fong’s community and philanthropic activities include:
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Establishing the Fong Optometry and Medical Library at UC Berkeley.
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Creating the Fong Scholarship Programs and Annual Scientific Symposia at San Francisco State University.
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Initiating the Annual Fong-Clontech Seminar Series at Indiana University.
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Serving as Chairman of the San Jose Chinese Performing Arts Center (2000–2002).
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Supporting the Chinese Historical Society of America (San Francisco, 2000) and pioneering the Biotech Program at the San Jose Tech Museum (1999).
More recently, Dr. Fong has been actively supporting educational programs for children in under-served and impoverished regions of China. He is a member of Committee 100 and a former board member of the 80-20 Initiative. Currently, Ken dedicates much of his time to cultivating and advising entrepreneurs in the biotech industry, particularly those in the 40–55 age group.
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
2023: Dr. Corey Goodman, Managing Partner at venBio, member of National Academy of Sciences, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and American Philosophical Society, a recipient of Alan T. Waterman Award, Canada Gairdner Biomedical Award, March-of-Dimes Prize, and Gruber Prize in Neuroscience. Co-founder of Exelixis, CEO of Renovis, President at Pfizer.
2022: Dr. Scott Liu, Founder and CEO, HanchorBio Inc. (Co-Founder and former CEO, Henlius)
2021: Dr. Xian-Ping Lu, Founder, Chairman and CEO, ChipScreen BioSciences Co.
Dr. John O. Link, Former VP, Gilead Sciences, Inc (Retired)
2019: John Oyler, MBA, Founder, CEO and Chairman of BeiGene
2018: Dr. Guoliang Yu, Executive Chairman, Crown Bioscience, Venture Partner, OrbiMed Venture
Dr. Yuling Luo, Founder,Chairman and CEO, Alamar Bioscience
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 is completely developed in China.
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 Chen, 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, of Stanford University, for his pioneering research in stem cell research.
2014: Dr. Ge Li, Founder and CEO of Wuxi Apptec, for creating 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, Plexxikon & Sugen for his pivotal role in advancing 4 successful drugs to the market
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.