Dr. Chi-Huey Wong is a preeminent chemist whose pioneering work has transformed the field of glycoscience and its applications in medicine. He currently serves as the Scripps Family Chair Professor of Chemistry at The Scripps Research Institute, a position he has held since 2019, following his distinguished tenure as President of Academia Sinica in Taiwan from 2006 to 2016. Dr. Wong received his BS and MS degrees in biochemical sciences from National Taiwan University and completed his PhD in chemistry at MIT under George Whitesides in 1982, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University. His academic journey began at Texas A&M University where he rose from Assistant Professor to Full Professor between 1983 and 1989 before joining The Scripps Research Institute as Professor and holder of the Ernest W. Hahn Chair in Chemistry, a position he maintained until 2006.
Dr. Wong is internationally recognized for developing groundbreaking chemoenzymatic methods that revolutionized the synthesis of complex carbohydrates, glycoproteins, and related biomolecules previously considered impossible or impractical to synthesize. His laboratory pioneered the first automated and programmable synthesis of oligosaccharides, along with innovative glycosylation probes and glycan microarrays that have become essential tools for analyzing protein-carbohydrate interactions. These transformative methodologies have directly enabled the development of universal influenza vaccines, homogeneous antibodies with optimized therapeutic properties, and broadly protective cancer vaccines utilizing global-series glycans. In recognition of these contributions, Dr. Wong was awarded the prestigious Wolf Prize in Chemistry in 2014, often considered the most significant honor after the Nobel Prize, for his pioneering work that has advanced both fundamental science and medical applications.
Beyond his research contributions, Dr. Wong has demonstrated exceptional leadership in the scientific community through his service as Editor-in-Chief of Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry for seventeen years and as Chairman of the Executive Board of Editors for Tetrahedron Publications. He is an elected member of the US National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, reflecting the profound impact of his work across disciplinary boundaries. Dr. Wong has also translated his scientific discoveries into practical applications through founding biotechnology companies including Combichem, Inc. and Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc., demonstrating his commitment to bridging basic research and clinical impact. Currently, his laboratory continues to advance the frontiers of glycoscience with a focus on developing novel carbohydrate-based therapeutics and diagnostic tools that address critical challenges in infectious diseases and oncology.
