YW Kan to Receive Inaugural New “Pioneer” Award
UCSF’s Yuet Wai Kan, an internationally recognized leader in the field of human genetics, will be honored at the Personalized Medicine World Conference, PMWC 2014, to be held in January 2014 in Silicon Valley.
PMWC provides real-world insights into the progress of personalized medicine.
This year, PMWC has launched a new honor, called the “Pioneer Award,” to be given to Kan, who pioneered the design and implementation of prenatal DNA-based screening tests for, sickle cell anemia, thalassemias, and various other single gene disorders.
Kan also discovered the DNA polymorphism, used extensively used in gene discovery. His research has highlighted the links between specific genetic aberrations and congenital diseases, while also expanding knowledge of hematology and cellular microenvironments. Kan’s findings have led to additional research on gene expression control mechanisms, as well as the establishment of genetic disease models.
A recipient of many high honors, Kan received the prestigious Shaw Prize in Life Science and Medicine in 2004, an international award given by the Shaw Prize Foundation based in Hong Kong that recognizes breakthroughs in scientific research resulting in “a positive and profound impact on mankind.” He was honored in 1991 with the distinguished Albert Lasker Clinical Medical Research Award, the nation’s most prestigious honor in the clinical research field.
Kan is a member of the National Academy of Sciences. Born in Hong Kong, Kan graduated from the University of Hong Kong Medical School in 1958. He received clinical training in Hong Kong and the U.S. In 1970, he joined the faculty of Harvard Medical School, and in 1972, he joined the UCSF faculty. Kan received a D.Sc. from the University of Hong Kong in 1980 and is the recipient of several honorary degrees.
Participants of PMWC2014 can join the discussion and interact with key opinion leaders who are framing and forming the future of this rapidly changing industry. PMWC 2014 is co-hosted by Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Oracle.
Photo by Cindy Chew