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Chi-Huey Wong: A Luminary in Glycoscience

Delving into the profound contributions of a pioneering biochemist to carbohydrate chemistry and its transformative therapeutic applications.

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Introduction

A Distinguished Biochemist

Chi-Huey Wong, a distinguished Taiwanese-American biochemist, currently holds the Scripps Family Chair Professorship at the Scripps Research Institute. Born on August 3, 1948, in Yizhu, Tainan County (now Chiayi County), Taiwan, Professor Wong has carved an indelible mark in the scientific community through his groundbreaking work in glycoscience.

Acclaimed Recognition

His exceptional contributions have garnered significant international acclaim. He is an esteemed member of the United States National Academy of Sciences and a recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the 2014 Wolf Prize in Chemistry and the 2015 RSC Robert Robinson Award. These accolades underscore his profound impact on the field of chemistry and biochemistry.

Prolific Innovator

Professor Wong is a prolific innovator and scholar, holding over 100 patents for his inventions. His extensive research is documented in more than 700 scholarly academic research papers, reflecting a career dedicated to advancing scientific understanding and developing practical applications in carbohydrate-based medicine.

Academic Journey

Early Foundations in Taiwan

Professor Wong commenced his higher education at National Taiwan University, where he earned both his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in 1970 and his Master of Science (M.S.) in biochemical sciences in 1977. These formative years established a strong foundation for his future endeavors in chemical research.

Doctoral Studies at MIT

He subsequently pursued graduate studies in the United States, culminating in a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1982. Under the mentorship of Professor George M. Whitesides, his doctoral research focused on the innovative application of enzymes as catalysts in organic synthesis, a field that would become central to his career.

Professional Trajectory

Postdoctoral and Early Academia

Following his Ph.D., Professor Wong continued his postdoctoral research with George M. Whitesides at Harvard University from 1982 to 1983. He then embarked on his independent academic career at Texas A&M University, where he progressed through the ranks from assistant professor to full professor in the chemistry department, establishing his research group and reputation.

Global Leadership Roles

His career path led him to the Scripps Research Institute as the Ernest W. Hahn Chair and Professor of Chemistry. Concurrently, he held significant leadership positions internationally, serving as the head of the Frontier Research Program on Glycotechnology at Riken in Japan and as the director of the Genomics Research Center at Academia Sinica in Taiwan. His leadership extended further when he was appointed by the President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) as the President of Academia Sinica.

Current Affiliation

Presently, Professor Wong continues his impactful work at the Scripps Research Institute, where he holds the prestigious Scripps Family Chair Professorship of Chemistry, maintaining his active role in cutting-edge scientific discovery and mentorship.

Pioneering Research

Innovations in Glycoscience

Professor Wong is widely recognized for his seminal contributions to glycoscience. His research has focused on developing chemo-enzymatic methods for the practical synthesis of complex carbohydrates, specifically oligosaccharides and glycoproteins. These methods have revolutionized the accessibility and study of these vital biological molecules.

Hierarchical Synthesis & Microarrays

A notable achievement is his development of a hierarchical and programmable one-pot synthesis method, enabling the rapid preparation of a vast array of oligosaccharides. Furthermore, his work on glycan microarrays has provided high-throughput analytical tools for studying protein-carbohydrate interactions, crucial for understanding biological processes.

Therapeutic Applications

The synthetic methods and glycosylation probes pioneered by Wong have not only advanced the fundamental understanding of glycosylation in biology but have also paved the way for the clinical development of carbohydrate-based medicines. This includes innovative vaccines and homogeneous antibodies designed for the treatment of cancers and infectious diseases, demonstrating a direct translational impact on human health.

Public Scrutiny & Resolution

Allegations of Insider Trading

In 2016, Professor Wong faced media speculation regarding his potential involvement in an insider trading scandal linked to OBI Pharma, Inc., a biotech company based in Taiwan. The allegations arose because his adult daughter held shares in the company.

Resignation and Investigation

While in the United States, Professor Wong expressed deep disappointment over the false reports and twice offered his resignation as President of Academia Sinica. Initially rejected, his resignation was eventually approved by then-President Ma Ying-jeou on May 10, 2016. An investigation into the matter ensued.

Exoneration

In February 2018, the Shilin District Prosecutors Office officially announced that all charges of insider trading against Professor Wong had been dropped. Subsequently, in April 2022, the Control Yuan publicly confirmed that Professor Wong had not violated any regulations concerning the disclosure of assets during the technology transfer of his inventions, fully clearing his name.

Awards & Honors

Major Accolades

Professor Chi-Huey Wong has been honored with a remarkable array of awards throughout his distinguished career, recognizing his profound impact on chemistry and biochemistry.

  • 1985 โ€“ Searle Scholar Award
  • 1986 โ€“ Presidential Young Investigator Award in Chemistry
  • 1994 โ€“ IUPAC International Carbohydrate Award
  • 1998 โ€“ Harrison Howe Award, American Chemical Society
  • 1999 โ€“ International Enzyme Engineering Award
  • 1999 โ€“ Claude S. Hudson Award, American Chemical Society
  • 2000 โ€“ United States Presidential Green Chemistry Award
  • 2005 โ€“ American Chemical Society Award for Creative Work in Synthetic Organic Chemistry
  • 2008 โ€“ F.A. Cotton Medal for Excellence in Chemical Research
  • 2012 โ€“ Arthur C. Cope Award by the American Chemical Society
  • 2014 โ€“ Wolf Prize in Chemistry
  • 2015 โ€“ Robert Robinson Award, Royal Society of Chemistry
  • 2016 and 2022 โ€“ Asian Scientist 100, Asian Scientist
  • 2021 โ€“ Welch Award in Chemistry
  • 2022 โ€“ Chemical Pioneer Award of the American Institute of Chemists
  • 2023 โ€“ Israel Chemical Society International Barry Cohen Award
  • 2023 โ€“ Federation of Asian Chemical Societies (FACS) Foundation Lectureship Award

Honorary Doctorates

In recognition of his scholarly achievements and leadership, several prestigious institutions have bestowed upon Professor Wong honorary doctorates.

  • 2007 โ€“ Technion โ€“ Israel Institute of Technology, Israel
  • 2007 โ€“ National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan (now NYCU)
  • 2008 โ€“ National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan
  • 2009 โ€“ City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
  • 2010 โ€“ National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan
  • 2011 โ€“ National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan (now NYCU)
  • 2011 โ€“ National Tsing-Hua University, Taiwan

Distinguished Memberships

Global Scientific Societies

Professor Chi-Huey Wong's influence extends through his memberships in numerous elite scientific academies and organizations worldwide, reflecting his standing as a leading figure in global science.

  • 1994 โ€“ Academia Sinica
  • 1996 โ€“ American Academy of Arts and Science
  • 2002 โ€“ United States National Academy of Sciences
  • 2007 โ€“ The World Academy of Sciences
  • 2010 โ€“ Associate Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization
  • 2014 โ€“ United States National Academy of Inventors

Patents & Publications

Extensive Bibliography

Beyond his numerous patents, Professor Wong has authored or co-authored over 700 scholarly academic research papers, contributing significantly to the scientific literature. His published works include foundational texts in the field of synthetic organic chemistry and carbohydrate-based drug discovery.

  • Enzymes in Synthetic Organic Chemistry. Pergamon Press. 1994. ISBN 978-0-08-050582-4
  • Carbohydrate Based Drug Discovery. Wiley Online Library. 2003. ISBN 978-3-527-60243-8
  • Current Status and New Challenges in Glycoscience. Springer. ISBN 978-4-431-54841-6

Representative Patents

Professor Wong's innovative spirit is further evidenced by his extensive patent portfolio, which includes over 100 patents. These patents cover a wide range of inventions, from novel synthetic methods to therapeutic compositions.

  • Globo-H and related anti-cancer vaccines with novel glycolipid adjuvants (US9,603,913B2)
  • Glycan arrays on PTFE-like aluminum coated glass slides and related methods (US8,680,020)
  • Methods and compositions for immunization against virus (US8.741,311)
  • Large scale enzymatic synthesis of oligosaccharides (US9,340,812)
  • Methods for modifying human antibodies by glycan engineering (US10, 087,236)
  • Compositions and methods relating to universal glycoforms for enhanced antibody efficacy (US10,023892)
  • Crystal structure of bifunctional transglycosylase PBP1b from E. Coli and inhibitors thereof (US9890111B2)
  • Quantitative analysis of carbohydrate-protein interactions using glycan microarrays: determination of surface and solution dissociation constants (US-8906832-B2)
  • Antibiotic compositions and related screening methods (US8916540B2)
  • Hirsutella Sinensis mycelia compositions and methods for treating sepsis and related inflammatory responses (US8486914B2)
  • Tailored glycoproteomic methods for the sequencing, mapping and identification of cellular glycoproteins (US7943330B2)

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References

References

  1.  Wolf Prize in Chemistry 2014
  2.  Welch Award in Chemistry 2021
A full list of references for this article are available at the Chi-Huey Wong Wikipedia page

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