Announcing 2023 CABS K. Fong Award in life sciences

Date: October 28, 2023 @ 8:00 am – @ 6:00 pm
Location: South San Francisco Convention Center

The Chinese American Biopharmaceutical Society (CABS) proudly announces Dr. Corey Goodman as the recipient of the prestigious 2023 CABS K. Fong Award in Life Sciences, commemorating the 10th anniversary of this honored distinction. This esteemed award recognizes Dr. Goodman’s outstanding contributions to science, education, entrepreneurship, and venture capital. The award will be presented during the 2023 BioPacific Conference on October 28th, 2023, at the South San Francisco Convention Center.

A celebrated figure in the scientific community, Dr. Corey Goodman’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable. He obtained his B.S. from Stanford University and earned his Ph.D. from U.C. Berkeley. He spent 25 years as a Professor of Biology at Stanford and a Professor of Neurobiology at Berkeley where he was a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, co-founder of the Wills Neuroscience Institute, and achieved an h-index of 131. Dr. Goodman is currently the Adjunct Professor of Neuroscience at Berkeley.

He is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and American Philosophical Society, and a recipient of many honors, including the Alan T. Waterman Award, Canada Gairdner Biomedical Award, March-of-Dimes Prize, and Gruber Prize in Neuroscience.

Dr. Goodman’s achievements extend beyond academia. He transitioned from research to the biotechnology industry, bridging the gap between scientific discoveries and impactful medicines. He co-founded eight biotech companies, notably Exelixis being the first one; he served as the CEO of Renovis, leading the company to go public and achieve a successful acquisition by Evotec. At Pfizer, he was President of the Biotherapeutics and Bioinnovation Center and a member of the executive leadership team.

As Managing Partner of venBio, a venture capital firm he co-founded, Dr. Goodman fosters groundbreaking scientific advancements. He chairs the Boards of leading biotechnology companies like ALX Oncology, Tallac, Axonis, Attralus, MindRhythm, Axent, and Insamo. Additionally, he is a valued member of the Boards of NFlection and FogPharma. He chaired Labrys Biologics, a company he founded, until its acquisition by Teva. The Labrys drug, called Ajovy, is a CGRP antibody for chronic migraine that was approved by the FDA in 2018.

His commitment to public service is commendable. As the former Chair of the California Council on Science and Technology, Dr. Goodman provided invaluable guidance to the Governor and State Legislature. He also served as the former Chair of the National Research Council’s (NAS) Board on Life Sciences, advising the Federal Government on critical matters.

CABS honors Dr. Corey Goodman’s exceptional accomplishments and profound impact on the life sciences industry and academia. His visionary leadership, groundbreaking research, and dedication to healthcare have left an indelible mark on the scientific community.

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:

• Proven achievements in therapeutic breakthroughs (including discovery, process, or clinical development), diagnostics or research reagent/equipment markets.
• Significant contribution to the promotion of academic and industrial R&D in biomedical sciences and applications.
• 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 39 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

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.