ACGA Awards Information

There are five award categories that the Association of Chinese Geneticists in America (ACGA) presents to members of the community to recognize those who have made significant contributions to the fields of genetics, medical genetics, and genomics.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to those who have made seminal breakthroughs and significant contributions throughout their lifetime to genetics.
The Excellence in Genetics Research Award is to acknowledge basic research scientists who have made substantial contributions to our understanding of genetics.
The Excellence in Genetics Service Award is given to members who demonstrate exceptional excellence in the care of patients with genetic diseases.
The Excellence in Genetics Education Award is to recognize educators who have a track record of training the next generation of genetic research scientists and medical geneticists.
Trainee Awards are presented to both pre- and post-doctoral trainees. There are four categories: pre-doctoral basic research, pre-doctoral translational/clinical research, post- doctoral basic research, and post-doctoral translational/clinical research.

ACGA Awards 2025

Lifetime Achievement Award

Sau Wai Cheung, Ph.D.

Baylor College of Medicine

Dr. Cheung is honored for her four decades of groundbreaking contributions to clinical genetics. As Director of the Cytogenetics Laboratory at Baylor College of Medicine, she spearheaded the development and clinical adoption of chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) in 2004, transforming genomic testing and establishing CMA as a first-tier test for prenatal and postnatal conditions, including developmental disorders and intellectual disability. She has authored nearly 300 highly influential publications, expanded our knowledge of microdeletion and microduplication syndromes, and shaped genetic testing practices worldwide. As an educator, she has mentored over 20 fellows, many of whom are now leaders in the field, and co-founded the master’s program in Medical Genetics at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, improving genetics education and services across Asia.

Excellence in Genetics Education Award

Yao-Shan Fan, M.D., Ph.D.

Mayo Clinic Florida

Dr. Fan is recognized for more than four decades of dedication to genetics education. He has trained and mentored hundreds of students, residents, fellows, technologists, and future clinical genetic laboratory directors worldwide. His book Molecular Cytogenetics: Protocols and Applications is one of the first comprehensive resources in clinical molecular cytogenetics. With over 100 peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Fan’s teaching has reached audiences worldwide, significantly advancing the dissemination of medical genetics knowledge.

Excellence in Genetics Service Award

Wuh-Liang Hwu, M.D., Ph.D.

China Medical University Hospital
National Taiwan University College of Medicine

Professor Hwu is an international leader in medical genetics, known for his pioneering work in newborn screening programs and rare disease treatments. He established the world’s first newborn screening program for Pompe disease, later adopted into the U.S. Recommended Uniform Screening Panel, and Taiwan’s first spinal muscular atrophy screening program. He led the development of the first successful gene therapy for a central nervous system disorder caused by aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AACD), which gained European Medicines Agency (EMA) approval in 2022 and US FDA approval in 2024. He founded the Taiwan Human Genetics Society and co-founded the Asian Pacific Society of Human Genetics.

Excellence in Genetics Research Award

Sidi Chen, Ph.D.

Yale School of Medicine

Dr. Chen is recognized for his groundbreaking work at the crossroads of cancer genetics, immunology, and systems biology. His lab has created innovative CRISPR-based in vivo functional genomics platforms to identify genetic factors driving cancer progression, immune evasion, and therapy resistance. These findings have advanced fundamental biology and helped develop new cancer treatments. He has secured over $35 million in research funding from the US NIH and other funding agencies. His works have been published in many highly impactful journals such as Nature Biotechnology, Nature Communications, Science Advances, and Nature Immunology, and have garnered over 12,000 citations. Dr. Chen has founded several biotechnology companies based on his innovations.

ACGA Awards 2024

Excellence in Genetics Research Award

Taosheng Huang, MD, PhD, DABMGG, FACMG

Professor

Dean, Institute of Medical Genetics & Genomics
Chairman, National Children’s Medical Center
Fudan Children’s Hospital
Fudan University Shanghai Medical College

Excellence in Genetics Education Award

Yun-Fai Chris Lau Ph.D.

San Francisco, CA, USA

Professor of Medicine
University of California, San Francisco

ACGA Awards 2023

Lifetime Achievement Award

Dr. Yang Huanming

Co-founder and chairman
BGI-China
Professor
University of Chinese Academy of Science
China

Excellence in Genetics Education Award

Dr. Richard Kwong Wai Choy

Professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Program Director, MSc Medical Genetics
Deputy Director, Prenatal Genetic Diagnosis Centre
Director, Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis Laboratory
Director, Fertility Preservation Research Centre
The Chinese University of Hong Kong