Lihong Wang Elected to the National Academy of Medicine

Lihong Wang, the Andrew and Peggy Cherng Medical Engineering Leadership Chair and the Bren Professor of Medical Engineering and Electrical Engineering at Caltech, has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM). Election to the NAM is among the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and "recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service," according to a release from the NAM.

Wang, who is also the executive officer for medical engineering at Caltech, is a recognized leader in the field of biomedical imaging. His group has developed a variety of imaging techniques, including compressed ultrafast photography—a technique that enabled the world's fastest camera, which can now capture 210 trillion frames per second.

Wang is particularly well known for the development of 3D photoacoustic imaging that allows researchers to see into biological tissues noninvasively, and to peer deeper into the body by nearly two orders of magnitude compared to conventional optical microscopy. The applications of this technology include early cancer detection, imaging of blood vessels and blood flow, and surgical guidance. For example, it can help surgeons effectively remove breast cancer lumps, reducing the need for follow-up surgeries. Wang is also pushing what is possible in the field of quantum imaging, gaining higher-resolution images of biological materials by taking advantage of the unique quantum properties of light.

"My induction into both the National Academy of Engineering and of Medicine is a profound honor that I share with my entire lab. It confirms that bridging these fields is key to transforming patient care," says Wang. "Our work proves that fundamental research fuels engineering breakthroughs, and together, they create a powerful engine for improving lives. This is the journey we are committed to continuing."

Wang earned his undergraduate and master's degrees at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in China and his doctorate at Rice University. He was named a Bren Professor at Caltech in 2017. He was named the Cherng Medical Engineering Leadership Chair and executive officer for medical engineering in 2022.

Among his numerous honors, Wang has been the recipient of a National Science Foundation CAREER award; and, from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the FIRST, Director's Pioneer, Director's Transformative Research, and NIH/National Cancer Institute Outstanding Investigator awards.

He also received the C.E.K. Mees Medal from the Optical Society of America (OSA, now Optica), a Technical Achievement Award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), an IEEE Biomedical Engineering Award, SPIE Britton Chance Biomedical Optics Award, a Senior Prize from the International Photoacoustic and Photothermal Association, and an OSA Michael S. Feld Biophotonics Award. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, the Electromagnetics Academy, the International Academy of Medical and Biological Engineering, and the IEEE, OSA, and SPIE. He is a Foreign Fellow of the Chinese Optical Society. An honorary doctorate was conferred on him by Lund University, Sweden. In 2018, he was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering, and in 2020, he was named to the National Academy of Inventors. Wang was also honored in 2024 with a special issue of the Journal of Biomedical Optics.

This year at its annual meeting, NAM elected 90 regular members, including Wang, and 10 international members, bringing its total membership to more than 2,500. According to the NAM, the academy "works alongside the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering to provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation and conduct other activities to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions."

Additional Caltech faculty members who are members of the National Academy of Medicine are Richard Andersen, Frances Arnold, Jacqueline Barton, Mark E. Davis, Peter Dervan, and David Tirrell. Caltech trustee Virginia Weldon is also a member.