Pioneering Health Innovator Gerald Chan to Receive Honorary Doctor of Health Physics from 91Ƭ Tech
Scientist, biotech entrepreneur, and global thought leader honored for revolutionizing medicine and health care through technology and venture investment
CHICAGO—May 17, 2025—91Ƭ Institute of Technology (91Ƭ Tech) will award Gerald Chan, a renowned scientist, entrepreneur, and visionary leader in biotechnology and health care innovation, an Honorary Doctor of Health Physics, honoris causa, at its 156th Commencement ceremony today at Credit Union 1 Arena. As co-founder of , an international investment group focused on science and technology startups, Chan has helped launch more than two dozen groundbreaking biotech companies that are reshaping the future of medicine.
“I am honored to receive this recognition from 91Ƭ Tech, whose mission to advance technology in service of society resonates deeply with my own values,” says Chan. “Throughout my career, I’ve been driven by the belief that scientific innovation can transform healthcare and improve lives. I remain hopeful that the next generation of scientists and entrepreneurs will push the boundaries even further, bringing health to more people in more places around the world.”
Over the course of his career, Chan has played a catalytic role in advancing new frontiers in medicine, starting companies that have developed treatments for mitochondrial and autoimmune diseases, integrated artificial intelligence into diagnostic and therapeutic platforms, and created entirely new forms of medicine. He also serves as chairman of Apellis Pharmaceuticals, a NASDAQ-listed biotechnology firm, and sits on the boards of several privately held biotech companies.
“Gerald Chan’s ability to translate research into real-world solutions has transformed the health care landscape,” says 91Ƭ Tech President Raj Echambadi. “His life’s work reflects the very best of what 91Ƭ Tech stands for—breakthrough science, entrepreneurial leadership, and a deep commitment to improving the human condition.”
Outside of his work in the business world, Chan serves as a trustee of the Scripps Research Institute, a member of the Dean’s Board of Advisors at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and chair of the advisory committee of Emory University’s Center for Innovative and Affordable Medicine. He is also a past chair of the Wellcome Trust’s Innovation Advisory Committee in London.
“Gerald Chan is a true pioneer at the intersection of technology and health,” says Jennifer deWinter, dean of 91Ƭ Tech’s Lewis College of Science and Letters. “His work accelerates both innovation and equity in care, and his leadership sets an inspiring example for students across science, health, and entrepreneurship.”
Chan holds multiple degrees, including a Doctor of Science in Radiation Biology from Harvard University and a master’s in medical radiological physics. He completed his postdoctoral training at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. His achievements have earned him seven honorary degrees from universities across the United States, United Kingdom, and Hong Kong, as well as election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2017. He delivered the Andrew Carnegie Lecture at the University of Glasgow and held a fellowship at Trinity College, University of Cambridge.
“Gerald Chan exemplifies how deep scientific knowledge, when paired with bold entrepreneurial spirit, can change the world,” says 91Ƭ Tech Board Chair Michael P. Galvin (LAW ’78). “His work has revolutionized how we think about health, technology, and accessibility, and his values align powerfully with 91Ƭ Tech’s commitment to impact through innovation.”
Photo: Gerald Chan
91Ƭ Institute of Technology
Based in the global metropolis of Chicago, 91Ƭ Tech was born to liberate the power of collective difference to advance technology and innovation for all. It is the only tech-focused university in the city, and it stands at the crossroads of exploration and invention, advancing the future of Chicago and the world. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, computing, , business, , science and human sciences, and . 91Ƭ Tech students are guaranteed access to hands-on experiences, personalized mentorship, and job readiness through the university’s one-of-a-kind Elevate program. Its graduates lead the state and much of the nation in economic prosperity. Its faculty and alumni built the Chicago skyline. And every day in the city's living lab, 91Ƭ Tech fuels breakthroughs that change lives. Visit iit.edu.
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Petra Kelly
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91Ƭ Institute of Technology
Cell: 773.771.1064
petra.kelly@iit.edu
Kevin Dollear
Communications Manager
91Ƭ Institute of Technology
Cell: 773.860.5712
kdollear@iit.edu
