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Kam W. Leong
Samuel Y. Sheng Professor of Biomedical Engineering (in Systems Biology)
Kam W. Leong’s research explores how cell–biomaterial interactions can be harnessed for therapeutic applications. For over three decades, his team has advanced biomaterials, drug delivery, and gene therapy through molecular and materials engineering.
A central focus has been the development of multifunctional nanoparticles capable of delivering small molecules, proteins, antigens, and diverse nucleic acids, including siRNA, mRNA, and plasmid DNA. These platforms are applied to drug, gene, and immunotherapy, with particular emphasis on enabling nonviral gene editing in vivo.
Another central theme is the modulation of inflammation. His group proposed cationic biomaterials as nucleic acid scavengers to reduce aberrant innate immune activation, a mechanism implicated in autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases. This approach has produced nanomaterials that attenuate inflammation in sepsis, cancer, periodontitis, and metabolic disorders. In regenerative medicine, his work revealed how nanoscale and topographical cues regulate stem cell fate and reprogramming. Building on these findings, his laboratory developed scaffolds with integrated functions, such as controlled release of anti-inflammatory agents or scavenging of damage-associated molecular patterns, to enhance tissue repair. To enable translation, his team also developed flash nanocomplexation, an automated, continuous process that produces nanoparticles with uniform properties and can integrate membrane coatings to guide biodistribution. Together, these efforts advance therapeutic delivery, inflammation modulation, and regenerative repair.
Leong graduated with a B.S. from the University of California, Santa Barbara, followed by a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, both in Chemical Engineering. His publication record includes around 600 manuscripts and 60 issued patents. Leong's contributions have been recognized by his election to the USA National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Inventors, and the National Academy of Medicine. Recent awards include the Society for Biomaterials' Founders Award (2022), the IEEE-EMBS Career Achievement Award (2023), and the IEEE Biomedical Engineering Award (2024). Leong has been serving as the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Biomaterials for the past decade.
Research Areas
- Biomaterials
- Cell & Tissue Engineering
- Drug Delivery
- Microfluidics and Lab-on-a-Chip Technology
- Regenerative Medicine
Additional information
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Professional Experience
- 2014-present Editor-in-Chief, Biomaterials
- 2014-present, Samuel Y Sheng Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University
- 2015-present Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University
- 2006-2014 Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University Professor, Division of Experimental Surgery, School of Medicine, Duke University
- 2008-2011 Distinguished Visiting Professor, National University of Singapore
- 1999-2006 Principal Investigator, Division of Johns Hopkins in Singapore
- 1998-2006 Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
- 1998-2004 Program Director and Technical Advisor to Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Singapore 1991-1998 Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
- 1990-2005 Director of Master Program in Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
- 1986-1991 Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
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Professional Affiliations
- Society for Biomaterials
- Biomedical Engineering Society
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Honors & Awards
- 2024, Elected Member (Inaugural Class) of Asian American Academy of Science and Engineering
- 2024, IEEE Biomedical Engineering Award
- 2023, IEEE-EMBS Career Achievement Award
- 2022, Chandra P Sharma Award, Society of Biomaterials, Artificial Organs, India
- 2022, Founders Award of Society for Biomaterials
- 2022, IEEE-EMBS (Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society) Technical Achievement Award
- 2020, CAB Global Biomaterials Leadership Award
- 2019, Elected Member of the International Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering
- 2020, Elected Member of the USA National Academy of Medicine
- 2017, Lifetime Achievement Award of Chinese American Society of Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology
- 2016, Chinese Academy of Sciences President Fellowship for Distinguished Scientists
- 2014-present, Editor-in-Chief: Biomaterials
- 2014, Elected Member of the USA National Academy of Inventors
- 2014, International Journal of Nanomedicine Distinguished Scientist Award
- 2014, Samuel Y. Sheng Professorship of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University
- 2013, Elected Member of the USA National Academy of Engineering
- 2012, Clemson Award for Applied Research, Society for Biomaterials
- 2010, Stansell Family Distinguished Research Award
- 2007, James B. Duke Professorship of Biomedical Engineering
- 1998, Fellow of American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering
- 1997, CRS-Cygnus Recognition Award
- 1996-2001, Capsugel Award on Innovative Aspects of Controlled Release Research, CRS
- 1996, CRS-3M Pharmaceuticals Recognition Award
- 1995, The Chinese-American Chemical Society Award for Recognition of Pioneering Contributions in Polymer Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering
- 1994, Young Investigator Research Achievement Award of Controlled Release Society
- 1994, Excellence in Guidance of Graduate Student Research, Controlled Release Society
- 1993, CRS-Proctor & Gamble Recognition Award
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Education
- Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, University of Pennsylvania
- B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara