The UC Irvine Academic Senate has named Dr. Zhongping Chen, Professor of Biomedical Engineering and the Beckman Laser Institute & Medical Clinic, as a 2026-27 recipient of the Distinguished Senior Faculty Award for Research – one of the division’s highest honors. Selected by the Committee on Scholarly Honors and Awards, the recognition celebrates faculty members whose scholarship has left a defining mark on their field.

Established in 1975, the Distinguished Senior Faculty Award for Research is reserved for Academic Senate members who have made extraordinary contributions to their discipline, whether through a sustained, career-long record of scholarship or through a singular, influential body of work. Recipients are nominated by their colleagues, making the honor a particularly meaningful reflection of peer recognition.

Dr. Chen, Director of the UC Irvine Functional OCT Laboratory, has spent decades reshaping the landscape of biomedical imaging. He is widely recognized for his seminal role in developing optical coherence tomography (OCT), including advanced forms such as Doppler OCT and OCT angiography (OCTA). These technologies that have become indispensable in both research and clinical medicine. His innovations have enabled earlier and more precise diagnosis of serious conditions including glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and various cancers. By seamlessly integrating fundamental science, technological development, and clinical translation, Dr. Chen’s work has generated far-reaching impact across disciplines, from neuroscience to interventional cardiology.

Since joining Beckman Laser Institute & Medical Clinic in 1996, Dr. Chen has built a record of international distinction. Among his many accolades is the 2024 Michael S. Feld Biophotonics Award from Optica, and he holds fellowship status in Optica, the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, and the International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE). His prolific output spans more than 300 peer-reviewed publications and over 25 patents.

Dr. Chen will deliver the Distinguished Faculty Lecture at the 2026-27 Distinguished Faculty Awards Event in Winter 2027, where all honorees will be formally recognized. The ceremony will conclude with a reception celebrating their achievements.

Click here or visit https://bli.uci.edu/zhongpingchen to learn more about Dr. Zhongping Chen.

Click here or visit senate.uci.edu/distinguished-faculty-awards to learn more about the UC Irvine Academic Senate Distinguished Faculty Awards.

Author: Gabrielle Comfort