Congratulations to Dr. Honglin Luo, Principal Investigator at the Centre for Heart Lung Innovation (HLI) and Professor in UBC’s Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, on her nomination for the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards in the Research, Sciences, and Technology category.
Dr. Luo is an internationally recognized leader in viral pathogenesis and virotherapy, a dedicated mentor and role model to women and minority groups, and a highly-respected member of the scientific community. She has published over 125 peer-reviewed articles in top-tier journals and has been recognized by Expertscape as Canada’s leading experts in enterovirus research, ranking in the top 0.21% of 25,997 experts worldwide.
Her innovative research focuses on developing therapies for viral myocarditis, neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS, and cancer. Her lab’s pioneering work in oncolytic virotherapy—harnessing engineered or naturally occurring viruses to target and destroy cancer cells—has led to two successful patents for lung and breast cancer treatments.
Over the course of her career, Dr. Luo has demonstrated a sustained commitment to mentorship and service, dedicating herself to creating an equitable, diverse and inclusive environment. She actively supports the academic and research needs of her trainees—85% of whom are visible minorities—and encourages social dialogue and gender equity.
“Seeing Change Inspires Change”—YWCA
The YWCA Women of Distinction Awards celebrate women whose contributions drive innovation and mentorship. Dr. Luo’s nomination highlights her leadership in scientific research and her impact as a mentor, inspiring the next generation of women in STEM.
“As a woman in science, I have experienced the challenges of gender disparity in research. I advocate for Gender Equity because promoting equal opportunities in science empowers more women to lead and shape the future of technology.”
—Dr. Honglin Luo, HLI principal investigator
Show Your Support—Vote for Dr. Luo!
The YWCA Women of Distinction Awards also include a Connecting the Community category, where the public can vote for their favourite nominee. Cast your vote for Dr. Luo today before April 1, 12:00 PM!
🔗 Vote now: ywcavan.org/CCA-vote