Leo Chan

2025 Young Alumni Achievement Award

For the invention, development, and commercialization of Imaging Cytometry.

Leo Chan is the Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder (2024–present) of Highspin Biosystems, Inc., a company developing instruments, consumables, and reagents for nanoparticle characterization in support of protein and gene therapeutics research.

Prior to co-founding Highspin, He served as R&D Site Leader at Revvity Health Sciences (formerly part of PerkinElmer, Lawrence, MA) from 2021 to 2024. Over his 15-year career in life sciences instrumentation, he played a pivotal role in the development of high-throughput image cytometry systems—including Cellometer, Cellaca, and Celigo—enabling advanced detection and analysis of cell-based assays across immuno-oncology, cell and gene therapy, regenerative medicine, protein science, and microbiology.

From 2009 to 2021, he was a key contributor at Nexcelom Bioscience, where he focused on cell counting technologies and user education in image-based cytometry. His efforts supported the company's growth leading up to its successful acquisition by PerkinElmer (now Revvity).

He has authored over 88 peer-reviewed scientific publications and hundreds of conference proceedings. Leo earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (2000–2008), where he completed his doctoral research under the mentorship of Professor Brian Cunningham.

Nominated by his advisor, Brian Cunningham.

Current as of 2025.