President, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; The Morningside Professor of Life Science; Chair Professor of the Division of Life Science; Director, State Key Laboratory of Nervous System Disorders; Director, Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases

Professor Nancy Ip is the President of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and the Morningside Professor of Life Science. Taking office in October 2022, she is the first female president of a publicly funded university in Hong Kong.

Ip received her PhD degree in Pharmacology from Harvard University, after which she held the position of Senior Staff Scientist at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. in New York. Since joining HKUST in 1993, she has held several key positions including Vice-President for Research and Development, Dean of Science, and Head of the Department of Biochemistry.

Ip is a world-renowned neuroscientist. Her major research interests are in understanding the complex mechanisms underlying proper brain functions, as well as drug target discovery for neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s disease. Her outstanding research has resulted in 345 scientific papers, which have received over 53,266 SCI citations, and she holds 101 patents. She has been recognized in Stanford University's World Top 2% Scientist List and ranks among the top 10 neuroscientists in China in the 2025 Best Scientists Rankings by Research.com.

Ip’s professional achievements are internationally recognized by prestigious organizations. She has been elected to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the World Academy of Sciences, and the Hong Kong Academy of Sciences. In 2004, she was awarded the L’OREAL-UNESCO for Women in Science Award, becoming the first Chinese scientist in the Life Sciences to receive it. In 2011, she was bestowed the title and rank of “Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite” (National Order of Merit) by the French Government for her contributions to science and education cooperation. In 2016, she was named one of the 10 Science Stars of China by Nature. Her accolades also include the National Natural Science Award, China’s highest honor in the natural sciences and honorary doctorates from Simmons College and the University of Strathclyde.

In addition to conducting pioneering neuroscience research, Ip plays a significant role in shaping research policy on a global scale. She has served on many boards and advisory committees of universities and prominent professional organizations, including the Leadership Group of the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative, World Dementia Council, Microsoft Research Asia, and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. She is also the chair of the Association of East Asian Research Universities, and a member of the steering committee of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities and the World Economic Forum’s Global University Leaders Forum.

Ip plays a key role in steering science and technology in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. She currently serves as a member of the Chief Executive’s Council of Advisers and the Committee on Innovation, Technology and Industry Development. A strong advocate for global collaboration and exchange among scientists, Ip has also been instrumental in strengthening Hong Kong’s position as an international center for innovation and technology. She was a key driver in establishing the Greater Bay Area Association of Academicians and the International Alliance of Academicians, serving as the founding council chair and the founding chair, respectively.