Wei Chen, Ph.D.
Temp Visiting Scholar
About
Wei R. Chen, Ph.D., received his undergraduate degree in physics from Shandong University, Jinan, China, in 1982. He received his Ph.D. in theoretical high-energy particle physics from the University of Oregon in 1988. He currently is a professor of Biomedical Engineering at the Department of Engineering and Physics, director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Education and Research, and dean of the Colleges of Mathematics and Science at the University of Central Oklahoma.
Chen’s main research interests include laser-tissue interactions, laser photothermal treatment of cancer, anti-tumor immune responses induced by laser treatment, simulation of light transport in tissues, and monitoring of cancer treatment using magnetic resonance imaging, photoacoustic imaging, IR thermal imaging, and other modalities. He is co-inventor of the novel immunoadjuvant, glycated chitosan. He also is the co-inventor of the novel cancer treatment method, laser immunotherapy, using laser irradiation and immunological stimulation. Laser immunotherapy has been used in initial clinical trials for late-stage, metastatic melanoma and breast cancer patients with promising outcomes.
Chen has published more than 140 peer-reviewed articles and more than 160 conference proceeding papers. He has been awarded nine US patents and several international patents. He served from 2011-15 as the Editor-in-Chief for the international Journal of X-Ray Science and Technology. Chen established in 2006, and since chaired, the international conference "Biophotonics and Immune Responses" at the annual Photonics West Symposium, sponsored by SPIE (International Society for Optics and Photonics). Chen was elected SPIE Fellow in 2007. Chen, as principal investigator, has been awarded more than $7 million in education and research funding from federal and state agencies, as well as industry sponsors.
Chen was selected as 2008 US Professor of the Year. He also was the recipient of the SPIE 2012 Educator Award. Chen was awarded the Medal for Excellence in Teaching by the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence in 2011. In 2000, he helped develop the first biomedical engineering undergraduate degree program in Oklahoma and established the Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Education and Research Center at the University of Central Oklahoma in 2010.
Education and Certifications
Shandong University, Jinan, China
- B.S. Physics, 1982
University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
- M.S. Physics, 1984
University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
- Ph.D. Physics, 1988
University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
- Postdoc. Physics, 1989
Honors and Awards
International Awards
Fellow of SPIE- The International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE), elected 2007
SPIE Educator Award - The International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE), 2012
National Awards
National Institute of Health Summer Fellowship, Dept. of Physics, University of Oklahoma, 1991
National Institute of Health Summer Fellowship, University of Oklahoma Health Center, 1993
Associated Western University Inc. Faculty Summer Research Fellowship, U. S. Department of Energy, Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center, 1995
National Tandy Technology Prize for Science, Mathematics and Computer Science Teaching, 1998
US Professor of the Year (Outstanding Master’s Universities and Colleges Professor of the Year), 2008
2011-2012 US Fulbright Lecturing / Research Award for Taiwan (September 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012)
State Awards
Oklahoma DaVinci Fellows Award, Oklahoma, 2006
Recognized for “High Level Teaching and Quality of Education” by Oklahoma State Senate Resolution No. 47 (52-1-1924), Sponsored by Senator Clark Jolley, May 2009
Winner of Medal for Excellence in Teaching, Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence (the highest teaching award in Oklahoma), May 2011
University Awards
Research Scholarship, Physics Department, University of Oregon, 1983-1988
Faculty Merit-Credit Award (Research/Creative Activity Awards), University of Central Oklahoma, 2000
Faculty Research Grants/Publication Award, University of Central Oklahoma, 2000
Faculty Research Grants/Publication Award, University of Central Oklahoma, Spring 2001
Faculty Research Grants/Publication Award, University of Central Oklahoma, Fall, 2001
Faculty Merit-Credit Award (Teaching Activity Awards), University of Central Oklahoma, 2001
Hauptman Fellowship Award, University of Central Oklahoma, 2001
Sigma Xi Outstanding Research Award, UCO Chapter, 2002
Faculty Research Grants/Publication Award, University of Central Oklahoma, Spring, 2002
Faculty Merit-Credit Award (Research/Creative Activity Awards), University of Central Oklahoma, 2002
Faculty Research Grants/Publication Award, University of Central Oklahoma, Fall, 2002
Distinguished Scholar Award of The University of Central Oklahoma Chapter of the American Association of University Professors, 2003
Faculty Merit-Credit Award (Teaching Activity Awards), University of Central Oklahoma, Fall 2003
Faculty Research Grants/Publication Award, University of Central Oklahoma, Fall 2003
Gold Faculty Merit-Credit Award (Research/Creative Activity Awards), University of Central Oklahoma, 2004
Faculty Merit-Credit Award (Service Activity Awards), University of Central Oklahoma, 2005
Faculty Merit-Credit Award (Research/Creative Activity Awards), University of Central Oklahoma, 2006
Faculty Research Grants/Publication Award, University of Central Oklahoma, Spring 2007
Vanderford Faculty Award in Support of Undergraduate Research, Creative and Scholarly Activities
University of Central Oklahoma, August 2007
Faculty Merit-Credit Award (Research/Creative Activity Awards), University of Central Oklahoma, 2008
Neely Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Central Oklahoma, 2009
Faculty Merit-Credit Award (Research/Creative Activity Awards), University of Central Oklahoma, 2010
Faculty Merit-Credit Award (Research/Creative Activity Awards), University of Central Oklahoma, 2012
Faculty Merit-Credit Award (Research/Creative Activity Awards), University of Central Oklahoma, 2014
Inducted to the Inaugural Class of Luminary Society, University of Central Oklahoma, 2015
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