Honoring Dr. Eng Chon Boon: A Visionary in Biobanking and Cancer Research

In the article "Honoring Dr. Eng Chon Boon: A Visionary in Biobanking and Cancer Research," authors Wayne Ng and Robert Hewitt pay tribute to the remarkable legacy of Dr. Eng Chon Boon, a trailblazer in the fields of biobanking and oncology. Through his visionary leadership and dedication to advancing biomedical research across Asia and globally, Dr. Boon played a pivotal role in shaping the biobanking landscape. This article reflects on his profound contributions and lasting impact on cancer research and the scientific community.



Dr. Eng Chon Boon, Director of the Tissue Repository (TR) at the National University Hospital (NUH), Singapore, and Platform Lead for Cancer Databases & Tissue Banks at the Singapore Translational Cancer Consortium (STCC), passed away on December 18, 2024. His remarkable contributions to the fields of biobanking, cancer research, and biotechnology leave an enduring legacy that has profoundly shaped the scientific community in Singapore and beyond...

Eng was also deeply engaged with the International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER), earning the ISBER Special Service Award in 2010. His roles included serving as Councillor, Chair of the ISBER Marketing Committee, and member of multiple committees, including Finance, Nominating, Strategic Planning, and Program. He cochaired the local organizing committee for the 2007 ISBER Annual Meeting in Singapore, helping to elevate Singapore’s prominence in the global biobanking community.

Dr. Alison Parry-Jones, ISBER President 2023/24, commemorated Eng’s contributions to ISBER and global biobanking: “Eng’s commitment to biobanking and medical research was unparalleled. I will miss him and his enthusiasm and input at conferences and working groups greatly. His loss will be felt not only in Singapore and the Asia Pacific region but globally, by the biobanking community around the world.”..


Please click the following link to view the article:
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/epub/10.1089/bio.2025.0041

This ISBER Corner Article aims to celebrate ISBER’s anniversary and to provide an overview of ISBER’s major activities and contributions to biopreservation and biobanking. These efforts have significantly impacted biomedical research, human health care and well-being, and agriculture, as well as worldwide biological and environmental conservation efforts...