Foundation Honorees
2025 Hope Award: Dr. Paul Wang
The 16p11.2 Genetic Foundation is honored to present the 2025 Hope Award to Dr. Paul Wang, Senior Scientific Director at the Simons Foundation and a longtime leader in advancing research and treatments for neurodevelopmental disorders. A developmental-behavioral pediatrician with experience spanning academia, industry, and nonprofit research, Dr. Wang co-led the groundbreaking L16HTHOUSE Study, a Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating arbaclofen in children and adolescents with the 16p11.2 BP4-BP5 deletion.
Through his dedication to translating scientific discoveries into meaningful therapies, Dr. Wang has helped our community see a future where targeted treatments may reduce the challenges associated with 16p11.2 deletion. More than a researcher, he has been a beacon of hope for families, illuminating a path forward and inspiring confidence that progress is possible. We proudly recognize Dr. Wang for his unwavering commitment to improving the lives of individuals with 16p11.2 syndromes and for giving our community one of its most precious gifts: hope.
2025 Champion Award: Dr. Wendy Chung
The 16p11.2 Genetic Foundation is honored to present the 2025 Champion Award to Dr. Wendy Chung, a pioneering clinical and molecular geneticist whose work has transformed the lives of individuals and families affected by rare genetic conditions. As Chief of Pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital, Mary Ellen Avery Professor at Harvard Medical School, and Principal Investigator of Simons Searchlight, Dr. Chung has led many of the landmark studies that defined the clinical features of 16p11.2 deletions and duplications. Her groundbreaking research has identified the genetic basis of more than 60 rare diseases and continues to advance personalized therapies, newborn screening, and autism research.
While Dr. Chung’s scientific achievements are extraordinary, it is her compassion, mentorship, and unwavering dedication to families that make her truly exceptional. Parents describe her as someone who listens deeply, understands their concerns, and helps them find a path forward. As the Foundation’s Chief Medical Officer, she has helped unite and strengthen our community, empowering families, inspiring advocates, and supporting individuals with 16p11.2 syndromes at every stage of life. Through her kindness, wisdom, and belief in the potential of others, Dr. Chung has been a guiding force for our foundation. We proudly recognize her for being a true champion for our community and for her lifelong dedication to helping individuals with rare genetic conditions thrive.
2025 Champion Award: Dr. Elliott H. Sherr
The 16p11.2 Genetic Foundation is proud to present the 2025 Champion Award to Dr. Elliott H. Sherr, a pioneering pediatric neurologist and internationally respected researcher whose work has deepened our understanding of brain development, autism, epilepsy, and genetic conditions, including 16p11.2 copy number variants. As Director of the UCSF Brain Development Research Program, Dr. Sherr has spent decades uncovering the connections between genetics and neurodevelopment while advancing care for children with complex neurological disorders.
Equally admired for his compassionate clinical care, Dr. Sherr is known for seeing the whole child, not just a diagnosis. Families value his rare ability to bridge cutting-edge science with thoughtful, personalized medicine, addressing the many ways a genetic condition can affect a child’s life. As he retires from clinical practice after more than 30 years, we honor his extraordinary contributions to research, medicine, and the countless families whose lives have been changed by his wisdom, dedication, and unwavering commitment to helping children thrive.