Jackie Y. Ying, executive director of the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology of Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) was honored with the 2015 Mustafa Prize -Top Scientific Achievement Award. She was recognized for her efforts in the development of stimulus response systems for the targeted delivery of drugs. For example, her research has led to the creation of polymeric nanoparticles that can carry insulin and auto-regulate its release in accordance to blood glucose levels. This also will allow a diabetic to bypass finger-prick testing and injections.

The Mustafa Prize, established in 2013, is the top science and technology award of the Islamic world. It is granted to research that has improved human life and made tangible and cutting-edge innovations on the boundaries of science or has presented new scientific methodology.

Also for her innovative research, Ying was named a 2015 fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in the category of chemistry. She was nominated by her peers for her contributions to nanotechnology and bioengineering, particularly for the design and synthesis of nanomaterials and nanodevices for biomedical and catalytic applications.

Ying has authored more than 340 articles, presented over 400 invited lectures and has more than 150 primary patents issued or pending. She received a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Princeton in 1991 and her undergraduate degree, also in chemical engineering, is from Cooper Union, New York.