Renowned researcher C.K. “David” Chu, PhD ’75, receives SUNY honorary doctorate

Chu is internationally renowned for his seminal work in antiviral and anticancer drug discovery. He has developed numerous therapeutic agents to treat a wide array of conditions, including shingles, hepatitis B, HIV and cancer. Chu’s highly regarded research has brought antiviral drugs to clinical practice and improved the lives of countless patients worldwide. 

Professor and director of the Drug Discovery Group at the University of Georgia for 40 years, Chu has been awarded more than 60 U.S. and 100 international patents. He co-founded the companies Pharmasset and ATEA Pharmaceuticals, which explore novel antiviral therapeutics. An elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Academy of Inventors, Chu received a 2001 MERIT Award from the National Institutes of Health, which is awarded to fewer than 5 percent of NIH investigators. He also received the Anthony Holy Award from the International Society of Antiviral Research, the John Montgomery Award from the International Round Table Society for his work in nucleosides and nucleotides, and a Distinguished Alumni Award from Seoul National University.

Deeply committed to future generations of pharmacy scholars and students, Chu and his wife, Jane—who are both UB alumni—have generously supported research and education in UB’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.