Dr. Yi-Chi Kong was a faculty member in the Department of Immunology/Microbiology for 47 years. She received her bachelor’s in Chemistry from Wellesley College in 1955, and her Ph.D. in Immunology/Microbiology from the University of Michigan in 1961. Following six years at the Naval Biological Laboratory, UC Berkeley, she joined Wayne State University as assistant professor in 1966, rising to the rank of professor in 1977, and retiring as professor emerita in 2014. Her early research interests focused on mechanisms of tolerance to the tuberculosis vaccine BCG and to thyroglobulin. Her
subsequent major contributions, in the areas of genetic, suppressor, immune and pathogenic mechanisms and immunotherapeutics in autoimmune thyroid disease, are widely recognized nationally and internationally. Her most recent contributions were related to cancer immunotherapy. Dr. Kong published more than 100 scientific papers, 38 chapters/reviews and many abstracts, and presented numerous national and international talks. During her career, she consistently maintained National Insitutes of Health, national and foundation funding. In addition to her graduate teaching, Dr. Kong mentored 10
doctoral students and 24 post-doctoral fellows. Dr. Kong died Oct. 3, 2021.

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