Recently, Dr. Wei Fang, a researcher from the Innovation Team for Oil Quality Chemistry and Processing Utilization at the Oil Crops Research Institute (OCRI) of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), was awarded the 2026 Dutton Award by the American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS). The award is one of the highest international honors in the field of lipid analytical chemistry and is presented annually to only one scholar worldwide who has made outstanding contributions to lipid analysis technologies and methodologies. To date, only 30 scientists globally have received this distinction, and Dr. Wei is the first Chinese scholar to be honored.

Dr. Wei has long been engaged in the development of efficient analytical methods for oilseed lipidomics. She has established high-throughput and high-precision lipid analysis approaches and developed advanced lipidomics platforms and databases, achieving a significant advancement from conventional fatty acid profiling to the fine structural characterization of complex lipid molecules. These achievements provide critical technical support for improving oilseed quality, nutrition-oriented processing, and quality and safety control in China, laying a solid scientific foundation for the production and consumption of high-quality edible oils.

Dr. Wei has also been actively engaged in international academic exchange in lipid science. She has served as Secretary-General of the International Symposium on Lipid Science and Health for eight consecutive sessions. In addition, she has acted as a Guest Editor for Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry and Food Chemistry. Leveraging her lipidomics platforms, she has actively collaborated with researchers worldwide, effectively promoting the international application and cooperation of lipidomics technologies and enhancing China’s global influence in this research field.