賴正光先生畢業於屏東農專獸醫系，美國路易斯安那州立大學微生物碩士。
2002年賴正光先生創辦美國百進生技公司（BioLegend）並擔任執行長。百進生技迅速成為全球最大的抗體試劑供應商，專注於細胞免疫、炎症、癌症及幹細胞等領域，並在多國設有子公司及研發機構，展現其國際化的市場拓展能力。
賴正光先生的成功，源於他對生物科技的深刻理解與科學研究的熱忱。他不僅致力於科技創新，還在國際學術交流中積極貢獻。百進生技所贊助的國際性學術會議，為全球科研界提供了重要的平台，促進了知識的共享與合作。賴先生於2016年獲得安永會計事務所的「傑出企業家獎」，亦榮獲德國免疫學會的榮譽勳章。
賴正光先生的影響力不僅限於商業領域。他所創立的百進基金會在公益事業上同樣表現卓越。2022年，他捐贈2,500萬美元予加州大學聖地牙哥分校的生物工程系，並將其命名為「錢煦-賴正光生物工程系」（Shu Chien-Gene Lay Department of Bioengineering），次年他捐款一億美元給哈佛醫學院的布萊根婦女醫院（Brigham and Women’s Hospital），並成立「賴正光免疫學及炎症研究所」（Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation），旨在加速新藥開發，針對神經退化性疾病、免疫系統疾病及癌症等複雜病症，這不僅是對科研的推進，也是對人類健康的深刻關懷。
2023年，賴正光先生促成本校腫瘤與免疫學研究中心及國家衛生研究院免疫學中心於美國波士頓與美國哈佛醫學院布萊根婦女醫院共同簽署合作備忘錄，進一步加強台美之國際醫學研究，為兩國的學術交流與合作打下堅實基礎。
賴正光先生的貢獻無疑將激勵更多科研人員和企業家共同努力，推動生物科技的進步與人類福祉的提升。在此謹代表國立陽明交通大學頒授名譽博士學位予賴正光先生，表彰其在科學、教育及公益所作出的偉大貢獻。
Mr. Gene Lay, a native Taiwanese and founder of BioLegend, has led the company to a global leader in the supply of antibody reagents, advancing essential research in immunity, inflammation, cancer, and stem cells. Through extensive research collaborations across multiple countries, BioLegend has significantly influenced biomedical research and innovation worldwide.
Beyond BioLegend’s remarkable growth, Mr. Lay has been a steady supporter of international academic exchange, sponsoring major scientific conferences and establishing platforms for global knowledge sharing. His dedication to immunological research has been recognized with the Medal of Honor from the German Society for Immunology (DGfI), celebrating his contributions to fundamental research and his steadfast support of the international immunology community. In 2016, he was also named Ernst & Young’s Life Sciences Entrepreneur of the Year (安永會計事務所), highlighting his visionary leadership in the field.
Mr. Lay’s impact extends well beyond his professional achievements. By the BioLegend Foundation, he has made significant contributions to public society. In 2022, he donated $25 million to the University of California, San Diego’s Department of Bioengineering, which has since been renamed the Shu Chien-Gene Lay Department of Bioengineering (錢煦-賴正光生物工程系). His generosity continued in 2023 with a landmark $100 million donation to Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, establishing the “Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation” to advance treatments for complex diseases.
On October 6, 2023, with Mr. Lay’s support, NYCU’s Oncology and Immunology Research Center signed an MOU with Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School. Supported by Prof. Vijay Kuchroo, Co-Director of the Center for Infection and Immunity, this partnership strengthens Taiwan’s standing in international medical research and foster academic exchanges on a global scale.
In recognition of his extraordinary contributions to science, education, and public society, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University is honored to confer an honorary doctorate upon Mr. Gene Lay. His achievements inspire future generations of researchers and entrepreneurs to push the boundaries of biotechnology, benefiting the well-being of humanity.