This major discovery in the cancer field opened up the way for future gene therapy research around the world to treat major illnesses, and won Whang-Peng the 1972 Arthur S. Flemming Award (whose purpose is to honor outstanding public employees). She was one of the first two women, and the first person not born in the US, to win the award in the 24 years since its founding.
此一癌症領域的重大新發現，開啟了日後全球重大疾病的基因療法先河，也讓彭汪嘉康拿下了 1972 年的美國阿瑟弗萊明獎（目的在獎勵傑出公務人員），成為該獎項創辦 24 年來首度獲此殊榮的女性（該屆有 2 位）及非美國出生者。