George F. Gao obtained his DPhil degree from Oxford University, UK and completed his postdoc work in both Oxford University and Harvard University (with a brief stay in Calgary University). He is the former director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the former vice-president of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). Currently, he is working as a professor at the Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences AND China CDC.

As a prominent leader in the field of public health/virology/immunology, Dr. Gao has made significant contributions to research and discovery through fundamental research, clinical evaluation, and advocacy, esp. on interspecies transmission mechanism of influenza and coronaviruses. His work has greatly advanced the scientific understanding of controlling and preventing emerging infectious diseases. His contributions extend not only to basic life and medical sciences but also to clinically relevant preventive medical sciences and public health, as evidenced by his publications in leading scientific journals, including Nature, Science, Cell, The Lancet, and The New England Journal of Medicine (H-index: 142). During the COVID-19 outbreak, he co-discovered the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and pioneered the development of the world’s first approved neutralizing antibody drug (Etesivimab) and the first approved recombinant protein subunit vaccine (ZF2001) for COVID-19. He has played a pivotal role in data sharing, advocacy and virus discovery in COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Gao is an elected academician/fellow in several national/international academies, including Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS), U.K. Royal Society (RS), German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, African Academy of Sciences, The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS). He has received several prestigious awards, including the TWAS Basic Medical Sciences Award and Lecture Award, the Nikkei Asia Prize in Japan, and the Gamaleya Medal in Russia. He was awarded honorary doctor degrees from Macau City University and Uzbekistan Higher Education Ministry.

He is also a leading figure of science communications, the founding editor-in-chief of both China CDC weekly and hLife scientific journals, a co-founding editor-in-chief of Protein and Cell. He is currently the editor-in-chief of Science Bulletin and Chinese Science Bulletin (In Chinese).