George Fu Gao Wins 2014’s CAS Outstanding Science and Technology Achievement Prize

Prof. George Fu Gao at the Institute of Microbiology, CAS was award 2014’s Outstanding Science and Technology Achievement Prize for individuals on January 29, 2015. BAI Chunli, president of the CAS conferred the medals and cups to the outstanding contributors.

Prof. GAO is an influential figure who pioneered the interspecies transmission study on influenza virus and other enveloped viruses. He constructively combined the epidemiological, functional and structural methods in the virus study. He and his team published over 320 SCI papers in the leading scientific journals such as Nature, Science, The Lancet, NSMB, PNAS, Trends in Microbiology.  

The breakthrough research on origin of H7N9 avian influenza virus and mechanisms of interspecies transmission on H5N1 and H7N9 was one of China's top ten news of science and technology progress. Moreover, using the methods including structural biology, the interaction modes between host receptors and the envelope proteins of the viruses such as MERS coronavirus, measles virus, herpes virus, and also mechanisms of membrane fusion, were revealed. These works have provided the targets for developing new antiviral agents.

Due to his extraordinary contributions, Prof. GAO won the Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) in medical science (2012); he was elected CAS Academician and awarded Innovation Talent-CCTV Grand Ceremony for Science and Technology, one of the most influential social media of China in 2013; he was awarded the 19^th Nikkei Asia Prize, the 7^th Tan Jiazhen Achievement Award for Life Science, the 1^st and 2^nd Prize of National Award for Science and Technology Progress and elected TWAS Academician in 2014. Prof. GAO is an accomplished scientist with international influence in pathogenic microorganism and immunology.

The CAS Outstanding Science and Technology prize was established in 2002. This award honors groups and individuals who make significant achievements in the past 5 years. This award aims to meet the demand of scientific development in the new century; thoroughly implement the policy of CAS; further inspire the innovative spirit of scientists; and encourage making significant contributions to the science and technology. Adhering to the principle of high standard and strictness, the prize is awarded once a year with no more than ten winners. Four groups and three individuals were conferred this year.