Dr. Yingdai Gao is a Research Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at the Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS). She holds the honorary title of " PUMC Scholar Distinguished Professor" and is a recipient of the "Tianjin Medical Talent Award." Her research focuses on drug development related to stem cells. She has established a drug discovery platform targeting hematopoietic stem cells and conducted extensive pharmacological studies on small-molecule compounds targeting leukemia stem cells. Notably, the Class 1.1 innovative drug ACT001, developed under her leadership, has entered 10 clinical trials in China, the U.S., and Australia. Dr. Gao pioneered clinical-grade hematopoietic stem cell expansion technologies based on biomimetic microenvironment systems and small-molecule compounds.
As a principal investigator, she has led multiple national research projects, including the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Major Research Plan Key Project, National Key R&D Program, and NSFC General Program. She has published over 30 SCI-indexed papers as first or corresponding author in journals such as Nature Communications, Theranostics, and Leukemia. She holds 11 national patents and has authored/co-authored two academic books. Her accolades include the First Prize of Tianjin Technological Invention Award, First Prize of Tianjin Science and Technology Progress Award, and First Prize of Tianjin Natural Science Award. She also serves as Vice Chair of the Experimental Pharmacology Committee of the Tianjin Pharmacological Society.
Ph.D. in Pharmacology, Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), China, 1998–2003
B.S. in Clinical Medicine, Tianjin Medical University, China, 1993–1998
Research Professor, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, CAMS, 2013–
Associate Research Professor, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, CAMS, 2003–2013
Postdoctoral Fellow in Oncology, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, France, 2004–2005
Assistant Researcher, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, CAMS,1998–2003
PRINCIPAL HONORS, AWARDS:
2021 First Prize, Tianjin Technological Invention Award
2016 First Prize, Tianjin Natural Science Award
2016 Second Prize, Natural Science Award of the Ministry of Education
2014 Third Prize, Tianjin Natural Science Award
2005 First Prize, Tianjin Science and Technology Progress Award
MAJOR NATIONAL LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, SOCIETIES AND BOARDS:
2020-2024 Vice Chair, Bone Marrow Failure Diseases Committee, Tianjin Medical & Health Association
2021-2025 Vice Chairman, Experimental Pharmacology Committee, Tianjin Pharmacological Society
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
1. Li, Y.#, He, M., Zhang, W., et al. & Gao, Y.* (2023). Expansion of human megakaryocyte-biased hematopoietic stem cells by biomimetic microniche. Nat Commun 14, 2207.
2. Li, Y.#, Wang, C., Gao, H., et al. & Gao, Y.* (2022). KDM4 inhibitor SD49-7 attenuates leukemia stem cell via KDM4A/MDM2/p21CIP1 axis. Theranostics 12(11), 4922-4934.
3. Li, Y.#, Li, Y., Yin, J., et al. & Gao, Y.* (2021). A mitophagy inhibitor targeting p62 attenuates the leukemia-initiation potential of acute myeloid leukemia cells. Cancer Lett 510, 24-36.
4. Gao, Y., Yang, P., Shen, H., et al. & Cheng, T.* (2015). Small-molecule inhibitors targeting INK4 protein p18(INK4C) enhance ex vivo expansion of haematopoietic stem cells. Nat Commun 6, 6328.
5. Zhang, Q., Lu, Y., Ding, Y., et al. & Gao, Y.* (2012). Guaianolide sesquiterpene lactones as agents selectively inhibiting acute myelogenous leukemia stem and progenitor cells. J Med Chem 55(20), 8757-8769.