Quick Facts
Biography
Yu Dechao (Chinese: 俞德超; pinyin: Yú Déchāo, born February 4, 1964) is a professor and doctoral supervisor of Sichuan University, visiting professor of Zhejiang University, member of Standing Committee of Gene Therapy Branch of China Medicinal Biotechnology Association, and a distinguished expert under China's "Thousand Talents Program". He earned his doctorate degree in molecular genetics from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and completed his post-doctoral training at UCSF. As an inventor and owner of 61 patents (including 36 United States patents), Yu Dechao founded Innovent Biologics in 2011.
In January 2017, he was selected as national "Person of the Year in Innovation for Science and Technology in 2016".
Education and training
He earned his doctorate degree in molecular genetics from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and completed his post-doctoral training at UCSF.
Career
Yu Dechao invented conbercept (a drug for ocular diseases and oncology), which is China's first monoclonal antibody product and the world's first oncolytic virus product, Oncorine (an oncology product). Yu is the only Chinese scientist who has invented and successfully developed two 'Class I' drugs in China.
Yu Dechao founded Innovent Biologics in 2011. Yu Dechao was a co-founder, President and CEO of Chengdu Kanghong Biotech since its inception in 2005 until 2010. Yu Dechao was Vice President of Research and Development at Applied Genetics (NASDAQ: AGTC) and Calyton (USA). The latter was acquired by Cell Genesys in 2001 where he worked for three years following the acquisition.
Awards and recognition
Yu Dechao was selected national "Person of the Year in Innovation for Science and Technology in 2016" in January 2017, "Most Influential Overseas Returnee in Life Sciences" in 2013, "Top Ten Figure of Innovation in China" in 2014, "E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year, China" in 2015, and "Distinguished Entrepreneur of Jiangsu Province" in 2016.