Speaker:

Xiaofei Gao, Ph.D., is a Yungu Professor at Westlake University and Principal Investigator at Westlake Laboratory. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Kansas Medical Center and completed postdoctoral training at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His research focuses on red blood cell biology and the development of engineered red blood cell therapeutics that have advanced into clinical trials for cancer therapy. In parallel, discoveries from his laboratory on biomolecular condensates have been translated into delivery kits that are widely used in research laboratories worldwide. His work has been published in leading journals including Nature, Nature Cancer, Science Translational Medicine, and Blood. He is a recipient of the Qiu Shi Outstanding Young Scholar Award.

Abstract:

Fundamental discoveries in life sciences have greatly expanded our understanding of human biology and disease, yet only a small fraction translate into clinical medicines or impactful biotechnologies. Bridging the “Valley of Death” between laboratory discovery and real-world application remains a major challenge. This presentation discusses efforts to translate basic scientific insights into therapeutic and technological innovations. Using examples from our group’s work on red blood cell–based therapeutics and biomolecular condensate-based delivery technologies, the talk illustrates how fundamental biological questions can lead to new therapeutic strategies and biotechnology platforms. It also highlights key scientific, technological, and organizational challenges encountered along the path from discovery to application, and reflects on how curiosity-driven research can connect with translational opportunities to generate real-world impact.

Contact:

Jia Xu, School of Future Biomedicine, xujia@westlake.edu.cn