PEOPLE > Dayong Gao, PhD

Dr. Dayong Gao is the ORIGINCELL Endowed Professor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Director of the Center for Cryo-Biomedical Engineering and Artificial Organs, and an Adjunct Professor of the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.

Dr. Gao’s major research focuses on (1) the development of a new generation of artificial organs, especially artificial kidney and liver systems for treatment of end-stage kidney and/or liver failure diseases, (2) the cryo-biomedical engineering, as well as (3) the bio-instruments and micro-sensors (BioMEMS) for rapid and cost-effective diagnosis of diseases with high sensitivity and specificity. For over two decades he has directed a state-of-the-art in-vitro testing laboratory for developing and evaluating hemodialysis membranes, dialyzers, automated control systems, pumps, and other aspects of novel dialysis technology, that has frequently been used as a reference laboratory for much of the dialysis industry. He leads the UW Center for Dialysis Innovation core in vitro testing laboratory. This laboratory was initially established in 2004 and well equipped with advanced instruments and facilities to conduct and support fundamental and translational research in blood purification science and artificial organs.

Dr. Gao and his research team have made significant technology breakthroughs in the development of novel artificial kidney-liver systems for the treatment of end stage kidney and/or liver diseases. The new system has already saved numerous lives of patients with acute and chronic liver failure in clinical trials. His research achievements in artificial organs and bio-instruments were well reflected in his book “Artificial Kidney: Fundamentals, Research Approaches and Advances”, and his chapters published in a series of professional books and medical textbooks, including “Pediatric Dialysis”, “Critical Care Nephrology”, “Chronic Kidney Disease: Dialysis and Transplantation”, “Handbook of Dialysis Therapy”, “Wiley Encyclopedia of Biomedical Engineering”, “New Insights into Membrane Science and Technology: Polymeric, Inorganic and Bio-functional Membranes”, “Handbook of Thermal Science and Engineering”, and “Contributions to Nephrology”, etc. Dr. Gao was elected and honored as the Baxter Healthcare Endowed Chair of Engineering by the Baxter International Inc. (one of the top 2 world-leading corporations in artificial organs, medical instruments, and biotechnology) and the University of Kentucky.

In addition to his accomplishments in the field of artificial organs and bio-instruments, Dr. Gao is also an international prominent researcher and leader in cryo-biomedical engineering and fundamental cryobiology: investigating the mechanisms of critical cryoinjury and cryoprotection to living biomaterials at low temperatures, and developing the cryoprotective formulations, optimal methods, advanced technology, and precision instruments for long-term cryopreservation-biobanking of living cells, tissues, and organs for applications in regenerative medicine, artificial organs, cellular/gene therapy, tissue engineering, stem cell-organ transplantation, vaccine and new drug development, disease screening, artificial insemination/in vitro fertilization, and conservation of endangered species, etc. He was elected as the President of the Society for Cryobiology (the International Society for Low Temperature Biology and Medicine, founded in 1964, USA) and a member of numerous professional committees, serving on the national and international panels and review boards.

Dr. Gao has published over 500 peer-reviewed research articles (including over 250 full journal papers), over 40 scientific book chapters, and many US and international patents. Currently, he serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Electronics Cooling and Thermal Control, Deputy Editor of the Biopreservation and Biobanking Journal, and Editorial Board Member of other 9 scientific journals. Dr. Gao has been actively invited as a plenary or keynote speaker, presenting at major conferences, research institutions, and universities worldwide. He has delivered over 200 scientific meeting presentations. He has trained and supervised over 200 graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, visiting professors, and research scientists/technologists.

Dr. Gao is a recipient of numerous international/national honors and awards. He is the elected Member of the Washington State Academy of Sciences, Fellow of American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, Fellow of American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and Fellow of the Society for Cryobiology with the Basil J. Luyet Medal. Most recently, the Dayong Gao Young Investigator Award has been named and established by the Society for Cryobiology to recognize the most outstanding young cryobiologist or cryo-biomedical engineer worldwide, every year from 2019. (https://www.societyforcryobiology.org/dayong-gao-young-investigator-award).

B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering University of Science and Technology of China (USTC)
Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada