Zihe Rao
Zihe Rao, a structural biologist and molecular virologist, is a professor at Tsinghua University, and the director of the Laboratory for Structural Biology there. He is Member of the Chinese Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ of Sciences, Member of Presidium of the Chinese Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ of Sciences, Fellow of Royal Society of Edinburgh, Member of The Third-World Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ of Science, Member of the European Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ of Sciences, and Member of the Asian-Euro Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ of Science. He is the former President of Nankai University and the former Director-General of Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ of Sciences.
Rao’s research has been focused on the understanding of pathogens and infectious diseases, as well as the anti-infection applications. He has revealed fundamental structure-function and mechanistic insights to the replication/transcription, assembly and host invasion of coronavirus, retrovirus, influenza virus, picornavirus, herpesvirus, Africa-Swine-Fever-virus and other disease-causing viruses, and uncovered how Mycobacterium tuberculosis achieves metabolite/energy transport and drug resistance. These works led to new therapeutic targets and innovative drug designs. His most recent works on the mechanisms underlying SARS-CoV-2 lifecycle and the rapid development of effective antiviral strategies contributes to the worldwide efforts against COVID-19.
Rao graduated from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), got his master degree from the Institute of Biophysics, CAS Chinese Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ of Sciences (CAS), and received his doctorate from Melbourne University.