- Adjunct Prof. of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Dr. Bao is a physician-scientist and an accomplished executive with extensive expertise in venture capital and global clinical trials, including capacity building, network development, leadership, and infrastructure. With over 30 years of experience in FDA drug regulation, technology transfer, and international collaborations, she has a proven track record of successfully leading organizations, driving results, and fostering global partnerships. Her strong business acumen and leadership skills have consistently contributed to impactful outcomes in the healthcare and life sciences sectors.
Dr. Bao spent 16 years at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where she managed and directed over 20 global multi-center clinical trial projects and IND applications with the FDA. She also has conducted cancer research with a breakthrough work highlighted by Nature Reviews as one of the year’s most important findings. She has published extensively in leading scientific journals and has delivered over 100 presentations in more than 20 countries. She served as Chief Medical Officer for several large pharmaceutical and biotech companies, overseeing a diversified product pipeline development. Currently Dr. Bao is a Partner at Shanghai HealthCare Capital (SHC), which manages a $7 billion USD fund investing in life science technologies worldwide. She serves on the board of three biotech companies in the U.S. and Israel.
Currently Dr. Bao is an adjunct professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology where she lectures on drug safety and clinical trials for the Master Degree students of “Drug Regulatory Pathways.” Recently she has made presentations to the UST’s life science faculty on “The Global Biotech Investment Landscape: Insights from the US NIH & FDA, and Implications for Hong Kong’s Prospects” and “The Miracle of Science: Lessons Learned from the COVID Vaccine Development”.
Deeply committed to nurturing the next generation, Dr. Bao is also a published author of “My 2000 Days in Israel” and “Wild Cactus” both promoting cross-cultural communication and women’s leadership. She has served as the Washington DC Chapter Chair for American Women for International Understanding and is a member of the Asian American Government Executives Network (AAGEN).
Dr. Bao’ career has spanned China, Israel, and the United States, earning her numerous awards, including the NIH Director’s Merit Award and recognition from the Henry Jackson Foundation for her role in fostering international collaborations in science and technology. She is also the 2025 Sino-Phil Asia Peace Prize Laureate.
Dr. Bao earned a Ph.D. from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, mentored by Yosef Yarden, and M.D. from Southeastern University Medical School in China.
Education
Ph.D. – Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel (Mentor: Yosef Yarden)
Post Doc.- US National Institute of Cancer Research/NIH
M.D. – Southeastern University Medical School in China