Yao Xiaoyuan

Yao Xiaoyuan  is a professor and the Chief Scientist of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Recognized as an outstanding individual in COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control within the national health system, he has long been engaged in the surveillance and evaluation of environmental risk factors and diseases, as well as the development and revision of environmental health laws, regulations, standards, and norms. He has led and participated in more than 10 national-level projects, including the National Science and Technology Basic Resources Survey Program, key science and technology projects, major standards projects, and projects supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. He has led or organized the formulation and revision of more than 30 national standards, industry standards, and normative documents. He led the establishment of a national urban wastewater SARS-CoV-2 surveillance network, providing a basis for real-time monitoring of the COVID-19 pandemic and risk assessment. He has also led nationwide public health risk surveillance in wastewater in key cities, carrying out environmental monitoring and early warning and prediction of pathogens. As an expert in the Comprehensive Group of the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council, he has participated in COVID-19 prevention and control efforts in more than 10 locations, including Wuhan and Shanghai. He serves as a leader of monitoring groups and on standards committees. His research output includes more than 140 high-quality academic papers in Chinese and English, over 10 academic monographs, and 2 invention patents. His accolades include the First Prize of the Science and Technology Award of the Chinese Preventive Medicine Association, the First Prize of the China Standard Innovation Contribution Award, and the Second and Third Prizes of the Science and Technology Progress Award of the General Logistics Department of the People’s Liberation Army. He has been appointed as Deputy Director of the National Environmental Health Standards Committee, a member of the National Environmental and Health Expert Advisory Committee, and Chair of the Disinfection Branch of the Chinese Preventive Medicine Association.