Yilin Cao

Vice Dean, Shanghai 9th People's Hospital, China

Dr. Yilin Cao is a Professor of Plastic Surgery at Shanghai Second Medical University (SSMU). He graduated from SSMU with a MD degree in 1975 and with a PhD degree in 1991. He currently serves as Vice Dean of Shanghai 9th People's Hospital, Chairman of Plastic Surgery Department, Directors of Shanghai Tissue Engineering Center and of Shanghai Institute of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. In 1991, Dr. Cao was funded by American Plastic Surgery Education Foundation to go to United States for clinical training as a visiting Professor. In 1992, he joined Dr. Jay Vacanti's Laboratory as a research fellow for tissue engineering research at Children Hospital, Harvard Medical School. His major contribution is the creation of cartilage in the shape of human ear in nude mouse, and thus he received James Barrett Brown Award in 1998 at the meeting of American Association of Plastic Surgeons.

Dr. Cao returned to China in 1997, and established the first tissue engineering center in Shanghai. This center has received a total funding of USD 10 million thus far. Later, he launched two national tissue engineering research projects, which were supported by The Administration of Science and Technology of China (total USD 10 million) and serves as national leader.

Dr. Cao has gained international reputation in tissue engineering research and has been invited to give lectures in Korea, Japan, Singapore and Germany. He currently serves as the editorial board member of the Tissue Engineering Journal and British Journal of Plastic Surgery.