Dr. Cao Yilin

Professor Cao Yilin is one of mainland China’s most distinguished and internationally recognised senior academics in tissue engineering and plastic & reconstructive surgery. He holds the prestigious titles of National 973 Programme Chief Scientist and Yangtze River Scholar Distinguished Professor, China’s highest academic honours. He formerly served as President of the Institute of Plastic Surgery, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (China’s top national plastic surgery research institute). He is globally celebrated as a founding pioneer of tissue engineering in China, famous for landmark work growing human-shaped cartilage and other tissues in vitro, laying the foundation for modern regenerative medicine and reconstructive surgery. He has led national research programs, published over 700 academic papers, and trained generations of leading surgeons and scientists, shaping the entire field in China and worldwide.