Dr. Dayong Gao is Professor of Mechanical Engineering and honored with the Origincell Endowed Professorship at University of Washington (UW), Seattle, USA (2004-present). Prior to joining the UW, Dr. Gao was Professor, the Baxter Healthcare Corp Endowed Chair and the Alumni Professor of Mechanical Engineering at University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA. He obtained B.Sc. Degree in Modern Mechanics from University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China (1982), and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Concordia University, Montreal, Canada (1991).

Dr. Gao has made major technological breakthroughs and outstanding achievements in biomedical engineering and their applications, including: (1) cryo-biomedical engineering theory and novel technology for long-term cryopreservation of living cells and tissues for cellular/gene therapy, organ transplantation, regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, disease screening, in vitro fertilization, and conservation of endangered species; (2) artificial organs for treatment of end-stage multi-organ-failure diseases; and (3) bio-instruments and micro-sensors for clinical diagnostics with high sensitivity and specificity. He has published over 500 peer-reviewed research articles (including 265 journal papers and 35 book chapters in 24 books) with numerous US and international patents granted. He has trained and graduated over 200 graduate students (including 35 Ph.D. students). As a keynote speaker, he delivered over 200 scientific conference presentations worldwide. Currently, he serves as the Editor-in-Chief, the Deputy Editor, and the Editorial Board Member of 12 scientific journals, respectively. He is Past-President of the Society for Cryobiology (the International Society for Low Temperature Biology and Medicine, founded in 1964, USA).

Dr. Gao was elected as the recipient of national/international honors and awards: Fellow of International Academy of Medical and Biological Engineering, Fellow of American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, Fellow of American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Fellow of International Society for Cryobiology with the Basil Luyet Medal, Member of the Washington State Academy of Sciences, American Heart Association Award, American Cancer Society Award, Asian American Engineer of the Year 2013 Award (CIE), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Global Health Research Award, Whitaker Foundation Young Investigator Award, Washington Foundation Innovation Award, Murdock Trust Foundation Award, and International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories Special Service Award, etc.

In honor of Professor Dayong Gao for his distinguished achievements and leadership in cryo-biomedical science and technology, International Society for Cryobiology established Dayong Gao Young Investigator Award to recognize the most outstanding young cryo-biomedical engineer and cryobiologist in the world every year since 2019.