Ge Li Explained

Ge Li
Nationality:American
Alma Mater:Peking University (BA)
Columbia University (PhD)
Known For:Founder of WuXi AppTec
Spouse:Ning Zhao

Ge Li (Chinese: 李革) is a Chinese American entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is the founder and chairman of WuXi AppTec, a contract pharmaceutical research firm.[1] [2]

Career

Ge Li was born in China. He graduated from Affiliated High School of Peking University and received his B.A. from Peking University in 1989 and Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Columbia University in 1994.[3] [4] [5] At Columbia, Li was mentored by W. Clark Still and Koji Nakanishi.[6]

He worked for Pharmacopeia, Inc. and was sent to China to form a joint business venture on behalf of the company.[7] Inspired by the visit, Li quit the company and co-founded WuXi AppTec with his wife, Ning Zhao,[8] in Shanghai in 2000.[9] The company was listed in New York Stock Exchange before going public in Hong Kong in 2018.[10] [11]

In 2011, Li was named a member of the Committee of One Hundred.[12]

As of 2022, his net worth stands at $10 billion, making him one of the richest men in China and the United States.[13] He is also the second richest American pharmaceutical businessperson as of 2020.[14] [15] He is also named one of the top ten Chinese CEOs by Forbes China.[16]

Philanthropic activities

In 2018, Li and Ning Zhao donated RMB 100 million to Peking University, setting up the Li Ge-Zhao Ning Education Fund of Peking University. They were named the university's honorary trustees.[17]

In 2020, the couple donated $21.5 million to Columbia to advance research and teaching in chemistry.[18]

In 2021, the couple donated $20 million to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to support lung cancer research.[19] [20]

Personal life and family

Li was married to Ning Zhao, his classmate at Peking University, a fellow Ph.D. graduate from Columbia University and formerly senior vice president and global head of human resources at WuXi AppTec.[21] Zhao died on May 16, 2023, after a 20-year battle with cancer.[22] [23]

References

  1. Web site: Li Ge . 2022-03-24 . Forbes . en.
  2. Web site: Tremblay . Jean-Francois . April 3, 2017 . WuXi, ShangPharma seek Chinese listings . 2022-03-24 . cen.acs.org.
  3. Web site: Columbia Chemistry Receives $21.5 Million Gift from Alumni Dr. Ge Li and Dr. Ning Zhao Chemistry . 2022-03-24 . chem.columbia.edu.
  4. Web site: MEMBERS Committee 100 . 2022-03-24 . en-US.
  5. Web site: 李革校友：为科学、知识与技术提供平台-北大教育基金会 . 2022-03-24 . www.pkuef.org.
  6. Web site: Landmark Gift Goes to Columbia Chemistry . 2022-03-24 . Columbia College . en.
  7. Web site: Tremblay . Jean-Francois . March 14, 2016 . C&EN profiles WuXi AppTec, Chinese contract research giant . 2022-03-24 . cen.acs.org.
  8. Web site: Bandell . Brian . Biotech executive buys Fort Lauderdale mansion (Photos) . 2022-03-24 . www.bizjournals.com.
  9. Web site: DiStefano . Joseph N. . China-based WuXi AppTec wins $19M from taxpayers for giant Delaware drug plant . 2022-03-24 . Philadelphia Inquirer . 28 June 2021 . en.
  10. Web site: 2018-12-01 . China's leading biotech research firm focused on US acquisitions . 2022-03-24 . South China Morning Post . en.
  11. Web site: 2016-07-15 . Well sequenced . 2022-03-24 . Week In China . en-US.
  12. Web site: New Member: Ge Li Committee 100 . 2022-03-24 . en-US.
  13. News: Bloomberg Billionaires Index - Li Ge . 2022-03-24 . Bloomberg.com.
  14. Web site: Parrish . Megan . May 11, 2020 . Pharma's richest of the rich in the U.S. . 2022-03-24 . www.pharmamanufacturing.com.
  15. Web site: 15 people in healthcare among Forbes' 400 richest people in America . 2022-03-24 . www.beckershospitalreview.com. 7 October 2021 .
  16. Web site: 赵诗悦 . Top 10 Chinese CEOs by Forbes China . 2022-03-24 . www.chinadaily.com.cn.
  17. Web site: Alumni couple Li Ge and Zhao Ning donates 100 million RMB to Peking University . 2022-03-24 . newsen.pku.edu.cn.
  18. Web site: Chemical Science Gets $21.5M Boost . 2022-03-24 . Columbia Magazine . en.
  19. Web site: May 13, 2021 . Memorial Sloan Kettering Announces New Initiative to Focus on Lung Cancer Research . March 24, 2022 . Newswise.
  20. Web site: May 17, 2021 . Memorial Sloan Kettering receives $20 million for lung cancer research . March 24, 2022 . Philanthropy News Digest.
  21. Web site: 身家超500亿，这对学霸夫妇是如何做出一家医药龙头企业的？_李革 . 2022-03-24 . www.sohu.com . en.
  22. Web site: Pharma Billionaire Zhao Ning Dies At 56 After Battling Cancer For 20 Years. Forbes.
  23. Web site: Obituary – Mourning the Passing of Dr. Ning Zhao. 17 May 2023 . Wuxi Biologics.

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