Ge Li
Chinese American entrepreneur and philanthropist From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ge Li (Chinese: 李革; pinyin: Lǐ Gé) is a Chinese-American entrepreneur and philanthropist who is the founder and chairman of WuXi AppTec, a contract pharmaceutical research, development, and manufacturing organization (CRDMO).[1][2]
 | This article contains wording that promotes the subject in a subjective manner without imparting real information. (March 2022) |
Ge Li | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Li in 2007 | |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Peking University (BA) Columbia University (PhD) |
| Occupations | |
| Known for | Founder of WuXi AppTec |
| Spouse | Ning Zhao (-2023) |
Career
Summarize
Perspective
Li was born in China. He graduated from Affiliated High School of Peking University and received a B.A. from Peking University in 1989 and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Columbia University in 1994.[3][4][5] At Columbia, Li's mentors included W. Clark Still and Koji Nakanishi.[6]
He worked for Pharmacopeia, Inc., and was sent to China to establish a joint business venture for the company.[7] Following this visit, Li left the company and co-founded WuXi AppTec with his wife, Ning Zhao,[8] in Shanghai in 2000.[9] In 2016, WuXi AppTec expanded its presence in the United States by opening a new center of excellence in San Diego, California.[10] This facility was intended to enhance WuXi's capabilities in small molecule screening, discovery biology, and process research and development, while also providing Phase I Good manufacturing practice (GMP) services. The expansion aimed to strengthen the company's global footprint and better serve its North American clients. The company was listed on the New York Stock Exchange before being listed in Hong Kong in 2018.[11][12]
In 2011, Li was recognized a member of the Committee of One Hundred.[13]
As of 2022, his net worth was estimated at $10 billion[1], placing him among the wealthiest individuals in China and the United States.[14] As of 2020, he was ranked as the second wealthiest American pharmaceutical businessperson.[15][16] He was recognized as one of the top ten Chinese CEOs by Forbes China in 2022.[17]
Philanthropic activities
In 2018, Li and Zhao donated 100 million RMB to Peking University to establish the "Li Ge-Zhao Ning Education Fund". They were subsequently named honorary trustees of the university.[18]
In 2020, the couple donated $21.5 million to Columbia University to support research and teaching in chemistry,[19] and in 2021, they contributed $20 million to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for lung cancer research.[20][21]
Personal life and family
Li was married to Ning Zhao, a classmate from Peking University, a fellow Ph.D. graduate from Columbia University, and formerly senior vice president and global head of human resources at WuXi AppTec.[8][22] Zhao died on May 16, 2023, after a 20-year illness.[23][24]
References
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