The European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) announced its newly elected members on July 1, with Professor Gao Caixia from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences being selected as an EMBO Associate Member. She becomes the 14th scientist from the Chinese mainland to receive this honor.

Gao Caixia has long been dedicated to independent innovation in plant genome editing technologies. Her pioneering work in precision genome editing, crop breeding methods, and germplasm innovation has achieved internationally recognized breakthroughs. Both Science and Nature have published in-depth profiles highlighting her outstanding contributions to genome editing innovation and transformative advancements in crop breeding.

A Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher for six consecutive years, Gao was named a "New Cornerstone Investigator" in 2023. Her accolades include the National Innovation Medal, the Tan Jiazhen Life Science Innovation Award, and Nature's "Top 10 Science Stars of China" in 2016.

Founded in 1964 and headquartered in Heidelberg, Germany, EMBO is committed to advancing molecular biology and related fields by supporting researchers, fostering international collaboration, and promoting scientific excellence. EMBO Membership is a lifetime honor, with candidates nominated and elected by current members. The organization comprises over 2,100 leading scientists, including 92 Nobel laureates.

Prior to Gao Caixia, 13 scientists from the Chinese mainland had been elected as EMBO Associate Members. They include Academician Yang Huanming (2006), Academicians Li Jiayang and Shi Yigong (2013), Academician Wang Xiaodong (2014), Academicians Shao Feng and Cao Xuetao (2015), Academician Gao Fu and Professor Wu Hong (2016), Professor Pei Duanqing (2018), Academician Kang Le (2022), Academician Yan Ning (2023), and Academicians Rao Zihe and Yang Zhenbiao (2024).

Source: Science and Technology Daily, VOC