Professor Yuliang Zhao is an internationally acclaimed pioneer in nanosafety research, renowned for his groundbreaking contributions to the study of nanomaterial safety and toxicology. In 2001, he proposed the innovative concept of investigating the safety of engineered nanomaterials and established the world’s first laboratory dedicated to nanotoxicity, focusing on the in vivo ADME/T processes and biochemical mechanisms of nanoscale materials. His transformative work earned him recognition as a "leading scientist" in nanosafety by Nature Nanotechnology in 2016.

Professor Zhao’s contributions have been acknowledged with numerous prestigious awards, including the TWAS Prize in Chemistry (2016) and the National Prize for Natural Sciences (2012, 2018). He was elected as an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (2017) and a member of TWAS (2018). His extensive body of research has garnered over 37,000 citations (H-index ~100) and recognition for multiple groundbreaking "firsts" by scientists from more than ten countries. His work ranked among the "Top 25 Hottest Papers" in pharmacology and toxicology for 32 consecutive seasons between 2005 and 2015 and was highlighted as one of Scientist Magazine's "Top Technical Advances of 2018."

Beyond academic achievements, Professor Zhao has been instrumental in establishing international standards for nanoscience, leading the creation of ISO/TS 13278:2011, the first nanotechnology standard developed by China. His research has profoundly advanced the understanding of bio-nano interactions, enabling safer applications of nanomaterials and driving innovations such as cancer nanomedicines.

Professor Zhao has also played a pivotal role in shaping the global nanosafety landscape as an expert advisor to the UNEP, EU, and OECD. In China, he founded the Chinese Committees of Nanotoxicology, Nanomedicine, and Nanochemistry, fostering the growth of nanoscience and promoting responsible and sustainable research practices. Earlier in his career, he contributed to the discovery of Nihonium (Nh), the first Asian-discovered chemical element added to the Periodic Table.