Ge Li

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.{{Cite web |title=Columbia Chemistry Receives $21.5 Million Gift from Alumni Dr. Ge Li and Dr. Ning Zhao {{!}} Chemistry |url=https://chem.columbia.edu/news/columbia-chemistry-receives-215-million-gift-alumni-dr-ge-li-and-dr-ning-zhao |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=chem.columbia.edu}}{{Cite web |title=MEMBERS {{!}} Committee 100 |url=https://www.committee100.org/member/ |access-date=2022-03-24 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=李革校友：为科学、知识与技术提供平台-北大教育基金会 |url=http://www.pkuef.org/old/info/1158/2359.htm |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=www.pkuef.org}} At Columbia, Li was mentored by W. Clark Still and Koji Nakanishi.{{Cite web |title=Landmark Gift Goes to Columbia Chemistry |url=https://www.college.columbia.edu/news/landmark-gift-goes-columbia-chemistry |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=Columbia College |language=en}}

He worked for Pharmacopeia, Inc. and was sent to China to form a joint business venture on behalf of the company.{{Cite web |last=Tremblay |first=Jean-Francois |date=March 14, 2016 |title=C&EN profiles WuXi AppTec, Chinese contract research giant |url=https://cen.acs.org/articles/94/i11/CEN-profiles-WuXi-AppTec-Chinese.html |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=cen.acs.org}} Inspired by the visit, Li quit the company and co-founded WuXi AppTec with his wife, Ning Zhao,{{Cite web |last=Bandell |first=Brian |title=Biotech executive buys Fort Lauderdale mansion (Photos) |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2021/07/15/biotech-exec-buys-ft-lauderdale-mansion-photos.html |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=www.bizjournals.com}} in Shanghai in 2000.{{Cite web |last=DiStefano |first=Joseph N. |title=China-based WuXi AppTec wins $19M from taxpayers for giant Delaware drug plant |url=https://www.inquirer.com/business/wuxi-apptec-delaware-drug-factory-pharmaceutical-20210628.html |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=Philadelphia Inquirer |date=28 June 2021 |language=en}} In 2016, WuXi AppTec expanded its presence in the United States by opening a new center of excellence in San Diego, California.{{Cite web |title=WuXi's subsidiary (STA) opens facility in San Diego |url=https://biopharma-asia.com/sections/wuxis-subsidiary-sta-opens-facility-in-san-diego/ |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=Biopharma Asia |language=en}} This facility was designed to enhance WuXi's capabilities in small molecule screening, discovery biology, and process research and development, while also offering Phase I Good manufacturing practice (GMP) services. The expansion reflected the company's strategy to strengthen its global footprint and better serve its North American clients. The company was listed on the New York Stock Exchange before going public in Hong Kong in 2018.{{Cite web |date=2018-12-01 |title=China's leading biotech research firm focused on US acquisitions |url=https://www.scmp.com/business/article/2175888/leading-chinese-biotech-firm-wuxi-apptec-says-us-hurdles-will-not-dim |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2016-07-15 |title=Well sequenced {{!}} |url=https://www.weekinchina.com/2016/07/well-sequenced/ |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=Week In China |language=en-US}}

In 2011, Li was named a member of the Committee of One Hundred.{{Cite web |title=New Member: Ge Li {{!}} Committee 100 |url=https://www.committee100.org/2011/01/31/new-member-ge-li/ |access-date=2022-03-24 |language=en-US}}

As of 2022, his net worth was estimated at $10 billion, making him one of the richest men in China and the United States.{{Cite news |title=Bloomberg Billionaires Index - Li Ge |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/ge-li/ |access-date=2022-03-24 |newspaper=Bloomberg.com}} He is also the second wealthiest American pharmaceutical businessperson as of 2020.{{Cite web |last=Parrish |first=Megan |date=May 11, 2020 |title=Pharma's richest of the rich in the U.S. |url=https://www.pharmamanufacturing.com/articles/2020/pharmas-richest-of-the-rich-in-the-u-s/ |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=www.pharmamanufacturing.com}}{{Cite web |title=15 people in healthcare among Forbes' 400 richest people in America |url=https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/rankings-and-ratings/15-people-in-healthcare-among-forbes-400-richest-people-in-america.html |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=www.beckershospitalreview.com|date=7 October 2021 }} He was named one of the top ten Chinese CEOs by Forbes China in 2022.{{Cite web |last=赵诗悦 |title=Top 10 Chinese CEOs by Forbes China |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202110/12/WS6164bd46a310cdd39bc6e31f.html |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=www.chinadaily.com.cn}}

In 2018, Li and Ning Zhao donated 100 million RMB to Peking University, setting up the Li Ge-Zhao Ning Education Fund of Peking University. They were named the university's honorary trustees.{{Cite web |title=Alumni couple Li Ge and Zhao Ning donates 100 million RMB to Peking University |url=https://newsen.pku.edu.cn/news_events/news/focus/7334.html |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=newsen.pku.edu.cn}}

In 2020, the couple donated $21.5 million to Columbia University to advance research and teaching in chemistry,{{Cite web |title=Chemical Science Gets $21.5M Boost |url=https://magazine.columbia.edu/article/chemical-science-gets-215m-boost |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=Columbia Magazine |language=en}} and the following year, they contributed $20 million to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to support lung cancer research.{{Cite web |date=May 13, 2021 |title=Memorial Sloan Kettering Announces New Initiative to Focus on Lung Cancer Research |url=https://www.newswise.com/articles/memorial-sloan-kettering-announces-new-initiative-to-focus-on-lung-cancer-research |access-date=March 24, 2022 |website=Newswise}}{{Cite web |date=May 17, 2021 |title=Memorial Sloan Kettering receives $20 million for lung cancer research |url=https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/memorial-sloan-kettering-receives-20-million-for-lung-cancer-research |access-date=March 24, 2022 |website=Philanthropy News Digest}}

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.{{Cite web |title=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 |url=https://www.sohu.com/a/www.sohu.com/a/445641050_563936 |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=www.sohu.com |language=en}} Zhao died on May 16, 2023, after a 20-year battle with cancer.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ywang/2023/05/17/pharma-billionaire-zhao-ning-dies-at-56-after-battling-cancer-for-20-years/?sh=4a4f5ec11a6f|title=Pharma Billionaire Zhao Ning Dies At 56 After Battling Cancer For 20 Years|work=Forbes}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wuxibiologics.com/obituary-mourning-the-passing-of-dr-ning-zhao/|title=Obituary – Mourning the Passing of Dr. Ning Zhao|date=17 May 2023 |publisher=Wuxi Biologics}}

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Category:Living people

Category:Peking University alumni

Category:Columbia Graduate School of Arts and Sciences alumni

Category:American billionaires

Category:Chinese billionaires

Category:American people of Chinese descent

Category:American philanthropists

Category:American company founders

Category:Chinese company founders

Category:Businesspeople in the pharmaceutical industry

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)