Xiangguo Qiu
{{Short description|Chinese Canadian virologist}}
{{Infobox scientist
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Xiangguo Qiu
| honorific_suffix =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| image =
| image_size =
| image_upright =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| other_names =
| siglum =
| pronounce =
| citizenship =
| nationality =
| fields = Virology
| workplaces =
| patrons =
| education =
| alma_mater =Tianjin Medical University
Hebei Medical University
| thesis_title =
| thesis_url =
| thesis_year =
| doctoral_advisor =
| academic_advisors =
| doctoral_students =
| notable_students =
| known_for =
| influences =
| influenced =
| awards =
| author_abbrev_bot =
| author_abbrev_zoo =
| spouse = Keding Cheng
| partner =
| children =
| parents =
| father =
| mother =
| relatives =
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
Xiangguo Qiu ({{Zh|c=邱香果}}) is a Chinese Canadian virologist, former adjunct professor of Medical microbiology at the University of Manitoba and former head of the Vaccine Development and Antiviral Therapies section in the Special Pathogen Program of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). She is credited as one of the researchers who helped cure Ebola.{{Cite web |date=2021-04-16 |title=Viral security drama of Chinese-Canadian scientist who helped cure Ebola |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3129746/chinese-canadian-scientist-helped-cure-ebola-shes-now-centre |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en |archive-date=2022-10-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031124755/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3129746/chinese-canadian-scientist-helped-cure-ebola-shes-now-centre |url-status=live }}
Education and career
Qiu earned a PhD in medicine from Tianjin Medical University in 1985 and an MS in Immunology from Hebei Medical University in 1990. Qiu moved to Canada in 1996 for graduate studies and in 2003 started working on antibody treatments at the Canadian National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) in Winnipeg.
While working at the lab, Qiu and Gary Kobinger helped develop ZMapp, an experimental biopharmaceutical drug to treat Ebola.{{Cite web|url=https://ppforum.ca/articles/dr-xiangguo-qiu-dr-gary-kobinger-against-all-odds-they-discovered-a-treatment-for-ebola/|title=Dr. Xiangguo Qiu & Dr. Gary Kobinger: Against all odds, they discovered a treatment for Ebola|access-date=2021-10-12|archive-date=2021-10-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027182033/https://ppforum.ca/articles/dr-xiangguo-qiu-dr-gary-kobinger-against-all-odds-they-discovered-a-treatment-for-ebola/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/06/29/canada-xiangguoqiu-ebola-treatment-coronavirus/|title=How Canadian Bureaucracy Botched a Critical Ebola Treatment|first=Justin|last=Ling|date=29 June 2020|access-date=12 October 2021|archive-date=13 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211013045058/https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/06/29/canada-xiangguoqiu-ebola-treatment-coronavirus/|url-status=live}} The development of this drug won both Qiu and Kobinger the 2018 Canadian Governor General's Innovation Award. {{Cite web|date=2018-05-23|title=Dr. Kobinger and Dr. Qiu – 2018 GGIA Laureates|url=https://innovation.gg.ca/dr-kobinger-and-dr-qiu-2018-ggia-laureates/|access-date=2022-01-20|website=Governor General’s Innovation Awards|language=en-US|archive-date=2022-01-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120031408/https://innovation.gg.ca/dr-kobinger-and-dr-qiu-2018-ggia-laureates/|url-status=live}}
National security incident
In July 2019, Qiu and her biologist husband Keding Cheng who worked with her at the NML, had their security clearances revoked and were evicted from the facilities by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), leading also to the University of Manitoba severing ties.{{Cite news |date=2024-02-28 |title=Winnipeg scientists fired for providing confidential information to China |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-winnipeg-scientists-fired-for-providing-confidential-information-to/ |access-date=2024-02-29 |work=The Globe and Mail |language=en-CA |archive-date=2024-02-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228225029/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-winnipeg-scientists-fired-for-providing-confidential-information-to/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news|url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/07/16/chinese-researchers-stripped-security-clearance-canada-lab-deadly/|title = Chinese researchers stripped of security clearance at Canada lab for deadly human diseases|newspaper = The Telegraph|date = 16 July 2019|last1 = Yan|first1 = Sophia|access-date = 12 October 2021|archive-date = 29 October 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211029174819/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/07/16/chinese-researchers-stripped-security-clearance-canada-lab-deadly/|url-status = live}}{{cite web | title=University severs ties with two researchers who were escorted out of National Microbiology Lab - CBC News | website=CBC | date=2019-10-17 | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/lab-researcher-rcmp-national-microbiology-lab-1.5212851 | access-date=2021-12-04 | archive-date=2020-04-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415064232/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/lab-researcher-rcmp-national-microbiology-lab-1.5212851 | url-status=live }} In a statement to the CBC, a PHAC spokesperson said that the scientists were no longer employed there as of January 2021, declining to disclose additional information or comment further, leaving open speculation about espionage.{{cite web | title=Scientists let go from National Microbiology Laboratory amid RCMP investigation - CBC News | website=CBC | date=2021-08-26 | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/canadian-scientists-national-microbiology-laboratory-1.5904035 | access-date=2021-12-04 | archive-date=2021-12-14 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214005642/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/canadian-scientists-national-microbiology-laboratory-1.5904035 | url-status=live }}{{cite web | title='Wake-up call for Canada': Security experts say case of 2 fired scientists could point to espionage - CBC News | website=CBC | date=2021-07-03 | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-lab-security-experts-1.6059097 | access-date=2021-12-04 | archive-date=2021-12-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215120617/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-lab-security-experts-1.6059097 | url-status=live }} Four months prior to this incident, Qiu was found to have made a shipment of Ebola and Henipavirus samples from the NML to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, though this was reported to be unconnected to her removal.{{cite web | title=Canadian scientist sent deadly viruses to Wuhan lab months before RCMP asked to investigate | website=CBC News | date=2021-08-26 | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/canadian-scientist-sent-deadly-viruses-to-wuhan-lab-months-before-rcmp-asked-to-investigate-1.5609582 | access-date=2021-12-04 | archive-date=2021-11-22 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122085755/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/canadian-scientist-sent-deadly-viruses-to-wuhan-lab-months-before-rcmp-asked-to-investigate-1.5609582 | url-status=live }}{{cite news | title=Fired Winnipeg lab scientist listed as co-inventor on two Chinese government patents | website=National Post | date=1970-01-01 | url=http://nationalpost.com/news/canada/fired-winnipeg-lab-scientist-listed-as-co-inventor-on-two-chinese-government-patents | access-date=2021-12-04 | last1=Blackwell | first1=Tom | archive-date=2024-02-29 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229010001/https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/fired-winnipeg-lab-scientist-listed-as-co-inventor-on-two-chinese-government-patents | url-status=live }}
On 23 June 2021, The National Post reported that Qiu was listed as co-inventor of two Chinese government patents registered in 2017 and 2019 for innovations related to the Ebola and Marburg viruses, which were the focus of her work at the NML and in contravention of Canadian government policy for public servants. On 16 September 2021, The Globe and Mail reported that cooperation between the NML scientists and the Chinese military went much higher than was previously known and that Qiu had collaborated with Major-General Chen Wei on two papers.{{cite web | last=Fife | first=Robert | title=Chinese Major-General worked with fired scientist at Canada's top infectious disease lab | website=The Globe and Mail | date=2021-09-16 | url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-chinese-pla-general-collaborated-with-fired-scientist-at-canadas-top/ | access-date=2021-12-04 | archive-date=2021-09-16 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20210916201505/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-chinese-pla-general-collaborated-with-fired-scientist-at-canadas-top/ | url-status=live }}{{cite web | title=Chinese military's epidemiologist worked with fired scientist at Canada's top disease lab: Report | website=ThePrint | date=2021-09-17 | url=https://theprint.in/world/chinese-militarys-epidemiologist-worked-with-fired-scientist-at-canadas-top-disease-lab-report/734940/ | access-date=2021-12-04 | archive-date=2021-11-27 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127144836/https://theprint.in/world/chinese-militarys-epidemiologist-worked-with-fired-scientist-at-canadas-top-disease-lab-report/734940/ | url-status=live }} Qiu also worked at the Winnipeg Microbiology Lab with Feihu Yan, a member of the People's Liberation Army's Academy of Military Medical Sciences.{{Cite web|last=Pauls|first=Karen|date=|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|title='Wake-up call for Canada': Security experts say case of 2 fired scientists could point to espionage|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-lab-security-experts-1.6059097|website=CBC|access-date=2021-10-12|archive-date=2021-10-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023050331/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-lab-security-experts-1.6059097|url-status=live}} While Qiu and Cheng have not been charged, they remain under investigation by RCMP.
The Canadian House of Commons Special Committee on Canada-China Relations demanded PHAC to provide answers around the shipment of viruses and why the two scientists were fired. The PHAC director refused, citing privacy legislation. Security officials have said it is a matter of national security. Subsequently, PHAC turned over documents to NSICOP, whose members have national security clearance.{{Cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3129746/chinese-canadian-scientist-helped-cure-ebola-shes-now-centre|title=Viral security drama of Chinese-Canadian scientist who helped cure Ebola|date=April 16, 2021|website=South China Morning Post|access-date=October 12, 2021|archive-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029174539/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3129746/chinese-canadian-scientist-helped-cure-ebola-shes-now-centre|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://ipolitics.ca/2021/03/31/health-agency-ordered-to-release-documents-on-viruses-sent-to-china/|title=Health agency ordered to release documents on viruses sent to China|date=March 31, 2021|access-date=October 12, 2021|archive-date=October 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211012124359/https://ipolitics.ca/2021/03/31/health-agency-ordered-to-release-documents-on-viruses-sent-to-china/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/06/15/news/winnipeg-lab-documents-national-security-hajdu-viruses-China-scientists|title=Hajdu argues lab documents must stay secret for 'national security'|first=Arvin|last=Joaquin|date=June 15, 2021|website=Canada's National Observer|access-date=October 12, 2021|archive-date=October 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008185146/https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/06/15/news/winnipeg-lab-documents-national-security-hajdu-viruses-China-scientists|url-status=live}}
Qiu has not been seen publicly or responded to questions from the media.{{cite web | last=Fife | first=Robert | title=Whereabouts of two scientists fired from Winnipeg virus lab for possible national-security issues shrouded in mystery | website=The Globe and Mail | date=2021-06-04 | url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-wherabouts-of-two-scientists-fired-from-winnipeg-virus-lab-for/ | access-date=2021-12-04 | archive-date=2021-12-05 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205182112/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-wherabouts-of-two-scientists-fired-from-winnipeg-virus-lab-for/ | url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=A brilliant scientist was mysteriously fired from a Winnipeg virus lab. No one knows why. |url=https://www.macleans.ca/longforms/winnipeg-virus-lab-scientist/ |website=Maclean's |access-date=2024-02-29 |archive-date=2024-02-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213041856/https://macleans.ca/longforms/winnipeg-virus-lab-scientist/ |url-status=live }} According to FactCheck.org, viral misinformation has been published in western social media falsely claiming that Qiu was "removed" from the Canadian lab due to having sent pathogens to the Wuhan facility. The BBC explained that much of the misinformation had spread from a tweet that misrepresented the CBC reports and that the words, "coronavirus" and "spy" were not written in any of the CBC reports. In response to the allegations, both RCMP and the health agency have stated repeatedly that there was "no threat to public safety" and Caroline Duval, of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, clarified to Factcheck.org that "there is no connection between the outbreak in China and any RCMP investigation".{{Cite web |last=Spencer |first=Saranac Hale |date=2020-01-28 |title=Coronavirus Wasn't Sent by 'Spy' From Canada |url=https://www.factcheck.org/2020/01/coronavirus-wasnt-sent-by-spy-from-canada/ |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=FactCheck.org |archive-date=2020-01-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130160015/https://www.factcheck.org/2020/01/coronavirus-wasnt-sent-by-spy-from-canada/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=2020-01-30 |title=China coronavirus: Misinformation spreads online about origin and scale |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-51271037 |access-date=2022-09-22 |archive-date=2020-02-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204163412/https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-51271037 |url-status=live }}
In 2024, the Canadian government released an intelligence report written by Canadian Security Intelligence Service which documented Qiu's activities with the Chinese government to benefit China and that Qiu "repeatedly lied" during the security agency's interviews with her.{{Cite news |last=Tunney |first=Catharine |date=2024-02-28 |title=Scientist fired from Winnipeg disease lab intentionally worked to benefit China: CSIS report |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/winnipeg-lab-firing-documents-released-china-1.7128865 |access-date=2024-04-09 |work=CBC News}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Qiu, Xiangguo}}
Category:Chinese women biologists
Category:Canadian women biologists
Category:21st-century Canadian women scientists
Category:21st-century Chinese women scientists
Category:21st-century Canadian biologists
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)