Education

1999-2003, University of Michigan, Biological Chemistry, Ph.D.

1996-1999, Institute of Biophysics, CAS, Molecular Biology, M.S.

1991-1996, Peking University, Applied Chemistry, B.S.

Academic Experience

2021-present, Changping Laboratory, Adjunct associate director

2020-present , Tsinghua University,  Endowed Chair Professor

2014-present, National Institute of Biological Sciences, Deputy Director for Academic Affairs

2012-present, National Institute of Biological Sciences, Investigator

Overview of Academic Research

Dr. Shao is celebrated for his transformative discoveries in innate immunity, most notably redefining pyroptosis as gasdermin-mediated programmed cell death. His identification of the gasdermin protein family, particularly GSDMD, as the key executor of pyroptosis, has revolutionized the understanding of inflammation, sepsis, and cancer immunotherapy.

Key research areas include:

1）Pathogenic bacterial infection;

2）Host innate immune defense mechanism;

3）Pyroptosis mechanism.

Major Honor and Awards

2025, The HKU Centennial Distinguished Chinese Scholar

2022, The William B. Coley Award for Distinguished Research in Basic and Tumor Immunology

2022, Tan Kah Kee Science Award in Life Sciences

2021, The Zhongguancun Prize for Outstanding Contribution to Science & Technology

Representative Research Achievements 

1.Tian X, Liu J, Li Y, Wang Y, Luo Y, He H, She Y, Ma Y, Ding J, Zhou P, Li C, Shao F (2025) Agonists for cytosolic bacterial receptor ALPK1 induce antitumour immunity. Nature, doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-09828-9.

2.Shi K, Lv Y, Zhao C, Zeng H, Wang Y, Liu Y, Li L, Chen S, Gao P, Shao F, Xu Mo (2025). Epithelial Cell Membrane Perforation Induces Allergic Airway Inflammation. Nature, 645, 475–483.

3.Zhu Y, Xiao F, Wang Y, Wang Y, Li J, Zhong D, Huang Z, Yu M, Wang Z, Barbara J, Plunkett C, Zeng M, Song Y, Wang Z, Cai C, Guan X, Hammack S, Zhang L, Shao F, Shi Z, Xiang FL, Xu J (2025). NINJ1 regulates plasma membrane fragility under mechanical strain. Nature, 644, 1088–1096.

4.Jena KK, Mambu J, Boehmer D, Sposito B, Millet V, de Sousa Casal J, Muendlein HI, Spreafico R, Fenouil R, Spinelli L, Wurbel S, Riquier C, Galland F, Naquet P, Chasson L, Elkins M, Mitsialis V, Ketelut-Carneiro N, Gwilt KB, Thiagarajah JR, Ruan HB, Lin Z, Lien E, Shao F, Chou J, Poltorak A, Ordovas-Montanes J, Fitzgerald KA, Snapper SB, Broggi A, Zanoni I (2024). Type III interferons induce pyroptosis in gut epithelial cells and impair mucosal repair. Cell. 187(26):7533-7550.e23.

5.Tang Y, Tian X, Wang M, Cui Y, She Y, Shi Z, Liu J, Mao H, Liu L, Li C, Zhang Y, Li P, Ma Y, Sun J, Du Q, Li J, Wang J, Li D, Wu B#, Shao F#, and Chen Y# (2024) The β-D-manno-heptoses are immune agonists across kingdoms. Science, 385, 678–684.

6.Li Y#, Hou Y#, Sun Q#, Zeng H, Meng F, Tian X, He Q, Shao F#, and Ding J#. (2024) Cleavage-independent activation of ancient eukaryotic gasdermins and structural mechanisms. Science, 384(6697):adm9190

7.Wei C*, Jiang W*, Wang R, Zhong H, He H, Gao X, Zhong S, Yu F, Guo Q, Zhang L, Schiffelers LDJ, Schmidt FI, Zhou B, Trepel M, Luo M#, Shao F#. (2024) Brain endothelial GSDMD activation mediates inflammatory BBB breakdown. Nature, 629, 893–900.

8.Shi X, Sun Q, Hou Y, Zeng H, Cao Y, Dong M, Ding J#, and Shao F#. (2023) Recognition and maturation of IL-18 by caspase-4 noncanonical inflammasome. Nature, 624, 442–450.

9.Zhong X, Zeng H, Zhou Z, Su Y, Cheng H, Hou Y, She Y, Feng N, Wang J, Shao F, Ding J. (2023) Structural mechanisms for regulation of GSDMB pore-forming activity. Nature, 616, 598–605.

10.Li Z, Liu W, Fu J, Cheng S, Xu Y, Wang Z, Liu X, Shi X, Liu Y, Qi X, Liu X, Ding J, Shao F. (2021) Shigella evades pyroptosis by arginine ADP-riboxanation of caspase-11. Nature, 599, 290–295.