Yu Junying [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Yu Junying, founder and chief scientist of Hefei biomedicine company Nuwacell, is a Chinese stem cell biologist named 2007 Person of the Year by Time.

Her paper describing a novel method of reprogramming adult stem cells to create cells which are not from embryonic stem cells was considered a breakthrough in cell studies when published in Science in 2007.

In 2009, Yu, recognized as one of the inventors of hiPSC (human induced pluripotent stem cells), again pushed the boundaries of human stem cells research with groundbreaking results in Science, when she figured out how to prepare hiPSC without DNA damage.

From 2009 to 2015, Yu worked as the director of the senior research department of Cellular Dynamics International founded by James Thomson, known as the father of embryonic stem cells, devoting herself to developing stem cell technology through scientific research as well as related cell products.

In January, 2016, Yu founded Nuwacell, a high-tech company focusing on hiPSC R&D, in the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone, and was appointed as the first president of Anhui Stem Cell Society in September, 2017.

Yu has published 28 papers which have been cited nearly 19,000 times. Eight of her achievements have been patented in Europe and the United States and three are awaiting certification.