Dr. Yihai Cao is a distinguished professor of vascular biology, cancer research and metabolic research at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden where he has maintained his primary academic affiliation for decades. As a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Academia Europaea, European Academy of Sciences and Arts, National Academy of Inventors and American Institute of Medicine and Biological Engineering, he represents one of the most internationally recognized figures in his field. Dr. Cao received his medical training at Shandong Medical School before earning his Ph.D. at Karolinska Institutet and completing postdoctoral training in Dr. Judah Folkman's laboratory at Harvard Medical School where he developed foundational expertise in angiogenesis research.
Dr. Cao's pioneering research has fundamentally transformed understanding of pathological angiogenesis in cancer, obesity, metabolic diseases and cardiovascular disorders through the discovery of multiple key mechanisms and therapeutic targets. His laboratory participated in the discovery of angiostatin and identified several angiostatic proteins for potential cancer treatment while also discovering catechins in green tea as natural angiogenesis inhibitors. He proposed the innovative concept of off-tumor targets of antiangiogenic drugs and was among the first researchers to advocate targeting adipose angiogenesis for obesity treatment and developing combination therapies for ischemic muscle disease. With over 290 research articles published at an average impact factor exceeding 15 and more than 45,000 citations including an H-index of 107 his work demonstrates extraordinary scientific impact across multiple medical disciplines.
Beyond his research contributions, Dr. Cao has received numerous prestigious honors including the Fernström research prize, Axel Hirsch Prize in medicine and Karolinska Institutet's distinguished professor award alongside major funding from the European Research Council and NOVO Nordisk Foundation. He serves as an honorary or guest professor at Copenhagen University, Linköping University, Leicester University, Shinshu University and several Chinese institutions extending his global influence in vascular biology research. Dr. Cao's current research focuses on resolving clinically unmet needs in antiangiogenic cancer therapy through mechanistic studies of tumor microenvironment interactions and vascular modulation. His laboratory continues to develop novel therapeutic approaches with the potential to benefit millions of patients suffering from angiogenesis-dependent diseases worldwide.
