Georgia State University announced on Mar. 17 the appointment of Dr. Liang Qiao, an internationally recognized immunologist, as a Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) Eminent Scholar in Biomedical Science. Qiao will join the Institute for Biomedical Sciences (IBMS) as a tenured professor and director of the Center for Microbial Pathogenesis beginning April 1.
Qiao’s appointment is seen as a step to strengthen Georgia State’s research capabilities and its standing in biomedical discovery. His work focuses on major public health issues such as HIV, Dengue/Zika, and SARS-CoV-2, along with research into cellular inflammation that connects basic immunology to new treatments.
“Dr. Qiao’s appointment reinforces Georgia State’s commitment to advancing innovative biomedical research that expands scientific knowledge and improves human health,” said Donald Hamelberg, vice president for Research and Economic Development. “We’re excited to welcome him to Atlanta and look forward to the impact he’ll bring to Georgia State and beyond.”
Tim Denning, president and CEO of the Georgia Research Alliance, said, “Liang Qiao reflects the consistently high caliber and reputation of GRA Eminent Scholars. He has created new types of vaccines, found new ways to fight inflammation and broken new ground in understanding how the body’s immune system works. Importantly, many of Dr. Qiao’s discoveries have great potential for advancing toward the clinic to treat people and save lives.”
Qiao has developed several patented or patent-pending innovations including a novel mucosal vaccine delivery system, first-in-class cytotoxic T lymphocyte–only vaccine strategies, and a probiotic metabolite therapeutic aimed at anti-inflammatory intervention. His scholarship appears in leading journals such as Nature Communications, Immunity, Cell Reports, Cancer Research, and Gastroenterology.
“Adding Dr. Qiao to our faculty deepens Georgia State’s capacity to lead in infectious disease and immunology,” said Dr. Jian-Dong Li, director of IBMS and a GRA Eminent Scholar in Inflammation and Immunity. “His scholarship and vision will help propel IBMS forward and strengthen the university’s role as a hub for biomedical innovation.”
Qiao comes to Georgia State after more than thirty years at Loyola University Chicago where he held research and faculty leadership roles.
