Gu Fangzhou: A monument to polio elimination in China

Huang Fu-Min; Chai Rong; Liu Hai-Sheng; Wang Yun-Feng; Tang Guo-Xing; Liu Jing

doi:10.1016/j.cmsj.2026.07.002

Your Location：

Home >

Browse articles >

Gu Fangzhou: A monument to polio elimination in China

Chinese Medical Sciences Journal Vol. 41, Issue 2, Pages: 72-75(2026)

Review Article | Updated：2026-10-16

- Gu Fangzhou: A monument to polio elimination in China
- Affiliations：
  
  Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
  Institute of Medical Information & Library, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
  Peking Union Medical Audio-Visual and Electronic Publishing House, Beijing 100730, China
- Author bio：
  
  Corresponding author. E-mail: ljmary@sina.com (J. Liu) .
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1016/j.cmsj.2026.07.002
  CLC：
- Published：2026-06
- Accepted：
Scan QR Code
Huang Fu-Min, Chai Rong, Liu Hai-Sheng, et al. Gu Fangzhou: A monument to polio elimination in China[J]. Chinese Medical Sciences Journal, 2026, 41(2): 72-75.
DOI：

Huang Fu-Min, Chai Rong, Liu Hai-Sheng, et al. Gu Fangzhou: A monument to polio elimination in China[J]. Chinese Medical Sciences Journal, 2026, 41(2): 72-75. DOI： 10.1016/j.cmsj.2026.07.002.

摘要

Abstract

Commemorating the centenary of Professor Gu Fangzhou's birth

this memorial article documents his landmark contributions to eliminating poliomyelitis in China. It details his strategic prioritization of the live attenuated oral polio vaccine (OPV) and his team's breakthroughs in overcoming logistical hurdles through the sugar-coated pill formulation and mass immunization campaigns. Furthermore

the review highlights his development of diagnostic reagents and a national surveillance network

which culminated in China's polio-free certification in 2000. Ultimately

the paper honors Professor Gu's legacy as a trailblazing scientist

demonstrating how his low-cost

high-efficiency research model provided a replicable template for global polio eradication and laid the institutional foundation for China's modern public health system.

关键词

Keywords

references

Liu J, Tang GX. A life, an achievement, a boat: the biography of Gu Fangzhou . Beijing:Science and Technology Press; 2023. Chinese .

Luo HM, Yu WZ, Wen N, et al. Application of poliomyelitis vaccine and recommendation on switch of immunization strategies in China. Chin J Vacc Immuniz . 2014;20(2):172-175. Chinese .

Zuo KL, Huang JL, Sun B, et al. "People's scientist" Gu Fangzhou: the pioneer of China's polio eradication. Sci Technol Herald . 2024;42(19):119-127 .

Li J, Lu L, Wu J, et al. Gu Fangzhou: a life of selfless dedication to the fight against p oliomyelitis. Int J Virol . 2019;26(4):241-243 .

Writing group for the celebration of professor Gu Fangzhou's 85th birthdayMission and dedication: a profile of Professor Gu Fangzhou, the "Father of China's Poliomyelitis Vaccine". Acta Bioeng . 2012;28(3):376-382. Chinese .

Gu FZ, Zeng Y, Mao JS, et al. Serological responses in children under seven years old to oral administration of trivalent live attenuated poliomyelitis vaccine. Chin Med J . 1961;47:423-427. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0376-2491.1961.07.104 .

Gu FZ, Fan RT. Research on poliomyelitis vaccine. Chin J Med Hist . 2018;48(5):304-312. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0255-7053.2018.05.008 .

Gu FZ. Historical experience in the prevention and eradication of poliomyelitis. In: Qian Xinzhong M, Gang D, eds. Historical Experience of Preventive Medicine in New China: Volume 3 . Beijing: People's Medical Publishing House; 1998:137 .

Gu FZ, Mao JS, Li XD, et al. A large-scale trial with live poliomyelitis vaccine (Sabin's strain) prepared in China. Chin Med J . 1963;82(3):131-137 .

Gu FZ, Wang SH, Sun YY, et al. Application of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the screening of type III poliovirus McAb and antigen analysis. Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae . 1983;5(2):89-94 . Chinese.

Gu FZ, Wang SH, Sun YY. Screening of poliovirus monoclonal antibodies and antigen analysis using ELISA. Chin J Microbiol Immunol . 1985;5(5):289-292. Chinese .

Gu FZ, Mu GP, Wang YA, et al. Establishment of hybridoma cell line E55 secreting monoclonal antibody against poliovirus type I (brief report). Acta Acad Med Sin . 1981(4):225. Chinese .

Views

Downloads

Scopus

Alert me when the article has been cited

Submit

Publicity Resources

Dedication to a lifelong mission: Gu Fangzhou and the Chinese road to polio elimination

Post-traumatic dementia: Advances in understanding neurodegenerative mechanisms

Global epidemiological and indirect economic burden of neurological, mental, and substance use disorders: An analysis based on the global burden of disease data

A predictive model for heart failure in patients with hypertension and persistent atrial fibrillation: A retrospective single-center study

Continuous wound infiltration with local anesthetics in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis

Related Author

Liu Jing

Huang Fu-Min

Liu Yi-Fan

Zhao Yuan

Wu Jun

Related Institution

Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College

⁰