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Feng Gao

Professor Emeritus in Medicine
Medicine, Infectious Diseases
Box 102359 Med Ctr, Durham, NC 27710
244 Sands Bldg, Box 102359, Durham, NC 27710

Overview


Dr. Feng Gao is Professor of Medicine at Duke University. The Gao laboratory has a long-standing interest in elucidating the origins and evolution of human and simian inmmunodeficiency viruses (HIV and SIV), and in studying HIV/SIV gene function and pathogenic mechanisms from the evolutionary perspective. These studies have led to new strategies to better understand HIV origins,  biology, pathogenesis and drug resistance, and to design new AIDS vaccines.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Professor Emeritus in Medicine · 2020 - Present Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Medicine
Member of the Duke Human Vaccine Institute · 2005 - Present Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published May 29, 2020
Duke Study: Evolution of COVID-19 Suggests That It Is Likely That More Human Coronaviruses Will Arise

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Recent Publications


Biejia-Ruangan enhances the efficacy of entecavir in reversing liver cirrhosis in patients with chronic HBV infection: A seven-year open-label follow-up cohort study.

Journal Article J Ethnopharmacol · January 30, 2026 ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Biejia-Ruangan (BRG) has been approved in China as an antifibrotic traditional Chinese medicine for patients with chronic liver diseases; however, data on the reversal of hepatitis B-related cirrhosis by BRG are still limite ... Full text Link to item Cite

DNA vaccine targeting betacoronavirus spike protein blocks neuroinvasion and neuroinflammation in swine via dual antiviral-immunomodulatory action

Journal Article Npj Vaccines · December 1, 2025 Porcine hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus (PHEV), a neurotropic betacoronavirus, causes fatal neurological disease in piglets, yet no licensed vaccines exist. Here, we developed a DNA vaccine encoding the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of PHEV spike ... Full text Cite

Near extinction of the HBV quasispecies driven by the hard selective sweep in chronic hepatitis B.

Journal Article mBio · August 13, 2025 The viral quasispecies play an important role in pathogenesis. However, little is known about the nature of hepatitis B virus (HBV) quasispecies and its impact on the outcomes of chronic hepatitis B. Here, we characterized the bona fide quasispecies viral ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


Nonhuman Primate Core Virology Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine Research and Development - Base

ResearchInvestigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2017 - 2024

EQAPOL - Years 2017 to 2024 - BASE

ResearchDirector · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2017 - 2024

Dissection of polyreactivity and neutralization activity of HIV-1 Abs (R01)

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2016 - 2023

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Education, Training & Certifications


Harbin Medical University (China) · 1984 M.D.