GU Jianren, born in 1932, is one of the leading scientists in Molecular Oncology. He is a professor of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the Emeritus President of Cancer Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the President of Academic Committee of National Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, and the supervisor to phD students. He was elected as the member of Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) in 1994, and is the member of the Presidium of CAE.

Professor Gu graduated from Shanghai First Medical College (SFMC) in 1954. From 1979 to 1981, he worked as senior visiting scholar in Beatson Institute for Cancer Research in Glasgow. During 1995 to 1999, he was the member of International Award Assembly of General Motor Cancer Research Foundation.

In the past 50 years, Professor Gu has devoted himself to cancer pathology, cancer biochemistry, molecular oncology and gene therapy for cancers. For the first time in the world, he reported alteration of a spectrum of genes involved in human hepatocarcinogenesis and cancer development and was honored by State Science and Technology Award (Grade II) and also Ministry of Public Health Science and Technology Award (Grade I). He discovered a new high score LOH area in 17p13.3, which is proved to be the most frequent LOH area in human heptocarcinoma. Since 1998, he has initiated a new study of functional genomics, a high through-put screening of functional genes based on cell growth. Over 300 full length cDNA clones, either stimulating or inhibiting cancer cell growth, have been identified and registered for patent. He has also contributed to cancer gene therapy as a pioneer in China. The clinical trial on brain glioblostoma was the first clinical protocol approved by State (SDA) in cancer gene therapy. He has creatively established a novel receptor-mediated non-viral gene delivery system. The patent of this system were awarded by USA (US6,339,139B1).

He is one of the first honored Meritorious Researchers of Science and Technology in Shanghai, Model Staff of the National Health System. He is also awarded the National Labor Medal, Shanghai Medical Life Honorary Prize, Heliang-Heli Award for Advance in Science and Technology in 1997, etc.