In a statement released on October 3, minor planet No.505906 was named after Rao Zihe, a molecular biologist and member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), by the Working Group for Small Bodies Nomenclature of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in recognition of his outstanding contributions in the research of pathogenic viruses and mycobacterium tuberculosis.

It is a globally recognized honor for a person to have a planet named after them, due to its gravity, uniqueness and permanence.

A screenshot of the statement of the Working Group for Small Bodies Nomenclature of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) on naming a minor planet after Chinese scientist Rao Zihe, on October 3.

Rao is also an academician of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a professor at the School of Medicine at Tsinghua University, member of the Presidium of the CAS Academic Division, member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), honorary president of the Biophysical Society of China, and a founding president of the China Union of Life Science Societies.

In addition, he also served as president of Nankai University, the CAS Institute of Biophysics, and the International Union for Pure and Applied Biophysics (IUPAB).

Rao is dedicated to the three-dimensional pathogenic research of new and recurrent infectious diseases, and to original pharmaceutical research and development. He has made pioneering contributions to pathogenic studies of the influenza virus; coronaviruses, such as SARS and COVID-19; AIDS/HIV; Hepatitis A; hand-foot-mouth disease; the herpes virus; African swine fever, and mycobacterium tuberculosis over the decades.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Rao and his research team have made systematic achievements in the research of a viral targeting mechanism, anti-viral drugs, antibodies and vaccines, making important contributions to the research of the novel coronavirus disease and pandemic response.

Editor: Li Han