In Memory of Professor Daopei Lu, MD
1931-2025
Professor Daopei Lu, a towering figure in Chinese medicine, passed away on April 2, 2025, at the age of 93. A renowned hematologist and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Professor Lu leaves behind a legacy that transformed the field of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) and brought hope to countless patients.
Born in 1931, Lu graduated from Tongji Medical College (now part of Huazhong University of Science and Technology) in 1955 and launched his illustrious career at Peking University People’s Hospital. Over the decades, he held prominent roles, including Vice President of the Chinese Medical Association, Director of the Peking University Institute of Hematology, and Chair of the Hematology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association.
A true pioneer, Professor Lu performed Asia’s first bone marrow transplant in 1964—a syngeneic transplant from an identical twin. It was the fourth transplant in the world and the longest-surviving case globally (more than 60 years). Over the decades, he led numerous groundbreaking advancements in stem cell transplantation in China, including:
- China’s first allogeneic bone marrow transplant (1981)
- The first unrelated donor transplant (1992)
- The first ABO-incompatible transplant
- The first haploidentical stem cell transplant (1991)
- The first double-unit umbilical cord blood transplant in an overweight adult (2000)
In the early 2000s, he led the development of the GIAC protocol, achieving world-class results in HLA-haploidentical transplantation, with survival outcomes comparable to matched sibling transplants. This work was published in Blood in 2006.
His innovations extended beyond transplantation. Lu pioneered the use of oral arsenic sulfide (tetra-arsenic tetra-sulfate) for acute promyelocytic leukemia with excellent results, which were published in Blood in 2002. He also explored using garlic extracts as IV infusions to treat cytomegalovirus infection and championed placental gamma globulin as a treatment for GVHD. Under his leadership, China’s five-year HCT survival rates reached world-class levels.
A visionary founder, his other achievements included organizing the China BMT Registry, founding the China Marrow Donor Program (1992), and establishing the first cord blood bank in China (1996). In 1992, he authored “Leukemia Therapeutics,” China’s first comprehensive textbook on leukemia treatment.
Lu established the Peking University Institute of Hematology in 1981, Beijing Daopei Hospital in 2001, the China Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Cooperative Group, and the Lu Daopei Medical Group, for which he served as Medical Director. 
Lu’s extraordinary achievements earned him a host of accolades, including the State Science and Technology Progress Award (1985), Chinese Medical Association Technology Progress Award (2006), Beijing Science and Technology Progress Award (2006), the Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation Science and Technology Progress Award (1997), the Chen Jiageng Science Award (1997), and the Lifetime Achievement Award from both the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association Hematologic Oncology (2016) and the Chinese Hematology Association (2020). In 2016, the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) honored him with the Distinguished Service Award.
Beyond his scientific prowess, Lu was a dedicated mentor, shaping generations of medical talent—academicians, PhDs, and postdoctoral researchers—who carry forward his commitment to excellence. His relentless pursuit of innovation and compassionate care touched countless lives, cementing his place as a giant in Chinese hematology.
Moreover, he was a true gourmet with a deep passion for food. He enjoyed singing in both English and Chinese, including Peking Opera. A man of many talents, he also played the violin and excelled in calligraphy, wielding the brush with remarkable mastery.
Professor Lu Daopei’s passing is a profound loss, but his spirit endures in the lives he saved, the minds he inspired, and the advancements he pioneered. His legacy will continue to light the way for future generations of physicians and scientists striving to push the boundaries of medicine. We mourn his loss with heavy hearts and honor his memory with the deepest respect.