University of Washington Cut Ties With Origincell
The institution removed an endowed professorship following the firm's designation as a Chinese military company.
Updated on Sept. 27, 2026 in Biotech
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The University of Washington has removed all public references to the Origincell Endowed Professorship. The school halted future awards from the fund after the Department of War identified the donor as a Chinese military company.
Why it matters
The decision reflects heightened institutional scrutiny over foreign funding ties to entities linked to overseas defense sectors. It follows formal designations by federal authorities and inquiries from congressional committees regarding research security.
The professorship was established with a $1 million gift in 2016. The institution manages significant research assets, including $1.39 billion in federal research funding during the 2025 fiscal year.
The players
University of Washington
This is a public research university based in Seattle that receives substantial federal science and engineering funding.
Origincell Technology Co., Ltd.
This is a Shanghai-based company designated by the Department of War as a Chinese military enterprise.
Dayong Gao
He is a professor who held the now-removed endowed chair and previously published research alongside the firm's executives.
Department of War
This federal agency maintains the official list of foreign entities deemed to be military-affiliated companies.
House Select Committee on China
This congressional body oversees legislative inquiries into strategic competition and national security risks related to China.
The details
University staff removed the title from official websites following a review by the International Agreements Risk Assessment Committee. Professor Dayong Gao, who previously held the title, co-authored a 2021 research paper with executives from the Shanghai-based firm.
Timeline
The professorship was created in late 2016.
Professor Dayong Gao received the title in January 2017.
The Department of War first listed Origincell as a military company in January 2025.
The House Select Committee on China requested a funding pause in March 2026.
The Department of War restated the military designation in June 2026.
The Tech Race
The university's move follows the guidance set by the Department of War list of Chinese military companies, illustrating how national security designations now dictate institutional academic funding policies. This shift signals a broader move by American research universities to de-risk their international partnerships against evolving geopolitical pressures.
The removal of the professorship title creates immediate changes to how the university promotes its faculty chairs and manages donor-linked prestige. Students and staff may see increased vetting of research partnerships and potentially more transparent disclosures regarding international funding sources.
The takeaway
Institutions are increasingly forced to reconcile private endowments with strict federal foreign-entity designations. Academics should anticipate continued reviews of global research collaborations to ensure compliance with national security standards.
Further reading
Learn more about local sector developments in Biotech.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Western Journal.
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