Hou was born in 1929 in
Changzhou,
Jiangsu province. From an early age, Hou decided to study medicine, after watching his elder brother die from infectious disease. It was the first time the institute had agreed to award this degree to a foreign student. Continuing his work in China, Hou researched the etiology of respiratory viral infections to identify and isolate main pathogens of respiratory diseases. He managed to isolate three types of parainfluenza viruses, type I, II and IV, which helped dealing with the disease epidemic outbreaks in Beijing during 1962–1964. In late 1970s he established the first domestic clinical-grade human
leukocyte interferon production, which earned him the nickname "Father of Chinese
Interferon". From 1984 to 1997 he served as the head of planning expert committee on biotechnological field of
Program 863. After the restrictions on businesses were relaxed in the 1990s, Hou started one of the first Chinese genetic engineering drug companies. During the
2009 flu pandemic, Hou, while being over 80, led the Chinese response and prevention to the outbreak. While a vaccine was created, a question arose if one or two doses were required. Chinese companies could not support making the number of vaccines required for two doses and Hou was at the forefront arguing that one dose would be enough. At the end, the committee of experts founded to resolve the issue agreed with his decision. During his lifetime he authored more than 500 articles and books. == Awards and honors ==