Xiu Bo, a renowned spinal cord neurosurgery expert in China, died on Thursday at 10 am at the Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital in Beijing after a fatal traffic accident. He was 62.

Known for founding China's premier center for diagnosing and treating neural tube defects, Xiu stood out globally as a trailblazer in microsurgical interventions for spinal cord malformations and tethered cord syndrome. He was the recipient of five prestigious awards for technological advancements and medical achievements, with over 100 scholarly publications to his credit, along with contributions to and translations of 11 books.

A staunch advocate for individuals with spina bifida, Xiu consistently urged society to focus on the prevalence, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of congenital spina bifida. He has taken part in over ten public welfare medical consultations, personally covering all expenses for transportation and accommodation each time.

In a notable act of kindness, he performed a successful surgery free of charge for an abandoned child with severe urinary and fecal incontinence during a charitable consultation in Shanxi in 2016.