Graduated from Zhongnan Tongji Medical College in 1955. Expert of molecular virology, academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering. Director, Academician Laboratory, Institute of Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

From 1994 to 1998, he served as the director of the Department of Medical and Sanitary Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. From 1998 to 2004, he served as the vice president of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Since 1999, he has served as the director of the National New Type A HIN1 Influenza Pandemic Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism Expert Committee, and the director of the Virus Biotechnology Engineering Research Center of the Viral Disease Control and Prevention Institute of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Hou Yunde has been engaged in medical virology research for more than half century. He has made remarable achievements in the research and development of molecular virology, genetic engineering interferon and other genetic drugs, and the control of emerging infectious diseases. The industrialization of engineering disciplines and biotechnology, as well as the control of infectious diseases have made important contributions. On December 18, 2019, he was listed in "70 Returnees from China in 70 Years".