劉祖貽是(shi)湖(hu)南(nan)省(sheng)(sheng)安(an)化(hua)縣人,1937年7月出生(sheng)于安(an)化(hua)一(yi)個中(zhong)(zhong)醫(yi)世家(jia)。聰穎(ying)好學,自幼隨(sui)父學醫(yi)。1957年考入湖(hu)南(nan)省(sheng)(sheng)中(zhong)(zhong)醫(yi)進修學校。因成績(ji)優異(yi)分配到湖(hu)南(nan)省(sheng)(sheng)中(zhong)(zhong)醫(yi)藥研(yan)(yan)究(jiu)所工作,并被(bei)選為(wei)全國名中(zhong)(zhong)醫(yi)李聰甫(fu)的助手。歷任該所臨床研(yan)(yan)究(jiu)室、理(li)論研(yan)(yan)究(jiu)室主任、副所長(chang)、所長(chang)等職。1984年,湖(hu)南(nan)省(sheng)(sheng)中(zhong)(zhong)醫(yi)藥研(yan)(yan)究(jiu)所升格為(wei)湖(hu)南(nan)省(sheng)(sheng)中(zhong)(zhong)醫(yi)藥研(yan)(yan)究(jiu)院,任第一(yi)任院長(chang)。1996年國家(jia)對全國中(zhong)(zhong)醫(yi)藥研(yan)(yan)究(jiu)機構(gou)評(ping)估時位列(lie)前茅。
他(ta)(ta)(ta)注重(zhong)經(jing)驗(yan)積(ji)累,逐步形成了(le)(le)獨創(chuang)的學(xue)術見(jian)解。通過多年(nian)探(tan)究(jiu)溫病(bing)(bing)的發(fa)展(zhan),首次(ci)提(ti)出(chu)(chu)了(le)(le)溫病(bing)(bing)學(xue)說的發(fa)展(zhan)并不晚于傷寒(han)學(xue)說的觀點。早(zao)(zao)在70年(nian)代,他(ta)(ta)(ta)就指出(chu)(chu)中(zhong)藥(yao)的免(mian)疫雙向(xiang)調節作(zuo)用(yong),認為無論是扶正,還(huan)是祛(qu)邪的中(zhong)藥(yao)都能(neng)(neng)提(ti)高(gao)免(mian)疫力或抑(yi)制免(mian)疫,成為中(zhong)國最早(zao)(zao)的中(zhong)醫免(mian)疫學(xue)研究(jiu)者之一(yi)。他(ta)(ta)(ta)根據其(qi)經(jing)驗(yan)方研制的固表防感沖劑在臨床和實驗(yan)觀察中(zhong)發(fa)現(xian)該藥(yao)既能(neng)(neng)提(ti)高(gao)機體(ti)(ti)(ti)的細胞免(mian)疫和體(ti)(ti)(ti)液免(mian)疫,同時還(huan)能(neng)(neng)調節過敏反(fan)應。這對(dui)推(tui)動中(zhong)醫免(mian)疫學(xue)的發(fa)展(zhan)起到了(le)(le)積(ji)極作(zuo)用(yong)。他(ta)(ta)(ta)還(huan)對(dui)內(nei)、婦、兒科疾病(bing)(bing),尤其(qi)是神經(jing)系(xi)(xi)統疾病(bing)(bing)的辨(bian)治(zhi)頗有心得(de),提(ti)出(chu)(chu)以六(liu)辨(bian)七治(zhi)為主(zhu)體(ti)(ti)(ti)的腦(nao)病(bing)(bing)辨(bian)治(zhi)體(ti)(ti)(ti)系(xi)(xi),并擅長(chang)從肝腎論治(zhi)腦(nao)病(bing)(bing)。
他(ta)主持參(can)(can)與國家(jia)、省部(bu)級重大科(ke)研課(ke)題10余(yu)項,研制開發(fa)中(zhong)藥號新藥固表(biao)防(fang)感沖劑、安神(shen)補心顆粒劑、復方黃(huang)參(can)(can)片、生力神(shen)功及(ji)多個保健品(pin),獲省部(bu)級科(ke)技進步獎(jiang)4項。并主持了國家(jia)自然(ran)科(ke)學基(ji)金(jin)課(ke)題“益氣(qi)溫陽法對中(zhong)樞神(shen)經(jing)遞(di)質平衡調節作(zuo)用的研究"。在省級以上期刊發(fa)表(biao)論(lun)文20余(yu)篇,主編了《神(shen)經(jing)系統疾病的中(zhong)醫辨治》、《91新方妙術》、《三(san)名從書》、《湖湘名醫典籍精(jing)華(hua)(內(nei)科(ke)卷)》等專著(zhu),參(can)(can)與整理《中(zhong)藏經(jing)》、《溫疫(yi)明辨》等著(zhu)作(zuo)。
他是國(guo)(guo)家(jia)(jia)(jia)(jia)藥(yao)(yao)品監督(du)管(guan)理局(ju)(ju)新(xin)藥(yao)(yao)審評專(zhuan)(zhuan)家(jia)(jia)(jia)(jia)、國(guo)(guo)家(jia)(jia)(jia)(jia)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)醫(yi)藥(yao)(yao)管(guan)理局(ju)(ju)專(zhuan)(zhuan)家(jia)(jia)(jia)(jia)委(wei)(wei)員(yuan)(yuan)會(hui)委(wei)(wei)員(yuan)(yuan),中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)草藥(yao)(yao)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)醫(yi)藥(yao)(yao)學會(hui)理事及全國(guo)(guo)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)醫(yi)內科(ke)學會(hui)委(wei)(wei)員(yuan)(yuan),湖(hu)南(nan)省(sheng)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)醫(yi)藥(yao)(yao)學會(hui)副(fu)理事長,湖(hu)南(nan)省(sheng)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)醫(yi)內科(ke)學會(hui)主任委(wei)(wei)員(yuan)(yuan),加拿大國(guo)(guo)際中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)醫(yi)藥(yao)(yao)針(zhen)灸(jiu)學會(hui)名(ming)譽顧問。1991年(nian)經(jing)國(guo)(guo)家(jia)(jia)(jia)(jia)人事部、衛(wei)(wei)生部及國(guo)(guo)家(jia)(jia)(jia)(jia)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)醫(yi)藥(yao)(yao)管(guan)理局(ju)(ju)確定為首批中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)(guo)著(zhu)名(ming)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)醫(yi)藥(yao)(yao)專(zhuan)(zhuan)家(jia)(jia)(jia)(jia)。1992年(nian)當選為第八屆全國(guo)(guo)人大代表。同年(nian)被國(guo)(guo)家(jia)(jia)(jia)(jia)人事部批準為國(guo)(guo)家(jia)(jia)(jia)(jia)有突出貢獻的(de)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)青年(nian)專(zhuan)(zhuan)家(jia)(jia)(jia)(jia),享(xiang)受政(zheng)府特(te)殊津貼。2000年(nian)湖(hu)南(nan)省(sheng)衛(wei)(wei)生廳確定為湖(hu)南(nan)省(sheng)名(ming)老中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)醫(yi)。