Research Topics
Training Areas
Education
Ph.D., Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences
UT Southwestern Medical Center; UC San Francisco
M.D., Sun Yat-Sen University of Medical Sciences
Biography
Awards
2010 - 2012
Basil O'Connor Starter Scholar Award
March of Dimes2010 - 2011
Marmer Research Fellow for 2010-11
American Heart Association2007 - 2011
Scientist Development Grant
American Heart Association2006 -
Richard D. Rowe Award in Perinatal Cardiology
Society for Pediatric Research
Research
Heart Development and Disease
Coordinated cardiac contraction requires proper development of the working myocardium and the cardiac conduction system. The electrical signal from the sinoatrial node initiates the normal heart beat, which then spreads rapidly through the atria to the atrioventricular node (AVN), an essential structure for ensuring the sequential atrial and ventricular contraction. After a delay in the AVN, the impulse then travels rapidly through the ventricular conduction system to the ventricles, resulting in ventricular contraction. The heart is a vital and a disease-susceptible organ. Abnormalities in morphogenesis, muscle maintenance and function, and cardiac rhythm can cause a variety of heart diseases.
Genetic and Epigenetic Regulation of Gene Expression
We are interested in how genetic and epigenetic programs regulate cardiac development. Using mouse genetics, ES cells differentiation in vitro, and other cutting edge technologies we are beginning to understand the roles of transcription factors and epigenetic regulators in regulating heart development and in pathogenesis. We hope that our studies can improve the treatment of human heart disease in the future.
Positions are available for highly motivated individuals. Please contact us if you are interested in joining our laboratory.
Publications
Zhao y, Ransom jf, Li a, Vedantham v, von Drehle m, Muth an, Tsuchihashi t, McManus mt, Schwartz rj, Srivastava d. Dysregulation of cardiogenesis, cardiac conduction, and cell cycle in mice lacking miRNA-1-2. Cell 2007 Apr 20; 129(2).
Zhao y, Srivastava d. A developmental view of microRNA function. Trends Biochem Sci 2007 April; 32(4).
Zhao y, Samal e, Srivastava d. Serum response factor regulates a muscle-specific microRNA that targets Hand2 during cardiogenesis. Nature 2005 Jul 14; 436(7048).
Zhao y, Meng xm, Wei yj, Zhao xw, Liu dq, Cao hq, Liew cc, Ding jf. Cloning and characterization of a novel cardiac-specific kinase that interacts specifically with cardiac troponin I. J Mol Med 2003 May; 81(5).
Zhao y, Wei yj, Cao hq, Ding jf. Molecular Cloning of NELIN, a Putative Human Cytoskeleton Regulation Gene. Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sina 2001; 33(1).
Sun Y, Ge Y, Drnevich J, Zhao Y, Band M, Chen J. Mammalian target of rapamycin regulates miRNA-1 and follistatin in skeletal myogenesis. The Journal of cell biology 2010 Jun; 189(7).
Wei yj, Ding jf, Zhao y, Wang xr, Liu yq, Xu yy, Xiong h, Zhou y, Hui rt, Gao rl, Qiang bq. Construction of human adult artery and heart cDNA libraries and cloning of novel full-length cDNAs. Chinese Circ. J 1999; 14: 369-371.
Lu xd, Liu yl, Zhao y, Liu yq, Liew cc. Analysis of expressed sequence tags from a fetal heart cDNA library. Chinese Circ. J 2000; 15: 357-359.
Zhao y, Ding jf. Searching for differentially expressed genes. Foreign Med. Sci.–Genetics 2000; 23: 76-80.
Cao HQ, Zhao Y, Meng XM, Ding JF. [Killing effect of human pulmonary adenocarcinoma cells with TK + CD/5-Fc + GCV coexpression suicide gene systems]. Zhongguo yi xue ke xue yuan xue bao. Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae 2001 Apr; 23(2).
Zhao y, Ding jf. ILK-The key kinase in the integrin signaling pathway. Foreign Med. Sci. – Mol. Biol 2002; 23: 366-369.
Industry Relationships
Physicians and scientists on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai often interact with pharmaceutical, device and biotechnology companies to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their relationships with such companies.
Dr. Zhao did not report having any of the following types of financial relationships with industry during 2012 and/or 2013: consulting, scientific advisory board, industry-sponsored lectures, service on Board of Directors, participation on industry-sponsored committees, equity ownership valued at greater than 5% of a publicly traded company or any value in a privately held company. Please note that this information may differ from information posted on corporate sites due to timing or classification differences.
Mount Sinai's faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website at http://icahn.mssm.edu/about-us/services-and-resources/faculty-resources/handbooks-and-policies/faculty-handbook. Patients may wish to ask their physician about the activities they perform for companies.
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