Zhen Zhao, PhD

Associate Professor

Biomedical Informatics and Genomics
Office Address
New Orleans Bioinnovation Center, 1441 Canal Street Room 411
School of Medicine
Photo of man in glasses, blue button down, and white lab coat

Education & Affiliations

Ph.D. in Neuroscience, University of Southern California, 2009
B.S. in Biological Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 2001
Postdoctoral training in neurodegenerative diseases and immunology at USC
Faculty member at USC since 2014; Assistant Professor since 2017
Associate Director, Neuromedicine Ph.D. Program
Director, Cell Engineering & Regeneration Core, ZNI
Society for Neuroscience
Alzheimer’s Association ISTAART
American Physiological Society
American Cancer Society (past)

Biography

Dr. Zhen Zhao most recently was an Assistant Professor of Physiology & Neuroscience at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California (USC). He also served as the Associate Director of the Neuromedicine Ph.D. Program and Director of the Cell Engineering & Regeneration Core at the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute. His research focused on the genetic, molecular, and cellular mechanisms of neurodegeneration, particularly the blood-brain barrier (BBB), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and CNS infections. He has published over 80 peer-reviewed articles with more than 13,800 citations and an h-index of 46.

Research

Dr. Zhao’s research integrates genetics, cellular biology, and bioengineering to explore:

•    BBB specialization and dysfunction using transgenic models and single-cell transcriptomics
•    AD pathogenesis, focusing on genes like PICALM and APOE, and the cGAS-STING immune pathway
•    TBI and aging, identifying TMEM252 as a key driver of microvascular injury
•    CNS infections, including Zika and HSV-1, and their links to neurodegeneration
•    Stroke and ischemia, exploring therapeutic roles of activated protein C and stem cell therapies

He has secured over $20 million in NIH funding and additional support from private foundations.

Contributions

NCBI Profile: Dr. Zhao's NCBI Bibliography

Dr. Zhao has published extensively in leading scientific journals, including Nature Neuroscience, Cell Stem Cell, Nature Aging, and the Journal of Neuroscience. His research has made significant contributions to the understanding of blood-brain barrier (BBB) biology, neuroimmune interactions, and the vascular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases.