Hao Zhang, M.D
- Assistant Professor, Physiology
Research Areas
Hao Zhang, M.D., investigates the mechanisms of fibrosis using human-relevant stem cell-derived models and advanced organoid systems. His long-term goal is to bridge basic biology and translational medicine to develop therapies for fibrotic diseases.
Zhang’s research focuses on how cellular interactions and signaling pathways drive fibrosis in the heart and other organs. Fibrosis is a major driver of heart failure and many chronic diseases, yet effective treatments remain limited. By integrating human induced pluripotent stem cells, 3D engineered tissues and animal systems, his lab builds physiologically relevant platforms to study disease mechanisms and identify therapeutic targets. These approaches enable the study of complex cell-cell crosstalk and extracellular matrix remodeling that underlie fibrotic progression.
He has established human iPSC-derived cardiac fibroblasts and advanced 3D cardiac organoid systems that recapitulate key features of fibrosis, including extracellular matrix deposition and impaired contractile function. Using these platforms, he investigates signaling pathways that regulate fibroblast activation and tissue remodeling, while developing scalable systems for drug discovery and validation. By combining stem cell biology, bioengineering and multi-omics approaches, he aims to translate mechanistic insights into effective therapies for heart failure and multi-organ fibrotic diseases.
Research Projects
- Elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive fibrosisExcessive scarring within an organ due to disrupted healing. It can lead to organ dysfunction and is associated with conditions like chronic kidney disease, liver cirrhosis and heart failure.fibrosisExcessive scarring within an organ due to disrupted healing. It can lead to organ dysfunction and is associated with conditions like chronic kidney disease, liver cirrhosis and heart failure. in organs using human iPSC-based and patient-relevant models
- Developing advanced 3D organoid3D tissue grown from stem cells to replicate aspects of the structure and function of an organ. By modeling how multiple types of cells interact in biologically-relevant structures, these models help researchers understand how human organs develop, age and respond to disease in more detail than 2D cultures.organoid3D tissue grown from stem cells to replicate aspects of the structure and function of an organ. By modeling how multiple types of cells interact in biologically-relevant structures, these models help researchers understand how human organs develop, age and respond to disease in more detail than 2D cultures. and organ-on-a-chip platforms to recapitulate human fibrotic microenvironments and disease progression
- Identifying and validating druggable targets for fibrosis through integrated genetic, pharmacological and multi-omics approaches
- Establishing scalable platforms for high-throughput screening and parallel assessment of antifibrotic efficacy and safety
- Translating discoveries from human stem cell–based models into therapeutic strategies for heart failure and multi-organ fibrotic diseases
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Post-doctoral Fellowship
- Cardiovascular, Stanford University, 2022
Fellowship
- Cardiology, Fuwai Hospital, China, 2018
Residency
- Internal Medicine, Fuwai Hospital, China, 2016
Degree
- M.D., Peking Union Medical College, China, 2013