Education

2004-2008年   Ph.D. in Bioengineering，Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Experience

2011.09- present，Southern Medical University，Professor

2009.06-2011.09，Hong Kong University of Science and Technology,    Research Assistant Professor/Research Associate

2003.07-2004.08, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Research Assistant

2000.07-2003.06, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Research Assistant

Research

Epigenetic modifications (DNA methylation & hydroxymethylation and non-coding RNAs)-mediated phenotype variations in neuropsychiatric diseases using human twin patients, patient-derived iPSC neurons, and animal model at the molecular, cellular, and behavioral levels.

Selected publications

1. Ye, J., Z. Huang, Q. Li, Z. Li, Y. Lan, Z. Wang, C. Ni, X. Wu, T. Jiang, Y. Li, Q. Yang, J. Lim, C. Ren, M. Jiang, S. Li, P. Jin, J. Chen* and C. Zhao*. Transition of allele-specific DNA hydroxymethylation at regulatory loci is associated with phenotypic variation in monozygotic twins discordant for psychiatric disorders. BMC Medicine, 2023 (PMID: 38082312)

2. Liang, W., Y. Hou, W. Huang, Y. Wang, T. Jiang, X. Huang, Z. Wang, F. Wu, J. Zheng, J. Zhang, H. Ou, S. Li, J. Ping, Y. Zhang, J. Ye, Z. Li, Q. Yang, J. Zhang, X. Zheng, S. Li, X. Zhu, R. Chen* and C. Zhao*. Loss of schizophrenia-related miR-501-3p in mice impairs sociability and memory by enhancing mGluR5-mediated glutamatergic transmission. Science Advances, 2022. 8(33): eabn7357 (PMID:35984881).

3. Li, Q., Z. Wang, L. Zong, L. Ye, J. Ye, H. Ou, T. Jiang, B. Guo, Q. Yang, W. Liang, J. Zhang, Y. Long, X. Zheng, Y. Hou, F. Wu, L. Zhou, S. Li, X. Huang, and C. Zhao*, Allele-specific DNA methylation maps in monozygotic twins discordant for psychiatric disorders reveal that disease-associated switching at the EIPR1 regulatory loci modulates neural function. Mol Psychiatry, 2021.26(11): p.6630-6642 (PMID: 33963283).

4. Ni, C., W. Jiang, Z. Wang, Z. Wang, J. Zhang, X. Zheng, Z. Liu, H. Ou, T. Jiang, W. Liang, F. Wu, Q. Li, Y. Hou, Q. Yang, B. Guo, S. Liu, S. Li, S. Li, E. Yang, X.H. Zhu, X. Huang, Z. Wen, and C. Zhao*, LncRNA-AC006129.1 reactivates a SOCS3-mediated anti-inflammatory response through DNA methylation-mediated CIC downregulation in schizophrenia. Mol Psychiatry, 2021. 26(8): p.4511-4528 (PMID: 32015466).

5. Bao, X., X. Zhang, L. Wang, Z. Wang, J. Huang, Q. Zhang, Y. Ye, Y. Liu, D. Chen, Y. Zuo, Q. Liu, P. Xu, B. Huang, J. Fang, J. Lao, X. Feng, Y. Li, R. Kurita, Y. Nakamura, W. Yu, C. Ju, C. Huang, N. Mohandas, D. Li, C. Zhao*, and X. Xu*, Epigenetic inactivation of ERF reactivates gamma-globin expression in beta-thalassemia. Am J Hum Genet, 2021. 108(4): p. 709-721 (PMID:33735615).

6. Chen, D., Y. Zuo, X. Zhang, Y. Ye, X. Bao, H. Huang, W. Tepakhan, L. Wang, J. Ju, G. Chen, M. Zheng, D. Liu, S. Huang, L. Zong, C. Li, Y. Chen, C. Zheng, L. Shi, Q. Zhao, Q. Wu, S. Fucharoen, C. Zhao*, and X. Xu*, A Genetic Variant Ameliorates beta-Thalassemia Severity by Epigenetic-Mediated Elevation of Human Fetal Hemoglobin Expression. Am J Hum Genet, 2017. 101(1): p. 130-138 (PMID:28669403).

7. Jiang, T., L. Zong, L. Zhou, Y. Hou, L. Zhang, X. Zheng, H. Han, S. Li, W. Zhang, J. Zhang, C. Deng, Y. Jia, and C. Zhao*, Variation in global DNA hydroxymethylation with age associated with schizophrenia. Psychiatry Res, 2017.257: p. 497-500 (PMID:28841512).

8. Wu, X., J. Ye, Z. Wang, and C. Zhao*, Epigenetic age acceleration was delayed in schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 2021. 47(3): p.803-811 (PMID: 33269797).