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. Wu, X., C. Lu, H. Kong, R. Chen, Z. Wang, Z. Deng, W. Xiao, Z. Huang, Q. Li, X. Ding, and C. Zhao*, Recalibrating the Epigenetic Clock Reveals Divergent DNA Methylation Age Signatures Across Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, and Major Depressive Disorder. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 2026. p.1-6 (PMID: 41877305).

2. Ye, L., C. Ni, R. Chen, S. Che, F. Xiong*, C. Zhao*, and Z. Wang*, Mendelian randomization facilitates identification of schizophrenia risk enhancer RNAs. Molecular Psychiatry, 2026.34: 2133-2143 (PMID: 41276612).

3. Ni, C., J-M. Liu, T. Yang, Z. Deng, X. Wu, S. Li, H. Xue, Z. Wang, X. Cao*, and C. Zhao*, Riluzole Restores Circuit and Behavioral Function Altered by Allele-Specific Expression-Mediated LINC02449–CPLX1 Dysregulation. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 2026. 52(2): p.1-7 (PMID: 41863379).

4. Yang, T., J.-M. Liu, Q. Chen, Z. Deng, C. Ni, Y. Wang, Y. Lan, T. Jiang, S. Li, M. Jiang, H. Xue, X. Cao*, Z. Wang*, and C. Zhao*, Gain of Alternative Allele Expression of LINC02449 at rs149707223 in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder: Inducing Synaptic Transmission and Behavioral Deficits in Mice. Nature Communications, 2025. 16(1): p. 9724 (PMID: 41188235).

5. Ni, C., H. Chen, Q. Chen, Y. Liao, Y. Wang, L. Ye, X. Wu, H. Ni, T. Jiang, S. Li, Q. Yang, H. Xue, Z. Wang*, F. Yi* and C. Zhao*. Allele-Specific Regulation of PAXIP1-AS1 by SMC3/CEBPB at rs112651172 in Psychiatric Disorders Drives Synaptic and Behavioral Dysfunctions in Mice. Advanced Science (Weinh), 2025, 12(44): e08259 (PMID: 40911142).

6. Li, S., H. Ni, Y. Wang, X. Wu, J. Bi, H. Ou, Z. Li, J. Ping, Z. Wang, R. Chen, Q. Yang, M. Jiang, L. Cao, T. Jiang, S. Ren* and C. Zhao*. Gain of bipolar disorder-related lncRNA AP1AR-DT in mice induces depressive and anxiety-like behaviors by reducing Negr1-mediated excitatory synaptic transmission. BMC Medicine, 2024. 22(1): 543 (PMID: 39558356).

7. 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. 21(1):491 (PMID: 38082312).

8. 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).

9. 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. Molecular Psychiatry, 2021. 26(11): p.6630-6642 (PMID: 33963283).

10. 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. Molecular Psychiatry, 2021. 26(8): p.4511-4528 (PMID: 32015466).