Jingli Cao

Jingli Cao is an Associate Professor in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at Weill Cornell Medical College, where he is also affiliated with the Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI) and the Graduate School of Medical Sciences. His research focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of innate tissue regeneration, particularly in the context of heart repair using zebrafish models.

• Ph.D. in Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (2012)
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Kenneth Poss Laboratory, Duke University
• Assistant Professor, Weill Cornell Medical College (2018)
• Associate Professor, Weill Cornell Medical College

Dr. Cao's research centers on understanding how the epicardium supports heart regeneration through epicardial progenitor cell activation, paracrine signaling, and differentiation. His lab also investigates the spatiotemporal regulation of polyploidization in regeneration, linking cell cycle dynamics to tissue repair mechanisms. These studies have implications for regenerative medicine, especially in treating heart damage after myocardial infarction.

His laboratory employs a multidisciplinary toolkit including zebrafish genetics, human stem cells, cardiac organoids, single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, live imaging, and chemical screening. Although specific publications are not listed in the provided text, his work spans developmental biology, cardiovascular science, and regenerative mechanisms, indicating a strong focus on translational applications.

Scientific awards received include:

• President Award of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (2012)
• Outstanding Graduate Award of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (2012)
• American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship (2014, 2016)
• American Heart Association Career Development Award (2018)
• Mandel Fellow Award (2018)

Dr. Cao mentors graduate students and postdoctoral researchers through his lab at the Belfer Research Building. He has secured competitive funding, including AHA awards, supporting his research on heart regeneration. His work bridges basic science with potential clinical applications in cardiac repair.

The Cao Lab is an active research group within the Cardiovascular Research Institute, contributing to Weill Cornell's mission in biomedical discovery and training the next generation of scientists. The lab fosters collaboration and innovation in regenerative biology.