Ling Hao

Ling Hao is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Maryland, specializing in Analytical Chemistry with a focus on Mass Spectrometry, Proteomics, Metabolomics, and their applications in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Cellular Biology. Their research integrates advanced mass spectrometry techniques with systems biology approaches to study lysosomal function, mitochondrial dynamics, and neuronal pathology. The HaoLabMS investigates molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disorders such as ALS and Alzheimer’s disease, emphasizing the role of protein quality control and metabolic pathways.

Key research areas include:

• Development of novel quantitative proteomic and metabolomic methodologies
• Lysosome transport mechanisms in neurons
• Mitochondrial dysfunction in neurodegeneration
• Biomarker discovery for neurological diseases
• Proximity labeling proteomics for protein interaction mapping

Recent work has focused on improving analytical workflows for multi-omics integration and contaminant removal, as well as characterizing lipid metabolic alterations in genetic neurodegenerative models. Their lab has pioneered methods like ContamSPOT and iDiLeu labeling for enhanced data reliability and metabolite quantification.

Grant activities include NIH-funded projects on lysosomal biology and neuroprotection mechanisms. The lab collaborates with institutions globally to advance translational mass spectrometry applications in precision medicine and disease modeling.

Lab activities: The HaoLabMS operates within the University of Maryland’s state-of-the-art proteomics facility, maintaining active collaborations across chemical, biomedical, and computational disciplines. Current projects include developing cross-platform normalization strategies for multi-omics data and exploring autophagy regulation in neuronal health.