معرفی
Dr. Wei Zhao is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health and a Research Assistant Professor at the Institute for Social Research. She is also affiliated with the AI and Digital Health Innovation Center and the Eisenberg Family Depression Center. Her interdisciplinary work bridges genetic epidemiology, statistics, psychology, and neuroscience to understand the genetic architecture of complex human diseases and traits.
Dr. Zhao's educational background includes:
- PhD in Psychology (Biopsychology and Neuroscience) from the University of Michigan (2008)
- MA in Statistics from the University of Michigan (2006)
- BS in Psychology from Peking University (2003)
Dr. Zhao's research focuses on understanding the complex interplay between genetic factors, social and environmental influences, and health outcomes across diverse populations. She applies cutting-edge high-dimensional statistical models to investigate relationships between multi-omics data (genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics), social/environmental factors, and complex traits in multi-ancestry populations. Her work has particular emphasis on aging, cognition, dementia, and mental health-related traits, with increasing attention to children's health outcomes.
Her recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward multi-ancestry genomic research, particularly focusing on South Asian populations through studies like LASI-DAD. She has made significant contributions to understanding how genetic and epigenetic factors interact with social determinants of health to influence cognitive function, cardiovascular health, and aging processes. Her methodological expertise in polygenic risk scores, epigenome-wide association studies, and gene-environment interaction analyses has positioned her as a leader in advancing precision public health approaches that account for population diversity.
Dr. Zhao has received significant research funding through multiple NIH and NSF grants:
- Enhancing and Archiving Genomic Data of the PSID Child Development Supplement (2024-2026)
- Health and Retirement Study: Yrs 35-40 (2024-2029)
- PSID, CDS, and TAS: Data Enhancements and User Training, Support, and Outreach (2023-2028)
- Transitions from Preschool through High School: Family, Schools & Neighborhoods (2023-2028)
As a co-investigator of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), Dr. Zhao leads genomic data dissemination and analytical efforts, utilizing data from two-generation families to understand genetic and environmental effects on child and adolescent outcomes. She also co-leads analytical projects in the Longitudinal Aging Study in India – Diagnostic Assessment of Dementia (LASI-DAD) to investigate the genetic architecture of cognition and dementia in South Asians. Her work extends to multiple large-scale studies including GENOA, HRS, and MESA, where she leverages multi-omics data to elucidate molecular pathways connecting social environments to health outcomes.
