Zhi-Qing Zhao

Dr. Zhi-Qing Zhao is a Professor at Mercer University School of Medicine, where he conducts research on cardiac pathophysiology and cardioprotection. His work focuses on understanding mechanisms of heart injury and developing strategies for cardiac protection and repair.

Dr. Zhao received his MD and MMed from Shanxi Medical College in China, followed by a PhD from The Fourth Military Medical University. He completed postdoctoral training at The Bowman Gray School of Medicine.

His primary research interests include inflammatory mechanisms of ischemia/reperfusion-induced myocardial injury, cardioprotection with mechanical pre- and post-conditioning pharmacological interventions, myocardial tissue repair with modulation of extracellular matrix and endogenous stem cells, and angiotensin II-mediated cardiac fibrosis and heart failure. His work bridges basic science with clinical applications in cardiology.

Analysis of Dr. Zhao's publication record spanning over two decades reveals a consistent focus on myocardial protection mechanisms, particularly ischemia/reperfusion injury and cardioprotective strategies. His more recent work has expanded into macrophage-mediated pathways in cardiac pathology, ferroptosis, and novel therapeutic approaches like GLP-1 receptor agonists for cardiovascular protection.

Dr. Zhao has served on grant review committees for prestigious organizations including the American Heart Association, The Netherlands Heart Foundation, The Israel Science Foundation, and The National Natural Science Foundation of China.

He has secured significant research funding as Principal Investigator on multiple grants, including an NIH RO1 grant, American Heart Association Scientist Development Award, and industry-sponsored research from Atricure, Inc. His research has been published in high-impact cardiovascular journals including Cardiovascular Research, Circulation, and the American Journal of Physiology.

Dr. Zhao is actively involved in the cardiovascular research community, serving on editorial boards and professional societies including the American Heart Association, American Physiological Society, Chinese Pathophysiology Association, Chinese Physiology Society, and the International Society for Heart Research.