Postdoctoral Scholar - Cell fate conversion and neurodegeneration
Washington University in St. Louis - 2025
Zhao Sun
Assistant Professor - Biological Sciences
My lab research focuses on modeling and uncovering the mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease using 3D direct neuronal reprogramming—an innovative tissue engineering approach that converts human skin fibroblasts into functional neurons in a dish.
Professional Preparation
Ph.D. - Anatomy and Cell Biology
The University of Iowa - 2016
The University of Iowa - 2016
Research Areas
Applying cell reprogramming approaches to model and study neurodegenerative diseases, with a focus on Alzheimer's disease.
Dr. Zhao Sun’s lab will focus on modeling and dissecting the mechanisms underlying Alzheimer’s disease neuropathology using 3D direct neuronal reprogramming—a technique that converts skin fibroblasts into functional neurons, allowing researchers to study patient-derived neurons in a dish (PMID: 39088624). His long-term research interests lie in leveraging cellular reprogramming and stem cell biology to improve disease modeling for neurodegenerative disorders and to accelerate the development of novel therapeutic strategies.Publications
Modeling late-onset Alzheimer’s disease neuropathology via direct neuronal reprogramming 2024 - Journal Article
Endogenous recapitulation of Alzheimer’s disease neuropathology through human 3D direct neuronal reprogramming 2023 - Other
Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome candidate 1 (Whsc1) methyltransferase signals via a Pitx2-miR-23/24 axis to effect tooth development 2023 - Journal Article
HMGN2 represses gene transcription via interaction with transcription factors Lef-1 and Pitx2 during amelogenesis 2022 - Journal Article
Pitx2-Sox2-Lef1 interactions specify progenitor oral/dental epithelial cell signaling centers 2020 - Journal Article
Efficient Gene Transfer to Kidney Mesenchymal Cells Using a Synthetic Adeno-Associated Viral Vector 2018 - Journal Article
Awards
The Jeffrey L. Morby Prize - Cure Alzheimer’s Fund [2025]
Rockford Draper Early Career Faculty Development Award - The University of Texas at Dallas [2025]
Appointments
Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas [2025–Present]
Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas [2025–Present]