University of Houston · PharmacologyThe AtheroEpigenetics Lab
Guizhen Zhao · Houston, Texas
Research Focus
Dr. Guizhen Zhao's lab focuses on understanding the complex interplay between metabolism and epigenetics in the context of atherosclerosis, a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases. The lab investigates how certain proteins, specifically the BAF60c protein, influence vascular cell function and disease progression. By learning how to manipulate these molecules, the lab aims to develop novel therapeutic strategies to combat cardiovascular diseases.
atherosclerosismetaboloepigeneticsvascular smooth muscle cellsBAF60ccardiovascular diseasechromatin remodeling
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate the protective role of the BAF60c-PPAR axis in atherogenesis using knockout and transgenic mice.
AIM 02Understand the mechanisms behind BAF60c-PPAR regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell dysfunction in vitro.
AIM 03Explore how metaboloepigenetic changes influence vascular cell behavior in cardiovascular diseases.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturemouse modelsCRISPRChIP-seqWestern blotgene expression analysismetabolic assaysflow cytometryimmunoprecipitation
Output against the department
Publications80bottom 18% of dept.375th of 462
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations2.1kbottom 14% of dept.397th of 462
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.