University of North Texas Health Science Center · BiochemistryZhao Lab
Peng Zhao · Fort Worth, Texas
Research Focus
Dr. Peng Zhao's lab at the University of Texas Health Science Center focuses on understanding how liver injury occurs in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a serious liver disease that can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. By exploring the role of specific proteins and cellular processes, the lab aims to identify new therapeutic approaches to treat NASH and improve liver health. This research is essential for developing effective strategies to combat this growing public health issue.
nonalcoholic steatohepatitisliver injuryAMPKcaspase-6hepatocyte deathfibrosistherapeuticsmetabolic stresspathogenesis
Research Aims
4AIM 01Investigate the regulation and function of caspase-6 in NASH pathophysiology.
AIM 02Elucidate the molecular mechanism by which the AMPK-caspase-6-BID axis regulates hepatocyte death.
AIM 03Explore the impact of metabolic stress on liver injury through the AMPK pathway.
AIM 04Identify potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of NASH.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturemouse modelstransgenic micebiochemical assaysWestern blotgene expression analysisimmunohistochemistrymetabolic profilingdata analysis using Python
Output against the department
Publications257top 28% of dept.114th of 402
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations18ktop 24% of dept.97th of 402
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.