Hu Zhao

1. Development of new tissue clearing methods and new tools for high resolution neural connectome mapping in central and peripheral nervous systems.

2. Craniofacial developmental and stem cell biology.

2016-2020   NIH Loan Repayment Program support

2015   Innovative Scientific Achievement Award, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California (USC)

2015   First place, Graduate and Postdoctoral Award. Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California

2015   The Dean's Research Award, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California

2015   Most Innovative Award, USC Stevens Center for Innovation

2015   First place, Poster presentation. 2015 Annual Meeting of the Society for Craniofacial Genetics and Developmental Biology

2014   Innovative Scientific Achievement Award, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California

2014   First place, Graduate and post-doctoral Award. Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California

2014   First place, Poster presentation. The Gordon Research Seminar on bones and teeth

Peer-reviewed manuscripts

Published after 2016 as the correspondence author

1. Zexi Chen, Meilian Cai, Yuling Wang, Xuan Li, Yongwen He, Hongji Pu, Juan Huang, Ling Ye, Ruili Yang, Junjun Jing, Hu Zhao (2025) Autocrine ECM molecules establish MSC quiescence during incisor development by disrupting WNT ligand trafficking process. Nature Communication

2. Manyu Chen, Youqi Li, Juan Huang, Yilong Wang, Hu Zhao (2025). Generation of the Ci1 Reporter Mouse Strain with Enhanced Fluorescence for Tissue Clearing Applications. Neuroscience Bulletin Jun

3. Yating Yi, Yi Men, Shiwen Zhang, Yuhong Wang, Zexi Chen, Ed Lachika, Hanchuan Peng, Woo-Ping Ge, Hu Zhao (2024). Mapping of individual sensory nerve axons from digits to spinal cord with the Transparent Embedding Solvent System. Cell Research 34(2):124-139

4. S Lin, M Li, Y Zhou, L Chen, Y Wang, Z Zhuang, Zhao H., R Yang (2023). Annexin A3 accelerates osteoclast differentiation by promoting the level of RANK and TRAF6. Bone 172, 116758

5. Yi. Y., Liu Y., Men Y., Wang J., Zhao, H.* (2022). Advances in periodontal stem cells and the regulating niche: from in vitro to in vivo. Genesis 60 (8-9), e23494

6. W Stenberg, Y Yi, Zhao, H. (2022). Zirconia vs Titanium Dental Implants Demonstrate Superior Early Healing in Mice Assessed with PEGASOS Tissue Clearing and Two-Photon Microscopy. Microscopy and Microanalysis 28 (S1), 1428-1429

7. Yi. Y., Stenberg W., Feng J., Zhao, H.* (2022). Alveolar bone marrow Gli1+ stem cells support implant osseointegration. Journal of Dental Research 101(1):73-82.

8. D Jing, Y Men, Zhao, H. (2021). Tissue clearing and 3-D visualization of vasculature with the PEGASOS method. Cardiovascular Development: Methods and Protocols, 1-13

9. Men, Y., Wang YH., Yi, Y., Jing D., Luo W., Chai, Y., Feng, JQ., Zhao, H*. (2020) Gli1+ periodontium stem cells are regulated by osteocytes and occlusal force. Developmental Cell 54(5):639-654.  

10. Luo W., Yi Y., Jing D., Zhang S., Men Y., Ge W., Zhao H. (2019). Investigation of postnatal craniofacial bone development with tissue clearing-based 3D imaging. Stem Cell and Development. 28(19):1310-1321.

11. Yi, Y., Y. Men, D. Jing, W. Luo, S. Zhang, J. Q. Feng, J. Liu, W. P. Ge, J. Wang and H. Zhao (2019). "3‐dimensional visualization of implant‐tissue interface with the polyethylene glycol associated solvent system tissue clearing method." Cell Proliferation: e12578

12. Jing, D., Y. Yi, W. Luo, S. Zhang, Q. Yuan, J. Wang, E. Lachika, Z. Zhao and H. Zhao (2019). "Tissue Clearing and Its Application to Bone and Dental Tissues." Journal of Dental Research 98(6): 621-631.

13. Jing, D., S. Zhang, W. Luo, X. Gao, Y. Men, C. Ma, X. Liu, Y. Yi, A. Bugde, B. O. Zhou and H. Zhao (2018). "Tissue clearing of both hard and soft tissue organs with the PEGASOS method." Cell Research 28(8): 803.

Published after 2016 as the collaborator (12 in total)

1. Xun Wang, Spencer D. Shelton, Bogdan Bordieanu, Anderson Frank, Yating Yi,  Siva Venigalla, Zhimin Gu, Michael Glogauer, Navdeep S. Chandel, Rhonda Bassel-Duby, Eric N. Olson, Hu Zhao, David G. McFadden, and Prashant Mishra (2020). Electron transport chain dysfunction induces muscle stem cell fusion into myofibers and mitochondrial myopathy. Under review

2. Li S, Sun Y, Tian T, Zhou Y, Zhao H, Zhu B, Cai X. (2019) MicroRNA-214-3p Modified Tetrahedral Framework Nucleic Acids Target Survivin to Induce Tumor Cell Apoptosis . Cell Proliferation Oct 23:e12708.

3. Tonmoy Chakraborty, Kevin M. Dean, Hu Zhao, and Reto Fiolka (2019). A multimodal light-sheet microscope that is compatible with all clearing techniques. Novel Techniques in Microscopy. 2019(4)

4. Song A, Dai W, Jang MJ, Medrano L, Li Z, Zhao H, Shao M, Tan J et al. Low- and high-thermogenic brown adipocyte subpopulations coexist in murine adipose tissue. (2020) J. Clinical Investigation 130(1):247-257.

5. Chakraborty T, Driscoll MK, Jeffery E, Murphy MM, Roudot P, Chang BJ, Vora S, Wong WM Nielson CD, Zhang H, Zhemkov V, Hiremath C, De La Cruz ED, Yi Y, Bezprozvanny, Zhao H, Tomer R, Heintzmann R, Meeks JP, Marciano DK, Dean KM, Fiolka R Light-Sheet Microscopy of Cleared Tissues with Isotropic Subcellular Resolution (2019). Nature Methods. Nov;16(11):1109-1113

6. X Xie, J Wang, K Wang, C Li, S Zhang, D Jing, C Xu, X Wang, H Zhao, JQ Feng (2019). ^{Axin2+-Mesenchymal PDL Cells, Instead of K14+ Epithelial Cells, Play a Key Role in Rapid Cementum Growth}. J. Dent. Res.

7. Liu, T., J. Wang, X. Xie, K. Wang, T. Sui, D. Liu, L. Lai, H. Zhao, Z. Li and J. Q. Feng (2019). "DMP1 Ablation in the Rabbit Results in Mineralization Defects and Abnormalities in Haversian Canal/Osteon Microarchitecture." Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.

8. Jiang, Y., S. Zhang, C. Mao, Y. Lai, D. Wu, H. Zhao, C. Liao and W. Chen (2019). "Defining a critical period in calvarial development for Hedgehog pathway antagonist-induced frontal bone dysplasia in mice." International Journal of Oral Science 11(1).

9. Li, C., Y. Jing, K. Wang, Y. Ren, X. Liu, X. Wang, Z. Wang, H. Zhao and J. Feng (2018). "Dentinal mineralization is not limited in the mineralization front but occurs along with the entire odontoblast process." International Journal of Biological Sciences 14(7): 693.

10. Feng, J., J. Jing, J. Li, H. Zhao, V. Punj, T. Zhang, J. Xu and Y. Chai (2017). "BMP signaling orchestrates a transcriptional network to control the fate of mesenchymal stem cells in mice." Development 144(14): 2560-2569.

11. Liu, W., L. Zhou, C. Zhou, S. Zhang, J. Jing, L. Xie, N. Sun, X. Duan, W. Jing, X. Liang, H. Zhao, Q. Chen and Q. Yuan (2016). "GDF11 decreases bone mass by stimulating osteoclastogenesis and inhibiting osteoblast differentiation." Nature Communications 7: 12794.

12. Park, S., H. Zhao, M. Urata and Y. Chai (2016). "Sutures possess strong regenerative capacity for calvarial bone injury." Stem Cells and Development 25(23): 1801-1807.

Published before 2016 (16 in total)

1. Zhao, H., J. Feng, T.-V. Ho, W. Grimes, M. Urata and Y. Chai (2015). "The suture provides a niche for mesenchymal stem cells of craniofacial bones." Nature Cell Biology 17(4): 386.

2. Zhao, H. and Y. Chai (2015). "Stem cells in teeth and craniofacial bones." Journal of Dental Research 94(11): 1495-1501.

3. Zhao, H., J. Feng, K. Seidel, S. Shi, O. Klein, P. Sharpe and Y. Chai (2014). "Secretion of shh by a neurovascular bundle niche supports mesenchymal stem cell homeostasis in the adult mouse incisor." Cell Stem Cell 14(2): 160-173.

4. Zhao, H., S. Li, D. Han, V. Kaartinen and Y. Chai (2011). "Alk5-mediated transforming growth factor β signaling acts upstream of fibroblast growth factor 10 to regulate the proliferation and maintenance of dental epithelial stem cells." Molecular and Cellular Biology 31(10): 2079-2089.

5. Zhao, H., K. Oka, P. Bringas, V. Kaartinen and Y. Chai (2008). "TGF-β type I receptor Alk5 regulates tooth initiation and mandible patterning in a type II receptor-independent manner." Developmental Biology 320(1): 19-29.

6. Zhao, H., P. Bringas Jr and Y. Chai (2006). "An in vitro model for characterizing the post‐migratory cranial neural crest cells of the first branchial arch." Developmental Dynamics 235(5): 1433-1440.

7. Zhong, Z., H. Zhao, J. Mayo and Y. Chai (2015). "Different requirements for Wnt signaling in tongue myogenic subpopulations." Journal of Dental Research 94(3): 421-429.

8. Liu, Y., J. Feng, J. Li, H. Zhao, T.-V. Ho and Y. Chai (2015). "An Nfic-hedgehog signaling cascade regulates tooth root development." Development 142(19): 3374-3382.

9. Han, A., H. Zhao, J. Li, R. Pelikan and Y. Chai (2014). "ALK5-mediated TGF-β signaling in neural crest cells controls craniofacial muscle development via tissue-tissue interactions." Molecular and Cellular Biology: MCB. 00623-00614.

10. Han, D., H. Zhao, C. Parada, J. G. Hacia, P. Bringas Jr and Y. Chai (2012). "A TGFβ-Smad4-Fgf6 signaling cascade controls myogenic differentiation and myoblast fusion during tongue development." Development 139(9): 1640-1650.

11. Chung, I. H., T. Yamaza, H. Zhao, P. H. Choung, S. Shi and Y. Chai (2009). "Stem cell property of postmigratory cranial neural crest cells and their utility in alveolar bone regeneration and tooth development." Stem Cells 27(4): 866-877.

12. Ko, S. O., I. H. Chung, X. Xu, S. Oka, H. Zhao, E. S. Cho, C. Deng and Y. Chai (2007). "Smad4 is required to regulate the fate of cranial neural crest cells." Developmental Biology 312(1): 435-447.

13. Andrade, J., S. T. Pearce, H. Zhao and M. Barroso (2004). "Interactions among p22, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and microtubules." Biochemical Journal 384(2): 327-336.

14. Andrade, J., H. Zhao, B. Titus, S. Timm Pearce and M. Barroso (2004). "The EF-hand Ca2+-binding protein p22 plays a role in microtubule and endoplasmic reticulum organization and dynamics with distinct Ca2+-binding requirements." Molecular Biology of the Cell 15(2): 481-496.

15. Zhao, H., Z. Chen and W. Bai (2002). "The primary culture of human tooth pulp cell]." Journal of West China University of Medical Sciences 33(2): 296.

16. Zhao, H., D. Zheng and L. Hong (2000). "The disinfection efficiency comparison of different treatment on dental impression and gypsum casts." Hua Xi Kou Qiang Yi Xue Za Zhi (West China Journal of Stomatology) 18(5): 332-335.