Faculty
Dr. Jian Zhao serves as an Assistant Professor, Associate Researcher, and PhD Supervisor at the School of Public Health and Emergency Management, SUSTech. He is a recipient of the Shenzhen High-Level Talent Program. Dr. Zhao obtained his master’s degree in Epidemiology and Health Statistics from Sichuan University and a PhD in the same discipline from Curtin University, Australia, followed by postdoctoral training at the University of Bristol, UK. His research focuses on: (1) Investigating the impact of early-life exposures on health across the life course based on large-scale cohort studies; (2) Causal inference and integrative analysis of multi-omics big data in molecular epidemiological research (e.g., Mendelian randomization); (3) Discovery of new drug targets for complex diseases.
Dr. Zhao has led multiple national and international research projects, including the National Natural Science Foundation of China ( NSFC) General Program, NSFC International Cooperation and Exchange Program, Shenzhen Medical Research Fund, Sino-British International Cooperation Project ( as UK PI), and Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Excellence in Public Health Talent Training Program. He has also participated as a core researcher in projects funded by the European Research Council (ERC), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), David Telling Charitable Trust, and the Shanghai Science and Technology Commission.
To date, Dr. Zhao has published over 50 academic papers, including first or corresponding author articles in journals such as Journal of Hepatology, Lancet-eBioMedicine, BMC Medicine, J Clin Endoc Metab, Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine, Human Reproduction, and Liver International. He serves as an editorial board member for BMC Medicine and Scientific Reports.
Dr. Zhao's research group welcomes applications for PhD, postdoctoral, research assistant (RA), and visiting student positions. Interested candidates should email their CV and personal statement to zhaoj@sustech.edu.cn.
Education
2014.10 - 2019.06 PhD, Public Health (Major in Biostatistics), Curtin University, Australia
2011.09 - 2014.06 MS, Biostatistics, Sichuan University, China
2006.09 - 2011.07 BS, Health Informatics, Anhui Medical University, China
Work Experience
2023.12- Assistant Professor (Principal Investigator), School of Public Health and Emergency Management, Southern University of Science and Technology, China
2021.1 - 2023.12 Assistant Professor, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China & School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China
2018.11 - 2020.11 Senior Research Associate, University of Bristol, UK
Research Interests
1. Investigating the impact of early-life exposures on health across the life course based on large-scale cohort studies.
2. Causal inference and integrative analysis of multi-omics data in molecular epidemiological research (e.g., Mendelian randomization).
3. Discovery of new drug targets for complex diseases.
Awards
Honorary Senior Research Associate, University of Bristol
Skills Training and Development Award (UK - BBSRC)
HOPE Fellow (Japan - JSPS)
Research Funding
1. National Natural Science Foundation of China: GLS2 regulated glutamine metabolism pathways and pediatric NAFLD – a birth cohort and multi-omics study, 2024-2027, PI
2. National Natural Science Foundation of China, International Cooperation and Exchange Program, the16th Hope Meeting, 2025, PI.
3. Shenzhen Medical Research Fund, Impact of gestational periodontitis on maternal and fetal outcomes and its related intervention strategies, 2025-2028, Co-PI.
4. Shenzhen Medical Research Fund, Mendelian randomization with time-varying exposures: a novel causal approach and its application, 2025-2027, PI.
5. University of Bristol's QR GCRF strategy, children and adolescents’ mental health and its association with sleep pattern during the COVID-19 pandemic in Shanghai, China, 2020-2021, PI.
6. Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality Key Project: Impact of perfluoroalkyl substances on gestational diabetes: cohort study and underlying mechanism investigation, 2021-2024, co-investigator.
Selected Publications (#Co-first author, *Corresponding author)
1. Zhao J*, Zeng J, Zhu C, Li X, Liu D, Zhang J, Li F, Targher G, Fan JG*. Genetically predicted plasma levels of amino acids and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease risk: a Mendelian randomization study. BMC Medicine. 2023 Dec;21(1):1-2. (JCR Q1, IF = 11.15)
2. Zhao J*, Stewart ID, Baird D, Mason D, Wright J, Zheng J, Gaunt TR, Evans DM, Freathy RM, Langenberg C, Warrington NM. Causal effects of maternal circulating amino acids on offspring birthweight: a Mendelian randomisation study. EBioMedicine. 2023 Feb 1;88. (JCR Q1, IF = 11.21)
3. Liu D, Gao X, Pan XF, Zhou T, Zhu C, Li F, Fan JG, Targher G, Zhao J*. The hepato-ovarian axis: genetic evidence for a causal association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and polycystic ovary syndrome. BMC Medicine. 2023 Feb 20;21(1):62. (JCR Q1, IF = 11.15)
4. Liu D, Zhang Q, Bai P, Zhao J*. Assessing causal relationships between COVID-19 and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Journal of Hepatology, 2022 Mar 1;76 (3):740-2. (JCR Q1, IF=30.08)
5. Zeng J, Jin Q, Yang J, Yang RX, Zhang RN, Zhao J*, Fan JG*. Prevalence and incidence of MAFLD and associated anthropometric parameters among prepubertal children of the Shanghai Birth Cohort. Hepatology International. 2023 Sep 20:1-3. (JCR Q1, IF = 6.6)
6. Yan R, Liu L, Tzoulaki I, Fan JG, Targher G, Yuan Z*, Zhao J*. Genetic Evidence for GLP‐1 and GIP Receptors as Targets for Treatment and Prevention of MASLD/MASH. Liver International. 2024. (JCR Q1, IF = 6.0)
7. Li Z, Li X, Fang S, Liu D, Li F, Zhu C*, Zhao J*. Lifelong impacts of puberty timing on human plasma metabolic profiles: A metabolome‐wide Mendelian randomization study. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. 2024. (JCR Q1, IF = 5.4)
8. Peng Q, Qiu W, Li Z, Zhao J*, Zhu C*. Fetal genetically determined birth weight plays a causal role in earlier puberty timing: evidence from human genetic studies. Human Reproduction. 2024 Apr 1;39(4):792-800. (JCR Q1, IF = 6.1)
9. Sun J, Zhou J, Gong Y, Pang C, Ma Y, Zhao J, Yu Z, Zhang Y. Bayesian network-based Mendelian randomization for variant prioritization and phenotypic causal inference. Human Genetics. 2024 Feb 21:1-14. (JCR Q1, IF = 3.8)
10. Gan Y, Lu D, Yan C*, Zhang J*, Zhao J*. Maternal polycystic ovary syndrome and offspring birth weight: a Mendelian randomization study, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2021 Nov 24. (JCR Q1, IF= 6.13)
11. Zhao J, Xu J, He Y, Xiang M, Children and adolescents' sleep patterns and their associations with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in Shanghai, China, Journal of Affective Disorders, 2022 Mar 15; 301: 337-344. (JCR Q1, IF= 6.53)
12. Zhao J, Zhao Y, Xiang L, Khanal V, Binns CW, Lee AH. A two-part mixed-effects model for analyzing clustered time-to-event data with clumping at zero. Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine. 2020 Apr 1;187:105196. (JCR Q1, IF=7.64)
13. Zeng X, Chen T, Cui Y, Zhao J, Chen Q, Yu Z, Zhang Y, Han L, Chen Y, Zhang J. In utero exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and early childhood BMI trajectories: A mediation analysis with neonatal metabolic profiles. Science of The Total Environment. 2023 Apr 1;867:161504. (JCR Q1, IF = 10.75)
14. Ye J, Chen Y, Yang H, Chen Q, Huang Y, Zhao J, Tu L, Liu M, Zhang J. A nationwide cross-sectional survey of episiotomy practice in China. The Lancet Regional Health–Western Pacific. 2022 Feb 1;19. (JCR Q1, IF = 7.6)