Overview
Background
As a cell biologist specialising in molecular and cell biology and stem cell biology, my work focuses on cardiovascular development, stem cell-base disease modelling and pharmaceutical drug discovery. Specifically, I concentrate on ischaemic heart injury and diabetic cardiomyopathy, aiming to develop novel therapeutics to reduce hospitalisations and community health burdens. I have 13 career publications and an h-index of 5 (Web of Science); 83.3% of my publications are in Q1 journals (SciVal). Across my research career, the topic areas in publications include studies in cell biology (4), development biology (3), pharmacology (3), and cardiovascular system-cardiology (2) (Web of Science). In the last five years, 60% of my publications are in the top 10% of journals, and the studies cover biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology (3 outputs), and medicine (2 outputs) (SciVal). I have held leadership roles including member of International Society for Heart Research Australasia Early Career Investigator Committee, member of the Queensland Cardiovascular Research Network (QCVRN) Emerging Leaders Committee, member of the Early-Mid Career Researchers (EMCR) Association for IMB, UQ. I am organising EMCR Session for the 2024 Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand annual scientific meeting, the 2024 QCVRN & Heart Foundation Research Showcase, the 2024 IMB EMCR Retreat meeting, and was organisation committee member for the 2023 Australia Network of Cardiac and Vascular Developmental Biology conference. I review for journals including Stem Cell Reports, Stem Cells, IUBMB Life and co-review for journals including Nature Methods, Cell Stem Cell, Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology. I am a special guest editor for the journal Pathogens on the Special Issue: Innate Immunity against Pathogens.
Availability
- Dr Yuanzhao Cao is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research impacts
1) Using stem cells to optimise cardiac disease modelling: I have advanced the field of stem cell-based disease modelling by developing optimised conditions for human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSCs-CMs) to better and specifically model cardiac ischaemia. The outcomes resulted in important steps to developing valid and predictive human in vitro models of cardiac ischaemia, to achieve better predictive drug candidate testing and understand the disease mechanisms of ischaemic reperfusion injury (IRI). This work has resulted in a current preparation for publication in a high-impact journal in the fields of stem cells or cardiovascular development.
2) Developing preclinical models of diabetes in the co-morbidity of ischaemic heart disease: One of the primary reasons why has the drug development pipeline failed for ischaemic heart disease is that comorbidities (e.g., diabetes) may impact the efficacy of a new treatment in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) and reperfusion injury. I have developed new cell and mice co-morbidity models of diabetes and ischaemic heart disease, highlighting glycaemic variability as a significant cardiovascular disease risk in diabetes. This work has resulted in being prepared for publication in a high-impact heart research journal and formed the basis for funding from an MRFF Translation grant (MRFCDDM000033, under embargo). Due to the commercial value of my work, my protocol for modelling diabetes with hiPSCs has led to a collaborative effort and interest with companies such as Nanion Technologies, STEMCELL Technologies.
3) Drug discovery for ischaemic heart disease: There remain no clinically approved drugs that block cardiomyocyte cell death during acute IRI. A preliminary study revealed that a novel role for the acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) is identified as a new injury response mechanism governing cardiomyocyte death during acute ischaemic injuries. In subsequent studies, I have participated in studying the basis of and developing new therapies to treat heart disease. The outcomes (Heart, Lung and Circulation, Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology) formed the funding from The Ian Potter Foundation Limited (31111380). I am leading another project will determine the role of an acid-sensitive chloride channel that is targeted as a novel therapy to promote rapid and more effective recovery in patients subjected to MI. This work resulted in a Phenomics Australia Pipeline Accelerator Award (Lead applicant, 2023-2024 Round 2) to advance these investigations into animal studies in the physiology and pathophysiology of the heart.
Works
Search Professor Yuanzhao Cao’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
Glycaemic variability underlies myocyte dysfunction and myocardial injury risk in diabetes
Cao, Yuanzhao, Redd, Meredith, Outhwaite, Jennifer, Mizikovsky, Dalia, Shim, Woo Jun, Fang, Chen, Wu, Zhixuan, Daygon, Dara, Stark, Terra, Palfreyman, Robin, Chiu, Han Sheng, Tan, Clarissa, Thomas, Ulrich, Dragicevic, Elena, Sng, Julian, Barrett, Helen, Dorey, Emily, Shah, Sonia, Short, Kirsty and Palpant, Nathan J. (2025). Glycaemic variability underlies myocyte dysfunction and myocardial injury risk in diabetes. doi: 10.1101/2025.01.29.635173
Featured
2024
Journal Article
A community-oriented, data-driven resource to improve protocol design for cardiac modelling from human pluripotent stem cells
Chow, Chris Siu Yeung, Negi, Sumedha, Bao, Shaine, Fang, Chen, Hudson, James, Shim, Woo Jun, Yuanzhao Cao and Palpant, Nathan (2024). A community-oriented, data-driven resource to improve protocol design for cardiac modelling from human pluripotent stem cells. doi: 10.1101/2024.09.04.611313
Featured
2023
Journal Article
New drug targets and preclinical modelling recommendations for treating acute myocardial infarction
Cao, Yuanzhao, Redd, Meredith A., Fang, Chen, Mizikovsky, Dalia, Li, Xichun, Macdonald, Peter S., King, Glenn F. and Palpant, Nathan J. (2023). New drug targets and preclinical modelling recommendations for treating acute myocardial infarction. Heart, Lung and Circulation, 32 (7), 852-869. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2022.12.015
2024
Journal Article
Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 cardiovascular symptoms are associated with trace-level cytokines that affect cardiomyocyte function
Sinclair, Jane E., Vedelago, Courtney, Ryan, Feargal J., Carney, Meagan, Redd, Meredith A., Lynn, Miriam A., Grubor-Bauk, Branka, Cao, Yuanzhao, Henders, Anjali K., Chew, Keng Yih, Gilroy, Deborah, Greaves, Kim, Labzin, Larisa, Ziser, Laura, Ronacher, Katharina, Wallace, Leanne M., Zhang, Yiwen, Macauslane, Kyle, Ellis, Daniel J., Rao, Sudha, Burr, Lucy, Bain, Amanda, Karawita, Anjana, Schulz, Benjamin L., Li, Junrong, Lynn, David J., Palpant, Nathan, Wuethrich, Alain, Trau, Matt and Short, Kirsty R. (2024). Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 cardiovascular symptoms are associated with trace-level cytokines that affect cardiomyocyte function. Nature Microbiology, 9 (12), 1-13. doi: 10.1038/s41564-024-01838-z
2024
Conference Publication
Preclinical models of Glycaemic variability recapitulate Clinical Cardiovascular outcomes in Diabetes
Cao, Y., Redd, M., Outhwaite, J., Shim, W., Fang, C., Negi, S., Shen, S., Mizikovsky, D., Chiu, H., Tan, C., Thomas, U., Dragicevic, E., Sng, J., Short, K. and Palpant, N. (2024). Preclinical models of Glycaemic variability recapitulate Clinical Cardiovascular outcomes in Diabetes. 72nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand, Perth, WA Australia, 1-4 August 2024. Chatswood, NSW Australia: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2024.06.332
2024
Journal Article
High-content fluorescence bioassay investigates pore formation, ion channel modulation and cell membrane lysis induced by venoms
Kramer, Simon, Kotapati, Charan, Cao, Yuanzhao, Fry, Bryan G., Palpant, Nathan J., King, Glenn F. and Cardoso, Fernanda C. (2024). High-content fluorescence bioassay investigates pore formation, ion channel modulation and cell membrane lysis induced by venoms. Toxicon: X, 21 100184. doi: 10.1016/j.toxcx.2024.100184
2024
Journal Article
Wnt dose escalation during the exit from pluripotency identifies tranilast as a regulator of cardiac mesoderm
Wu, Zhixuan, Shen, Sophie, Mizikovsky, Dalia, Cao, Yuanzhao, Naval-Sanchez, Marina, Tan, Siew Zhuan, Alvarez, Yanina D., Sun, Yuliangzi, Chen, Xiaoli, Zhao, Qiongyi, Kim, Daniel, Yang, Pengyi, Hill, Timothy A., Jones, Alun, Fairlie, David P., Pébay, Alice, Hewitt, Alex W., Tam, Patrick P.L., White, Melanie D., Nefzger, Christian M. and Palpant, Nathan J. (2024). Wnt dose escalation during the exit from pluripotency identifies tranilast as a regulator of cardiac mesoderm. Developmental Cell, 59 (6), 705-722.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.01.019
2023
Journal Article
HOPX-associated molecular programs control cardiomyocyte cell states underpinning cardiac structure and function
Friedman, Clayton E., Cheetham, Seth W., Negi, Sumedha, Mills, Richard J., Ogawa, Masahito, Redd, Meredith A., Chiu, Han Sheng, Shen, Sophie, Sun, Yuliangzi, Mizikovsky, Dalia, Bouveret, Romaric, Chen, Xiaoli, Voges, Holly K., Paterson, Scott, De Angelis, Jessica E., Andersen, Stacey B., Cao, Yuanzhao, Wu, Yang, Jafrani, Yohaann M.A., Yoon, Sohye, Faulkner, Geoffrey J., Smith, Kelly A., Porrello, Enzo, Harvey, Richard P., Hogan, Benjamin M., Nguyen, Quan, Zeng, Jian, Kikuchi, Kazu, Hudson, James E. and Palpant, Nathan J. (2023). HOPX-associated molecular programs control cardiomyocyte cell states underpinning cardiac structure and function. Developmental Cell, 59 (1), 91-107.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.11.012
2023
Conference Publication
Disease modeling utilizing human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and physiological characterization
Cao, Yuanzhao, Redd, Meredith A., Shim, Woo Jun, Fang, Chen, Chiu, Han, Azofeifa, Daniela Rojas, Thomas, Ulrich, Lemme, Marta, Dragicevic, Elena, Stoelzle-Feix, Sonja and Palpant, Nathan J. (2023). Disease modeling utilizing human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and physiological characterization. Safety Pharmacology Society Annual Meeting, Brussels, Belgium, 18-21 September 2023. Philadelphia, PA United States: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.vascn.2023.107267
2022
Journal Article
The ins and outs of cellular pH during cardiac ischemia
Cao, Yuanzhao and Palpant, Nathan J. (2022). The ins and outs of cellular pH during cardiac ischemia. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 174, 133-134. doi: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2022.12.004
2015
Conference Publication
MnTM-4-PyP protects cortical neurons against oxidative stress via induction of cellular antioxidant responses
Cheng, Kuoyuan, Guo, Fei, Lu, Jiaqi, Cao, Yuanzhao and Xia, Qing (2015). MnTM-4-PyP protects cortical neurons against oxidative stress via induction of cellular antioxidant responses. Joint Meeting of the 20th Biennial Meeting of the International-Society-for-Developmental-Neuroscience / 5th Annual NeuroDevNet Brain Development Conference, Montreal Canada, Jul 19-24, 2014. OXFORD: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD. doi: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2015.04.276
2015
Journal Article
Novel mechanisms for superoxide-scavenging activity of human manganese superoxide dismutase determined by the K68 key acetylation site
Lu, Jiaqi, Cheng, Kuoyuan, Zhang, Bo, Xu, Huan, Cao, Yuanzhao, Guo, Fei, Feng, Xudong and Xia, Qing (2015). Novel mechanisms for superoxide-scavenging activity of human manganese superoxide dismutase determined by the K68 key acetylation site. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 85, 114-126. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2015.04.011
2015
Journal Article
Berberine regulates neurite outgrowth through AMPK-dependent pathways by lowering energy status
Lu, Jiaqi, Cao, Yuanzhao, Cheng, Kuoyuan, Xu, Bo, Wang, Tianchang, Yang, Qi, Yang, Qin, Feng, Xudong and Xia, Qing (2015). Berberine regulates neurite outgrowth through AMPK-dependent pathways by lowering energy status. Experimental Cell Research, 334 (2), 194-206. doi: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2015.04.006
2015
Journal Article
MnTM-4-PyP modulates endogenous antioxidant responses and protects primary cortical neurons against oxidative stress
Cheng, Kuo-Yuan, Guo, Fei, Lu, Jia-Qi, Cao, Yuan-Zhao, Wang, Tian-Chang, Yang, Qi and Xia, Qing (2015). MnTM-4-PyP modulates endogenous antioxidant responses and protects primary cortical neurons against oxidative stress. CNS Neuroscience and Therapeutics, 21 (5), 435-445. doi: 10.1111/cns.12373
2014
Journal Article
AMPK activation regulates neuronal structure in developing hippocampal neurons
Ramamurthy, S., Chang, E., Cao, Y., Zhu, J. and Ronnett, G. V. (2014). AMPK activation regulates neuronal structure in developing hippocampal neurons. Neuroscience, 259, 13-24. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.11.048
2012
Journal Article
Neuroprotection by manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) mimics: antioxidant effect and oxidative stress regulation in acute experimental stroke
Huang, Hai-Feng, Guo, Fei, Cao, Yuan-Zhao, Shi, Wen and Xia, Qing (2012). Neuroprotection by manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) mimics: antioxidant effect and oxidative stress regulation in acute experimental stroke. CNS Neuroscience and Therapeutics, 18 (10), 811-818. doi: 10.1111/j.1755-5949.2012.00380.x
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Yuanzhao Cao is:
- Available for supervision
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