Publications:45
Xiaotao Zhang, MD, PhD
Rony Zhang (Preferred Name)
About Me
Dr. Xiaotao Zhang earned his medical degree in Preventive Medicine in China. With a growing interest in disease prevention at the level of population health, he emigrated to the U.S to continue his education and training in Biostatistics and Epidemiology at Tulane University in New Orleans and The University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. His research and experience are primarily focused on nutrition, the microbiome, cancer disparities and geriatric oncology. His research agenda is built upon multidisciplinary experiences studying the role of biological and modifiable factors in liver diseases and cancer prevention. By merging epidemiologic methods with innovative techniques and bioinformatic/statistical strategies, his current research examines the role of biological and modifiable factors in liver fibrosis and cancer prevention. He hopes to unravel risk factors and mechanisms to inform the development of new preventive interventions and clinical strategies.
He currently leads the Microbiome Epidemiology Lab at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where his team explores how host-microbiome interactions influence chronic disease risk and response to nutritional or therapeutic interventions.
Dr. Zhang also directs the Mount Sinai Bionutrition Research Core, a shared resource at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai that provides comprehensive, state-of-the-art support for nutritional research. The Core offers services in nutrition assessment, dietary intervention design, data analysis, and investigator training, facilitating high-quality translational and clinical nutrition studies.
Language
English
Position
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR | Medicine, Liver Diseases
Research Topics
Aging, Biomedical Informatics, Biostatistics, Cancer, Depression, Diabetes, Epidemiology, Gastroenterology, Global Health, Immunology, Inflammation, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Liver, Metabolomics, Microgravity, Obesity, Patient Centered Outcomes Research, Personalized Medicine, Proteomics, Public Health, Translational Research
Multi-Disciplinary Training Areas
Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies in Medicine [AIET], Cancer Biology [CAB], Disease Mechanisms and Therapeutics (DMT)
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Bachelor of Medicine, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University
Master of Science (MS), Tulane University,
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), The University of Texas Health Science Center
Postdoc, Baylor College of Medicine
Postdoc, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Awards
2025
Springer Nature Editorial Contribution Award
Springer Nature
2023
Dr. Klion Young Scientist Award
Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
2021
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Student and Early Career Investigator Scholarship
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
2021
Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER) Kenneth Rothman Scholarship
Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER)
2020
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Scholar-in-Training Award
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
2018
Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) Integrative Epidemiology Fellowship
Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT)
2018
Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASSC) Best Abstract award
Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASSC)
2018
American Public Health Association dissertation award finalist
American Public Health Association
2017
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Institutional Research Grant
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
2017
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Dr. Raju-John Stroehlein Distinguished Professorship Scholarship
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
2017
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Student Conference Funding Assistance Award; and Travel Scholarship
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth)
2017
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) AIDS and Public Health Research in the Americas Scholarship
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth)
2017
Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASSC) Young Investigator Award
Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASSC)
2017
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Conquer Cancer Foundation Merit Award
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
2016
American Journal of Preventive Medicine Outstanding Reviewer Award
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
2016
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Julius and Suzan Glickman Endowed Scholarship in Innovation
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth)
Research
My research of microbiome also contributes to cancer prevention. While rich literature exists on oral microbiome and cancer risk, few investigations of the microbiome have been conducted among Mexican Americans, the largest population of Hispanics living within the United States. By analyzing 16sDNA sequencing of oral microbiome profile and diversity, integrated with epidemiology analysis, I found that higher alpha diversity of baseline oral microbiome was associated with higher all-cancer incidence among non-smoking Mexican American women. Therefore, my study provides an empirical basis for more studies using oral microbiome as a cancer biomarker. Results of this project are published in Cancer Prevention Research (2020) and the American Association for Cancer Research recognized me with the 2020 Scholar in Training award. I am also working on a crossover clinical trial to test whether and how an increase in the consumption of pre-cooked, canned dry beans within the context of usual diet and lifestyle can enhance the gut landscape to improve metabolic health and reduce cancer risk. Our early results of the BE GONE trial suggest that an 8-week increase in dry bean intake may be sufficient to balance or enrich the gut microbiome of high-risk colorectal patients. Additionally, my book chapter, “Diet, Microbiome, Inflammation, and Cancer” in Inflammation, Infection, and Microbiome in Cancers (Springer Nature Press May 2021) discusses the microbiome and its relationship with diet, inflammation, and cancer and describes recent human observational and interventional studies evaluating these relationships. Overall, the research suggests that diverse microbial and metabolic responses to different dietary patterns or dietary interventions, as well as high inter-individual variability, may continue to challenge our ability to find clear and consistent results across studies. In sum, my research on microbiome and cancer contributes to a better understanding of important molecular targets/biomarkers for cancer prevention/survival in the United States.
Publications
Selected Publications
- Lowering lifestyle‑related cancer risk through adherence to the 2018 WCRF/AICR recommendations: insights and implications. Xiaotao Zhang. BMC Global and Public Health
- Adverse pregnancy outcomes and effect of treatment in Wilson disease during pregnancy: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Ashley N. Brown, M. Marcia Lange, Lital Aliasi-Sinai, Xiaotao Zhang, Sasha Kogan, Lily Martin, Tatyana Kushner. Liver International
- Food insecurity trends and disparities according to immigration status in the US households, 2011–2021. Junxiu Liu, Zhiyang Zhou, Xi Cheng, Donglan Zhang, Lihua Li, Xiaotao Zhang, Nita Vangeepuram. Preventive Medicine