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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Education

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

Malnutrition, a common and underrecognized condition in adults 65 and older. It often remains undiagnosed because the associated symptoms can be difficult to identify. Inadequate nutrition screening commonly leads to the mistreatment of this condition as a normal part of the aging process. The consequences of undiagnosed malnutrition can be detrimental to the health of an older person. The objective of dissertation was to evaluate malnutrition from an epidemiology perspective -- primary prevention: risk factors; secondary prevention: assessment and screening tools; and tertiary prevention: overall survival. Major findings from this dissertation include: Mini Nutrition Assessment was found to be the most valid and reliable predictor for malnutrition when compared with clinical diagnosis, while weight loss and BMI exhibited unfavorable validity and reliability; patients with frailty, functional impairment, abnormal gait speed, cognitive diagnosis, major depression, or poor performance status face a higher risk of developing malnutrition; malnutrition remains an independent risk factor for mortality in older cancer patients, especially those with solid tumors, despite nutritional recommendations regarding an increased dietary intake. Therefore, nutritional support, counseling, and interventions should be initiated as early as possible for this population. My research contributes empirical and theoretical knowledge to the fields of malnutrition and cancer care. Such knowledge is valuable to both academics and clinicians globally. Primary care physicians, nurses, and relatives should all help to enhance these patients’ awareness of their nutrition and health statuses. Recommendations for malnourished, frail, and functionally impaired older cancer patients may include an increased protein intake. One review article has been published by Current Oncology Reports (2019). It comprehensively describes the public health burden, malnutrition prevention, and relationship among cancer cachexia, malnutrition, and sarcopenia. Specifically, the research reveals comprehensive malnutrition prevention is required for improving the nutrition status among older adults with cancer.

Publications

Publications:45

Selected Publications

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