Research Areas:

My lab is interested in exploring the complex interactions between nutritional factors and modifiable epigenetic factors, and the health outcomes across life span. My lab focuses on studying the roles of fatty acids intake and metabolism in metabolic disorder, cancer, growth and development with population based methods. We are also interested in searching novel epigenetic factors that interact with nutritional factors in the disease etiology. Our studies should provide novel insights into the etiology of these diseases. In the future we plan to conduct nutritional intervention studies to further evaluate the prevention/therapeutic potential of nutritional factors.

1. Use GC-MS and LC-MS to quantify the fatty acids profiles in human specimen from population-based studies, and evaluate the association between each fatty acid and health outcomes, including cancer, metabolic disorders, and growth and development of young children.

2. Use sequencing and other high through-put technology to assay genotype and DNA methylation variation, and explore the relationship between the genetic/epigenetic variations and cancer etiology with population-based studies. Cell and animal study will be conducted to validate the function of the top targets.

3. Conduct human dietary intervention studies to evaluate the health promoting effect of specific nutrient/food item.

Brief Biography:

2017-present: Professor, Principal Investigator, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health (SINH), CAS

2012-2016: Professor, Principal Investigator, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, CAS

2007-2012: Postdoctoral fellow, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD

2001-2007: Ph.D., Nutrition, Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

2001-2007: M.S., Statistics, Department of Statistical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

1998-2001: M.S., Nutrition, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China

1998: M.D., Beijing Medical University, Beijing, China

Selected Publications: (*Corresponding Author)

1. Yajie Xu, Wenjuan Wang, Qiuyi Zhang, Mengnan Yang, Lin Zhang, Hua He, Yu Dong, Fengxiu Ouyang, Ying Gao, Jun Zhang, Tao Zheng, Zhongcheng Luo. DHA supplementation in gestational diabetes mellitus and neonatal metabolic health biomarkers. Front Nutr 2023;10:1089131
2. Qiuyi Zhang, Ying Gao*, Shuchun Lin, Lynn R Goldin, Yonghong Wang, Holly Stevenson, Daniel C Edelman, Keith Killian, Gerald Marti, Paul S Meltzer, Song Xiang, Neil E Caporaso. Genome-wide DNA methylation profiling in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Front Genet 2023 Jan 11;13:1056043
3. Jiongxing Fu, Yan Zheng, Ying Gao, Wanghong Xu. Dietary fiber intake and gut microbiota in human health. Microorganisms 2022 Dec 18;10(12):2507
4. Lan Wang, Zheng Yan, Qianyu Zhao, Na Liu, Dianzhen Yu, Bingxuan Jia, Kailin Li, Ying Gao, Aibo Wu. A Prospective Study of Total Urinary Deoxynivalenol in Adolescents in Shanghai, China. Chemosphere 2022 Nov;307(Pt 1):135727
5. Keyu Jia, Shuchen Wang, Qi Dai, Yao Feng, Qiuyi Zhang, Qianyu Zhao, Fuxue Chen, Zi Li, Ying Xiao, Yan Zhong，Zhenni Zhu, Hongwei Wang, Junbo Wang, Zhongcheng Luo, Hong Zhou, Ying Gao*. Breast milk Rubidium and other trace elements were associated with neurocognitive development in infants at age of 8 months. J Nutr 2022 Jun 9;152(6):1507-1514
6. Lijiao Xu, Yunan Liu, Qianyu Zhao, Huaidong Du, Ying Gao, Meijuan Bai, Jun Lv, Yu Guo, Liming Li, Liang Sun, Xu Lin, Zhengming Chen, Yan Chen, Geng Zong. Urinary element profiles and associations with cardiometabolic diseases: a cross-sectional study across ten areas in China. Environ Res 2022 Apr 1;205:112535
7. Xiang Li, Chen Lyu, Zhongcheng Luo, Jing Zhao, Zhongli Wang, Chun Yang, Qi Dai, Hui Li, Yunhua Zhou, Zi Li, Fuxue Chen, Ying Gao*. The roles of IGF2 and DNMT methylation and elongase6 related fatty acids in metabolic syndrome. Food Funct 2021 Oct 19;12(20):10253-10262
8. Miaomiao Shen, Nalini Dhingra, Quan Wang, Chen Cheng, Songbiao Zhu, Xiaolin Tian, Jun Yu, Xiaoxin Gong, Xuzhichao Li, Hongwei Zhang, Xin Xu, Liting Zhai, Min Xie, Ying Gao, Haiteng Deng, Yongning He, Hengyao Niu, Xiaolan Zhao, Song Xiang. Structural basis for the multi-activity factor Rad5 in replication stress tolerance. Nat Commun 2021 Jan 12;12(1):321
9. Keyu Jia, Yao Feng, Thomas J Brenna, Zhongcheng Luo, Jing Zhao, Hong Li, Peiqin Li, Qiuyi Zhang, Qianyu Zhao, Qi Dai, Yan Zhong, Tim Lambers, Hong Zhang, Hong Zhou, Ying Gao*. Breast milk EPA associated with infant distractibility when EPA level is low. Nutrition 2021 Jun;86:111143
10. Peiqin Li, Boer Shan, Keyu Jia, Fan Hu, Ying Xiao, Jusheng Zhen, Yutang Gao, Huaying Wang, Ying Gao*. Plasma Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and recurrence of endometrial cancer. BMC Cancer 2020 Jun;20(1):576
11. Xin Xu, Huigang Shi, Xiaowen Gong, Pu Chen, Ying Gao, Xinzheng Zhang, Song Xiang. Structural insights into sodium transport by the oxaloacetate decarboxylase sodium pump. eLife 2020 May;9:e53853
12. Xiaoyang Wang, Jianbo Tian, Qianyu Zhao, Nan Yang, Pingting Ying, Xiating Peng, Danyi Zou, Ying Zhu, Rong Zhong, Ying Gao, Jiang Chang, Xiaoping Miao. Functional characterization of a low-frequency V1937I variant in FASN associated with susceptibility to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Arch Toxicol 2020 Jun;94(6):2039-2046
13. Shuchun Lin, Yun Liu, Lynn R Goldin, Chen Lyu, Xiangyin Kong, Yan Zhang, Neil E Caporaso, Song Xiang, Ying Gao*. Sex related DNA methylation differences in B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Biol Sex Differ 2019 Jan 7;10(1):2
14. Kangning Chen, Qianyu Zhao, Xiaofan Li, Jing Zhao, Peiqin Li, Shuchun Lin, Hongwei Wang, Jiajie Zang, Ying Xiao, Wanghong Xu, Fuxue Chen, Ying Gao*. Dietary fiber intake and endometrial cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrients 2018 Jul 22;10(7):945
15. Jing Zhao, Xiaofan Li, Xiang Li, Qianqian Chu, Yunhua Zhou, Zi Li, Hong Zhang, Thomas J Brenna, Yiqing Song, Ying Gao*. Associations of plasma very-long-chain SFA and the metabolic syndrome in adults. Br J Nutr 2018 Oct;120(8):855-862
16. Jie Liu, Shengquan Mi, Li Du, Xiang Li, Jing Zhao, Hong Zhang, Wenhua Zhao*, Ying Gao*. The associations between plasma phytoestrogens concentration and metabolic syndrome risks in Chinese population. PLoS One 2018 Mar 20;13(3):e0194639
17. Peiqin Li, Jing Zhao, Kumar Kothapalli, Xiang Li, Hui Li, Yuxuan Han, Shengquan Mi, Wenhua Zhao, Qizhai Li, Hong Zhang, Yiqing Song, J. Thomas Brenna, Ying Gao*. A regulatory insertion-deletion polymorphism in the FADS gene cluster influences PUFA and lipid profiles among Chinese adults: a population-based study. Am J Clin Nutr 2018 Jun 1;107(6):867-875
18. Xiaofan Li, Jing Zhao, Peiqin Li, Ying Gao*. Dairy products intake and endometrial cancer risk: a meta-analysis of observational studies. Nutrients 2017 Dec 28;10(1):25
19. Li Du, Yulong Wang, Hang Zhang, Hong Zhang, Ying Gao*. Folate intake and the risk of endometrial cancer: A meta-analysis. Oncotarget 2016 Dec 20;7(51):85176-85184
20. Jing Zhao, Lvy Chen, Jian Gao, Li Du, Boer Shan, Hong Zhang, Huaying Wang, Ying Gao*. Dietary fat intake and endometrial cancer risk: a dose-response meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2016 Jul;95(27):e4121
21. Jie Liu, Feixiang Yuan, Jian Gao, Boer Shan, Yulan Ren, Huaying Wang, Ying Gao*. Oral isoflavone supplementation on endometrial thickness: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Oncotarget 2016 Apr 5;7(14):17369-17379
22. Sigurdur Y. Kristinsson^#, Ying Gao^#, Magnus Bj？rkholm, Sigrun Helga Lund, Jan Sj？berg, Neil Caporaso, Lynn R Goldin, Ola Landgren. Hodgkin lymphoma risk following infectious and chronic inflammatory diseases: a large population-based case-control study from Sweden. Int J Hematol 2015 Jun;101(6):563-568 (^# equal contribution)
23. Jing Zhao, Jing Wang, Jinfeng Du, Hongli Xu, Wei Zhang, Quanxing Ni, Herbert Yu, Harvey A. Risch, Yutang Gao, Ying Gao*. Urinary prostaglandin E2 metabolite and pancreatic cancer risk: case-control study in urban Shanghai. PLoS One 2015 Feb 13;10(2):e0118004
24. Wenqing Li, Nan Hu, Paula L Hyland, Ying Gao, Zhaoming Wang, Kai Yu, Hua Su, Chaoyu Wang, Lemin Wang, Stephen J Chanock, Laurie Burdett, Ti Ding, Youlin Qiao, Jinhu Fan, Yuan Wang, Yi Xu, Jianxin Shi, Fangyi Gu, William Wheeler, Xiaoqin Xiong, Carol Giffen, Margaret A Tucker, Sanford M Dawsey, Neal D Freedman, Christian C Abnet, Alisa M Goldstein, Philip R Taylor. Genetic variants in DNA repair pathway genes and risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and gastric adenocarcinoma in a Chinese population. Carcinogenesis 2013 Jul;34(7):1536-1542
25. Ying Gao*, Keith Killian, Hong Zhang, Kai Yu, Qizhai Li, Stephanie Weinstein, Jarmo Virtamo, Margaret Tucker, Philip Taylor, Demetrius Albanes, Paul Meltzer, Neil Caporas. Leukocyte DNA methylation and colorectal cancer among male smokers. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2012 Aug 15;4(8):193-201
26. David E Capo-Ramos, Ying Gao, Jay H Lubin, David P Check, Lynn R Goldin, Angela C Pesatori, Dario Consonni, Pier Alberto Bertazzi, Andrew J Saxon, Andrew W Bergen, Neil E Caporaso, Maria Teresa Landi. Mood disorders and risk of lung cancer in the EAGLE Case-control study and in the U.S. Veterans Affairs inpatient cohort. Plos One 2012;7(8):e42945
27. Yoon Jung Park, Herry Herman, Ying Gao, Anders M Lindroth, Benjamin Y Hu, Patrick J Murphy, James R Putnam, Paul D Soloway. Sequences sufficient for programming imprinted germ line DNA methylation defined. PLoS One 2012;7(3):e33024
28. Ying Gao*, Hormuzd Katki, Barry Graubard, Michael Pollak, Michael Martin, Yuzhen Tao, Robert E Schoen, Timothy Church, Richard B Hayes, Mark H Greene, Sonja I Berndt. Serum IGF1, IGF2, and IGFBP3 and risk of advanced colorectal adenoma. Int J Cancer 2012 Jul 15;131(2):E105-E113
29. Gao Y*, Baccarelli A, Shu XO, Ji BT, Yu K, Tarantini L, Yang G, Li HL, Hou L, Rothman N, Zheng W, Gao YT, Chow WH. Blood leukocyte Alu and LINE-1 methylation and gastric cancer risk in the Shanghai Women’s Health Study. Br J Cancer 2012 Jan 31;106(3):585-591
30. Freddy Sitas, Sam Egger, Margaret I Urban, Philip R Taylor, Christian C Abnet, Paolo Boffetta, Dianne L O'Connell, David C Whiteman, Paul Brennan, Reza Malekzadeh, Michael Pawlita, Sanford M Dawsey, Tim Waterboer, on behalf of the InterSCOPE Collaboration. Penelope M Webb, Adèle C Green, Nicholas K Hayward, David Zaridze, Ivana Holcatova, Dana Mates, Neonila Szeszenia-Dabrowska, Gilles Ferro, Vladimir Janout, Maria Paula Curado, Ana Maria Menezes, Sergio Koifman, Farhad Islami, Dariush Nasrollahzadeh, Nan Hu, Alisa M Goldstein, Ying Gao, Ti Ding, Farin Kamangar. InterSCOPE Study: Associations Between Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Human Papillomavirus Serological Markers. J Natl Cancer Inst 2012 Jan 18;104(2):147-158
31. Ying Gao*, Nan Hu, Xiaoyou Han, Ti Ding, Carol Giffen, Alisa M Goldstein, Philip R Taylor. Risk factors for esophageal and gastric cancers in Shanxi Province, China: a case-control study. Cancer Epidemiol 2011 Dec;35(6):e91-e99
32. Ying Gao*, Richard B. Hayes, Wenyi Huang, Neil E. Caporaso, Laurie Burdette, Meredith Yeager, Stephen J. Chanock, Sonja I. Berndt. DNA repair gene polymorphisms and tobacco smoking in the risk for colorectal adenomas. Carcinogenesis 2011;32:882-887
33. Ying Gao, Alisa M. Goldstein, Dario Consonni, Angela C. Pesatori, Sholom Wacholder, Margaret A. Tucker, Neil E. Caporaso, Lynn Goldin, Maria Teresa Landi. Family history of cancer and nonmalignant lung diseases as risk factors for lung cancer. International Journal of Cancer 2009;125:146-152
34. Ying Gao*, Sigurdur Y Kristinsson, Lynn R Goldin, Magnus Bj？rkholm, Neil E Caporaso, Ola Landgren. Increased risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma in individuals with celiac disease and a potential familial association. Gastroenterology 2009;136: 91-98