Lab Members
Yantao Zhao, Weiran Wang, Wei Zhong, Carolina Hogerty
Wei Zhong, Ph.D.
Lab Director and Assistant Professor of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Motility
Ph.D. in Biomedicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
Post Doctoral Fellowship in Pathophysiology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
wzhong2@kumc.edu
My research focuses on elucidating the mechanisms underlying peroxisomal dysfunction and bile acid disorder resulting from alcohol intoxication. My overarching objective is to identify potential therapeutic targets for treating ALD.
Yantao Zhao, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist
Postdoctoral Fellow, North Carolina A&T State University
Ph.D. in Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Agricultural University of Hebei, China
M.Sc. in Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, China
D.V.M., Northwest A&F University, China
yzhao5@kumc.edu
My research focuses on the mechanisms of metabolic and inflammatory diseases affecting the liver and intestine, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease and alcohol-associated liver disease. I have extensive experience with preclinical animal models and am particularly interested in hepatic metabolism, intestinal homeostasis and gut–liver interactions that contribute to disease development and progression.
Weiran Wang, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Ph.D. in Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, China
M.Sc. in Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Beijing University of Agriculture, China
D.V.M., Tianjin Agricultural University, China
wwang11@kumc.edu
My research focuses on alcohol-associated liver disease, bile acid metabolism and the gut-liver axis. I am interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate liver and intestinal function and contribute to liver injury.
Carolina Hogerty, B.S.
Graduate Student
B.Sc. in Microbiology, Kansas State University
cbuenoluna@kumc.edu
In 2024, I joined the IGPBS program at KU Medical Center, and became a member of Dr. Wei Zhong’s laboratory in March 2025. My research focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that contribute to chronic liver injury and fibrosis, with a particular interest in hepatic metabolism and organelle function.
Former Lab Members
Ruichao Yue, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow (2019-2023)
Current Position: Associate Professor, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
Contact Us
Wei Zhong, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Internal Medicine
Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Motility
Lab 4004 Hemenway
913-945-5301