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Draft:Richard Yuqi Zhao

Richard Yuqi Zhao
赵玉琪
Born (1957-05-20) May 20, 1957 (age 69)
Qingdao, Shandong, China
EducationOcean University of China (BS)
Oregon State University (MS, PhD)
Known forUse of fission yeast models for virus research
AwardsFellow of the American Academy of Microbiology (2019)
Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2025)
Scientific career
FieldsMolecular virology, Molecular pathology

Richard Yuqi Zhao (Chinese: 赵玉琪; pinyin: Zhào Yùqí; born May 20, 1957) is a Chinese-American biomedical researcher and molecular pathologist. He is a professor of pathology and director of the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the University of Maryland Medical Center.[1][2][3]

Zhao is known for the use of fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe) as a model system for studying human viruses including HIV-1, Zika virus, and SARS-CoV-2.[4][5][6][7] Zhao was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology in 2019[8] and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2025.[9][10]

Early life and education

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Zhao was born in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China, where he attended Qingdao No. 9 High School.[11] After high school, he worked as a riveter at the Qingdao Port Authority. He entered college in 1977 and earned a B.S. degree in marine biology from the Ocean University of China.[12]

He immigrated to the United States in 1983, later receiving his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in genetics and molecular biology at Oregon State University.[1] He completed postdoctoral training in the molecular genetics of fission yeast in 1993, subsequently becoming a junior research faculty member at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.[1][13]

Career

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Following his time at Columbia University, Zhao joined the faculty of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in 1994, conducting research at the Children's Memorial Institute for Education and Research (CMIER), the research arm of Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago.[14][15][16] There, he studied the use of fission yeast as a model system for investigating HIV-1 pathogenesis[16] and served as director of the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory. In this role, he contributed to the development and clinical application of molecular diagnostic assays for HIV-1 infection, including the use of branched-DNA, TaqMan, and sequencing-based methodologies.[17][18][19][20]

In 2004, Zhao joined the faculty at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.[1] He later became head of the Division of Molecular Pathology and director of the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory at the University of Maryland Medical Center.[1][2][3][21] From 2011 to 2013, Zhao served as President of the Faculty Senate of the University of Maryland, Baltimore.[22][23][24]

Zhao is currently a professor of pathology, microbiology–immunology, human virology, and global health at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.[1]

Research

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Independent reviews of yeast-based virology research have cited Zhao's work as contributing to the development and application of fission yeast models for the study of human viruses, including HIV-1, Zika virus, and SARS-CoV-2.[4][5][6][7] His research has included studies of viral pathogenesis and virus-host interactions involving these viruses.[16][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] His laboratory reported a comprehensive functional characterization of the Zika virus genome using a fission yeast platform, identifying seven viral proteins with cytopathic activities.[26][27] The findings received coverage from multiple news outlets, including The Baltimore Sun, Newsweek, ScienceDaily, and Xinhua News Agency.[28][29][30][31]

Zhao's fission yeast-based approaches were also applied to plant virology, including collaborative studies of Barley yellow dwarf virus and other plant viral proteins that identified conserved mechanisms regulating cell-cycle progression in both plant and animal systems.[32][33]

In addition to his virology research, Zhao contributed to the development and application of molecular diagnostic assays for HIV-1 infection.[3][21][34] His work included studies involving branched-DNA viral load testing, TaqMan-based quantification of HIV-1 proviral DNA, and sequencing-based approaches for HIV drug-resistance testing.[18][19][20]

Zhao has also participated in public communication and education concerning HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 through media interviews and public discussions in both the United States and China.[35][36][37][38][39] In 2005, he served as guest editor of a special issue of Cell Research entitled HIV/AIDS in China and authored its editorial overview.[40] China News Service described the issue as the first English-language collection of scientific articles devoted to HIV/AIDS in China.[41] The issue assembled articles covering epidemiology, public health policy, clinical management, social impact, and virology, including contributions by Zhao and international investigators such as Robert Gallo.[40][41]

Honors and recognition

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Zhao was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology in 2019 and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) as part of the 2025 class.[8][9][10] According to the official AAAS Fellows citation, he was recognized for: pioneering virologic research using fission yeast models to study human viruses, advancing public education on HIV/AIDS and COVID-19, and for integrating molecular biology into clinical diagnostics, now widely recognized as molecular pathology.[42]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Richard Y. Zhao, PhD". University of Maryland School of Medicine. Retrieved 2026-05-26.
  2. 1 2 "Richard Y. Zhao, PhD". University of Maryland Medical Center. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 "Member Spotlight: Richard Y. Zhao". Association for Molecular Pathology. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  4. 1 2 Bukrinsky, Michael (February 2017). "Yeast help identify cytopathic factors of Zika virus". Cell & Bioscience. 7 12. doi:10.1186/s13578-017-0139-5. ISSN 2045-3701. PMC 5319101. PMID 28239447.
  5. 1 2 Sahaya Glingston, R; et al. (June 2021). "Contribution of yeast models to virus research". Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 105 (12): 4855–4878. doi:10.1007/s00253-021-11331-w. PMC 8175935. PMID 34086116.
  6. 1 2 Acs-Szabo, L; Papp, LA; Miklos, I (August 2024). "Understanding the molecular mechanisms of human diseases: the benefits of fission yeasts". Microbial Cell. 11: 288–311. doi:10.15698/mic2024.08.833. PMC 11299203. PMID 39104724.
  7. 1 2 Srivastava, V; Kumar, R; Ahmad, A (March 2024). "Yeast-Based Screening of Anti-Viral Molecules". Microorganisms. 12 (3): 578. doi:10.3390/microorganisms12030578. PMC 10974075. PMID 38543629.
  8. 1 2 "109 Fellows Elected into the Academy". American Society for Microbiology. January 28, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  9. 1 2 "2025 AAAS Fellows". American Association for the Advancement of Science. March 2026. Retrieved May 26, 2026. The 2025 class of AAAS Fellows was officially announced in March 2026.
  10. 1 2 "AAAS names 2025 Fellows". Science. 392 (6797): 543–547. April 2026. Bibcode:2026Sci...392..543.. doi:10.1126/science.aei4133. Published list of the 2025 cohort of fellows.
  11. ↑ 王 [Wang], 臻 [Qin] (November 29, 2023). "青岛九中校友赵玉琪回母校分享新书《寸草心》" [Qingdao No. 9 High School Alumnus Zhao Yuqi Returns to Alma Mater to Share New Book "Cun Cao Xin"]. 观海新闻 [Guanhai News] (in Chinese). Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  12. ↑ 李 [Li], 华昌 [Huachang] (2019). "从海洋走出的生命乐手—记美国微生物科学院院士、中国海洋大学 1977 级校友赵玉琪" [From the Ocean Emerges a Musician of Life: A Profile of Zhao Yuqi, Alumnus of Ocean University of China Class of 1977 and Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology]. 回澜阁 [Huilange] (in Chinese). No. 52. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  13. ↑ Zhao, Y; Lieberman, HB (May 1995). "Schizosaccharomyces pombe: a model for molecular studies of eukaryotic genes". DNA and Cell Biology. 14 (5): 359–371. doi:10.1089/dna.1995.14.359. PMID 7748486.
  14. ↑ "Children's Memorial Institute for Education and Research (CMIER), Chicago, Illinois" (PDF). Letter to. Chicago: Children's Memorial Medical Center, Public Affairs Department. 1997. Retrieved May 26, 2026.{{cite press release}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  15. ↑ "Yuqi Zhao - IMPAACT". IMPAACT Directory. January 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  16. 1 2 3 Zhao, Y; Cao, J; O'Gorman, MR; Yu, M; Yogev, R (September 1996). "Effect of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 protein R (vpr) gene expression on basic cellular function of fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe". Journal of Virology. 70 (9): 5821–5826. doi:10.1128/JVI.70.9.5821-5826.1996. PMC 190597. PMID 8709199.
  17. ↑ IMSA Presentation Day 2001 Program. Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy. 2001. p. 33. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  18. 1 2 Zhao, Y; Yu, M; Miller, JW; Chen, M; Bremer, EG; Kabat, W; Yogev, R (February 2002). "Quantification of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 proviral DNA by using TaqMan technology". Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 40 (2): 675–678. doi:10.1128/JCM.40.2.675-678.2002. PMC 153359. PMID 11825994.
  19. 1 2 Yeghiazarian, T; Zhao, Y; Read, SE; Kabat, W; Li, X; Hamren, SJ; Sheridan, PJ; Wilber, JC; Chernoff, DN; et al. (July 1998). "Quantification of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 RNA Levels in Plasma by Using Small-Volume-Format Branched-DNA Assays". Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 36 (7): 2096–2098. doi:10.1128/jcm.36.7.2096-2098.1998. PMC 104988. PMID 9650970.
  20. 1 2 Demeter, LM; D'Aquila, R; Weislow, O; Lorenzo, E; Erice, A; Fitzgibbon, J; Shafer, R; Richman, D; Howard, TM; et al. (November 1998). "Interlaboratory concordance of DNA sequence analysis to detect reverse transcriptase mutations in HIV-1 proviral DNA. ACTG Sequencing Working Group. AIDS Clinical Trials Group". Journal of Virological Methods. 75 (1): 93–104. doi:10.1016/s0166-0934(98)00100-1. PMID 9820578.
  21. 1 2 "Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory (MDL) is being selected as Molecular Center for Excellence (MCOE) by Roche Diagnostics". Molecular Profile. UMB Digital Archive. January 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  22. ↑ "New Leaders Picked for Faculty and Staff Senates, USGA". VOICE. University of Maryland. September 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  23. ↑ "UMB-UMCP Merger Study Team Membership". University of Maryland Baltimore. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  24. ↑ Walker, Childs (October 21, 2011). "Baltimore leaders speak against merger of UMB and College Park". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  25. ↑ Zhao, Richard Y. (2017). "Yeast for virus research". Microbial Cell. 4 (10): 311–328. doi:10.15698/mic2017.10.592. PMC 5657823. PMID 29082230.
  26. 1 2 "PNAS Plus Significance Statements". The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 114 (3): 432–434. January 17, 2017. Bibcode:2017PNAS..114..432.. doi:10.1073/pnas.ss1143.
  27. 1 2 Li, G; Poulsen, M; Fenyvuesvolgyi, C; Yashiroda, Y; Yoshida, M; Simard, JM; Gallo, RC; Zhao, RY (January 17, 2017). "Characterization of cytopathic factors through genome-wide analysis of the Zika viral proteins in fission yeast". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 114 (3): E376–E385. Bibcode:2017PNAS..114E.376L. doi:10.1073/pnas.1619735114. PMC 5255628. PMID 28049830.
  28. 1 2 McDaniels, Andrea K. (January 2, 2017). "Maryland researchers identify proteins in Zika linked to birth defects". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  29. 1 2 Wapner, Jessica (January 17, 2017). "How Zika Harms Fetal Brains". Newsweek. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  30. 1 2 "For the first time, researchers identify key proteins that may make Zika so deadly: Scientists identify 7 proteins as likely suspects". ScienceDaily. 2017-01-02. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  31. 1 2 徐 [Xu], 宙超 [Zhou Chao] (May 29, 2017). "科学家初步确认寨卡病毒7个致病蛋白" [Scientists Initially Confirm 7 Pathogenic Proteins of Zika Virus]. 新华网 [Xinhua Net] (in Chinese). Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  32. 1 2 Jin, H; Du, Z; Zhang, Y; Antal, J; Xia, Z; Wang, Y; Gao, Y; Zhao, X; Han, X; et al. (May 2020). "A distinct class of plant and animal viral proteins that disrupt mitosis by directly interrupting the mitotic entry switch Wee1-Cdc25-Cdk1". Science Advances. 6 (20): eaba3418. Bibcode:2020SciA....6.3418J. doi:10.1126/sciadv.aba3418. PMC 7220342. PMID 32426509.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: article number as page number (link)
  33. 1 2 刘 [Liu], 海英 [Haiying] (May 14, 2020). "中美发现大麦黄矮病关键病毒因子" [US and China Identify Key Viral Factor for Barley Yellow Dwarf Disease]. 中国日报 [China Daily Net] (in Chinese). Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  34. ↑ Constantine, N.; Zhao, Richard Y. (2019). "Laboratory Tests". In Bartlett, J.G.; Redfield, R.R.; Pham, P.A. (eds.). Bartlett's Medical Management of HIV Infection (17th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0190924775.
  35. ↑ Robinson, Lisa (March 8, 2019). "London HIV development offers hope, but researchers have concerns". WBAL-TV. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  36. ↑ 叶 [Ye], 凡 [Fan] (May 14, 2007). "民调显示多半中国人排斥艾滋病人" [Poll Shows More Than Half of Chinese Reject HIV/AIDS Patients]. 美国之音 [Voice of America] (in Chinese). Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  37. ↑ 叶 [Ye], 凡 [Fan] (April 11, 2020). "时事大家谈：新冠疫情中的无声杀手" [Issues & Opinions: The Silent Killer in the COVID-19 Pandemic]. 美国之音 [Voice of America] (TV program segment) (in Chinese). Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  38. ↑ 叶 [Ye], 凡 [Fan] (January 9, 2021). "时事大家谈：新冠变体 未来抗疫有哪些新挑战？疫情怎样颠覆我们的生活和认知？" [Issues & Opinions: What New Challenges Do COVID Variants Pose to the Future Pandemic Fight? How Has the Pandemic Overturned Our Lives and Perceptions?]. 美国之音 [Voice of America] (TV program segment) (in Chinese). Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  39. ↑ 林 [Lin], 森 [Sen] (March 28, 2020). "病毒专家："复阳"并非再感染，质疑"核酸"可靠性" [Virology Expert: "Re-positivity" Is Not Reinfection; Questions Reliability of Nucleic Acid Testing]. 美国之音 [Voice of America] (in Chinese). Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  40. 1 2 Zhao, Richard Y. (November 2005). "An editorial overview: HIV/AIDS in China". Cell Research. 15 (11–12): 821–822. doi:10.1038/sj.cr.7290351. PMC 7091790. PMID 16354552.
  41. 1 2 曾 [Zeng], 利明 [Liming] (December 2, 2005). "中国首次出版英文版《艾滋病在中国》论文专集" [China Publishes First English-Language Monograph Collection of Papers on "AIDS in China"]. 中国新闻网 [China News Service] (in Chinese). Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  42. ↑ "2025 AAAS Fellows Forum". AAAS Fellows Forum Program Book. Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC: American Association for the Advancement of Science. May 29, 2026. p. 11. The induction ceremony for the 2025 class of fellows was held on May 29, 2026.
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