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Zhou Qiao
Associate professor at Harvard University
Zhou Qiao, also known as Joe Qiao Zhou, is a prominent researcher in the field of regenerative medicine and stem cell biology. He received his Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology, where he studied neurodevelopment.1 After completing his postdoctoral training as a Damon Runyon Fellow at Harvard with Dr. Douglas Melton, he established his own laboratory at Harvard College's Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology in 2009.1
In 2019, Dr. Zhou moved to the Division of Regenerative Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, where he currently serves as a professor.1 His research focuses on tissue regeneration, particularly in the areas of pancreatic islet regeneration and intestinal mucosal remodeling.1
Dr. Zhou's laboratory has pioneered innovative approaches to tissue regeneration, including the use of master regulators to reprogram adult tissues from one type to another.1 His work has significant implications for regenerative medicine, especially in treating conditions such as diabetes and short bowel syndrome.1
Some of Dr. Zhou's notable achievements include:
- Developing a method to induce human stomach stem cells to differentiate into Gastric INsulin-Secreting (GINS) organoids.1
- Identifying master regulators that distinguish small intestine from large intestine epithelium.1
- Winning the Biomedical Business Plan Challenge in 2023.1
- Founding the NYC*T1D Network in 2020.1
Dr. Zhou's research has been highly influential in the field of cellular reprogramming. In 2008, he and his colleagues demonstrated the ability to convert pancreatic exocrine cells into insulin-producing beta cells in adult mice with diabetes.2 This work has been recognized as an important advance in developing cell-based therapies for tissue repair and improved treatments for diabetes.2


