Epidemiology institute - Germany
AUTHOR PROFILEÂ
EARLY ACADEMIC PURSUITS 🎓
Dr. Zishan Gao, formerly known as Jun Gao until 2013, laid the foundation of his scholarly journey at the Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. He earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Acupuncture and Moxibustion, under the mentorship of eminent figures such as Prof. Xuguang Liu and Prof. Fanrong Liang. During this formative academic period, he developed a keen interest in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), integrating ancient healing wisdom with modern analytical methods. His dissertation and subsequent research underscored a rigorous, evidence-based approach to acupuncture's physiological effects, particularly using metabolomics and bioinformatics. Driven by a curiosity to bridge holistic traditions with scientific inquiry, Dr. Gao sought out global perspectives, receiving specialized training from leading institutions such as McMaster University, EMBL, and Helmholtz Munich. These diverse international exposures enriched his methodological acumen in genomic annotation, high-dimensional data statistics, and comparative effectiveness research. His academic trajectory reflects not only technical mastery but also a relentless pursuit of understanding complex biological mechanisms underlying acupuncture and moxibustion. By building this robust educational foundation, Dr. Gao positioned himself as a bridge between traditional Eastern practices and modern biomedical research, embodying a truly translational and interdisciplinary mindset from the onset of his career.
PROFESSIONAL ENDEAVORS 🧑‍🔬
Dr. Zishan Gao currently serves as an Associate Professor at Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, a role he has held since 2018. His professional journey has also seen notable international milestones, including a fellowship at the Research Unit of Molecular Epidemiology in Munich and a Marie Curie Fellowship at the Italian Acupuncture Association. These experiences not only expanded his academic influence but also allowed him to foster global collaborations in acupuncture, genetic epidemiology, and personalized medicine. At Nanjing University, Dr. Gao’s leadership is evident in both teaching and research capacities. He has overseen multiple research grants from prestigious bodies like the National Natural Science Foundation of China and has also designed pragmatic clinical trials that integrate acupuncture with modern therapeutic approaches. His responsibilities span from study design to data interpretation, animal experimentation, and molecular biology techniques such as PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Moreover, his role as a co-supervisor to numerous M.S. students highlights his commitment to mentoring the next generation of integrative medicine researchers. His multifaceted professional engagements reflect a rare blend of scientific rigor and traditional insight, making Dr. Gao a pivotal figure in modernizing Chinese Medicine through empirical validation and interdisciplinary synthesis.
CONTRIBUTIONS AND RESEARCH FOCUS 🔬
At the heart of Dr. Zishan Gao’s research lies a deep commitment to exploring the mechanisms of Traditional Chinese Medicine using modern scientific methodologies. His pioneering work has primarily focused on the therapeutic mechanisms of acupuncture and moxibustion, especially in treating complex conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and migraine. Utilizing metabolomics, bioinformatics, and genomics, Dr. Gao has conducted groundbreaking studies demonstrating how acupuncture influences metabolic pathways, gene expression, and immune regulation. Notably, his investigations into the NLRP3-IL-1β pathway and lipid metabolism have shed light on how mitochondrial function and immune activation intersect in chronic inflammatory diseases. His ability to merge metabolomic data with clinical outcomes using sophisticated machine learning techniques—like OPLS-DA and Cox regression—has helped quantify and validate the specificity of acupuncture points. Furthermore, he contributed significantly to the GIANT and GCLC GWAS consortiums, analyzing genomic data from thousands of participants to identify genetic markers related to lipids and height. Dr. Gao’s integrative research focus not only reinforces the scientific credibility of acupuncture but also extends its application to personalized medicine. His comprehensive approach—ranging from animal models to large-scale cohort analysis—positions him at the forefront of translational research in integrative health sciences.
ACCOLADES AND RECOGNITION 🏅
Dr. Zishan Gao’s dedication and innovative research have earned him numerous prestigious accolades, underscoring his influence in both Chinese and global scientific communities. A standout recognition includes his selection as a Marie Curie Fellow under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Program, a mark of excellence awarded to leading researchers across Europe. Furthermore, his contributions to the academic and scientific advancement of Jiangsu Province were acknowledged through the “333 Talents” Program (2022–2025), a provincial-level honor given to exceptional scholars driving research and innovation. Earlier in his career, Dr. Gao was awarded the Annual Doctorate Grant at Chengdu University and received accolades in national science competitions, illustrating early promise in research. He has also played a vital role in the academic review community, serving as a reviewer for several prominent journals including BMJ Open, Frontiers in Neuroscience, and Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine. As a grant reviewer for the National Natural Science Foundation of China across multiple years, his expertise is widely respected. These honors not only reflect his technical competence but also his thought leadership in advancing evidence-based Traditional Chinese Medicine. Through sustained excellence, Dr. Gao has built a legacy of achievement that transcends national and disciplinary boundaries.
IMPACT AND INFLUENCE 🌍
Dr. Zishan Gao’s work has significantly influenced the modernization and global acceptance of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. His research has introduced a rigorous scientific framework to evaluate the efficacy and mechanisms of traditional therapies. Through numerous national and international collaborations, he has helped build bridges between Eastern healing philosophies and Western scientific paradigms. His studies on metabolic and genomic changes induced by acupuncture have advanced the understanding of individualized responses to treatment, aligning with the global push toward precision medicine. By contributing to major GWAS consortia and engaging in translational research, Dr. Gao has extended the relevance of TCM into mainstream biomedical discourse. His publications in high-impact journals like Nature and BMJ have given acupuncture research international visibility, promoting its integration into complementary and integrative medicine practices worldwide. Furthermore, his leadership in major clinical trials and comparative effectiveness research has influenced policy-level discussions on the value of integrative treatments. Dr. Gao’s influence is felt not only in academic circles but also in clinical settings, where his findings inform best practices. His work exemplifies how traditional knowledge can be revitalized through scientific validation, setting a precedent for future cross-disciplinary medical research.
LEGACY AND FUTURE CONTRIBUTIONS đź“š
As he continues to lead cutting-edge research in integrative medicine, Dr. Zishan Gao is poised to shape the next chapter of acupuncture and moxibustion studies with a translational and global vision. His career is defined by a relentless quest to bridge tradition with innovation. Looking ahead, his legacy will be anchored in three pillars: scientific rigor, interdisciplinary collaboration, and mentorship. Dr. Gao’s commitment to training future scholars ensures a pipeline of researchers capable of advancing evidence-based Traditional Chinese Medicine. His involvement in genetic epidemiology, multi-omics analysis, and data science also signals a forward-looking approach that resonates with contemporary biomedical priorities. Moreover, his active role in international consortia and multicenter trials highlights his intention to position acupuncture as a scientifically robust and universally accepted therapeutic modality. Through continued publications, student mentorship, and global partnerships, Dr. Gao aims to dismantle the barriers between ancient medical traditions and modern clinical standards. His work will likely catalyze the global transformation of TCM from anecdotal practice to empirically grounded healthcare, thereby leaving an enduring imprint on the world of integrative health sciences.
NOTABLE PUBLICATION
- Title: Metabolomics Reveals Reasons for the Efficacy of Acupuncture in Migraine Patients: The Role of Anaerobic Glycolysis and Mitochondrial Citrate in Migraine Relief
Authors: Zishan Gao, Xianzhong Yan, Rui Wang-Sattler, Marcela Covic, Guang Yu, Feifei Ge, Jia Lin, Qin Chen, Juan Liu, Sapna Sharma et al.
Journal: Phenomics
Publication Date: 2025-05-04
- Title: Metabolomics Reveals Reasons for the Efficacy of Acupuncture in Migraine Patients: The Role of Anaerobic Glycolysis and Mitochondrial Citrate in Migraine Relief (Preprint)
Authors: Zishan Gao, Xianzhong Yan, Rui Wang-Sattler, Marcela Covic, Guang Yu, Feifei Ge, Jia Lin, Qin Chen, Juan Liu, Sapna Sharma et al.
Journal: medRxiv (Preprint)
Publication Date: 2023-10-15
- Title: Implicating Genes, Pleiotropy, and Sexual Dimorphism at Blood Lipid Loci Through Multi-Ancestry Meta-Analysis
Authors: Stavroula Kanoni, Sarah E. Graham, Yuxuan Wang, Ida Surakka, Shweta Ramdas, Xiang Zhu, Shoa L. Clarke, Konain Fatima Bhatti, Sailaja Vedantam, Thomas W. Winkler et al.
Journal: Genome Biology
Publication Date: 2022-12-27
- Title: A Saturated Map of Common Genetic Variants Associated with Human Height
Authors: Loic Yengo, Sailaja Vedantam, Eirini Marouli, Julia Sidorenko, Eric Bartell, Saori Sakaue, Marielisa Graff, Anders U. Eliasen, Yunxuan Jiang, Sridharan Raghavan et al.
Journal: Nature
Publication Date: 2022-10-27
- Title: A Multi-Layer Functional Genomic Analysis to Understand Noncoding Genetic Variation in Lipids
Authors: Shweta Ramdas, Jonathan Judd, Sarah E. Graham, Stavroula Kanoni, Yuxuan Wang, Ida Surakka, Brandon Wenz, Shoa L. Clarke, Alessandra Chesi, Andrew Wells et al.
Journal: The American Journal of Human Genetics
Publication Date: 2022-08