Ph.D. (Peking Union Medical College)
Master & Bachelor (Nanjing University)

Professor Zhao completed her undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral training in the field of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Nanjing University, Peking Union Medical College, and the University of Hong Kong, respectively. She previously served as an Research Associate Professor at Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School and joined The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, in October 2020, where she is currently a tenured Associate Professor at the School of Medicine.

Professor Zhao's research focuses on the biosynthesis and functional studies of NAD-related calcium messengers (e.g., cADPR). She is dedicated to developing related research tools and exploring precision medical solutions targeting NAD metabolism/signaling pathways for aging-related diseases, especially neurodegenerative disorders. Professor Zhao has applied for 10 Chinese patents, 7 of which have been granted. She has led 4 projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, 7 projects funded by Shenzhen or Guangdong Province, and 1 industry-funded project. She has published over 40 SCI-indexed journal papers, delivered invited presentations at more than a dozen national and international conferences, and serves as a peer reviewer for several academic journals, including Neuroscientists, Cell Reports, and Autophagy.

1.WJ Zhu#, J Liu#, WH Li, ZY Zhao, C Huang, JY Yang, HC Lee, YJ Zhao*. Gap junction intercellular communications regulates activation of SARM1 and protects against axonal degeneration. Cell Death Dis. 2025 Jan 14;16(1):13. doi: 10.1038/s41419-025-07342-4.
2.Hou YN#, Cai Y#, Li WH#, He WM, Zhao ZY, Zhu WJ, Wang Q, Liu J, Lee HC, Goran S*, Zhang HM*, Zhao YJ*. A Conformation-specific Nanobody Targeting the NMN-activated State of SARM1. Nat Commun. 2022 Dec 22;13(1):7898.
3.Li WH, Huang K, Cai Y, Wang QW, Zhu WJ, Hou YN, Wang S, Cao S, Zhao ZY, Xie XJ, Du Y, Lee C-S*, Lee HC*, Zhang H*, Zhao YJ*. Permeant Fluorescent Probes Visualize the Activation of SARM1 and Uncover an Anti-neurodegenerative Drug Candidate. Elife. 2021;10:e67381.
4.Zhao ZY, Xie XJ, Li WH, Liu J, Chen Z, Zhang B, Li T, Li SL, Lu JG, Zhang L, Zhang L-h, Xu Z, Lee HC*, Zhao YJ*. A cell-permeant mimetic of NMN activates SARM1 to produce cyclic ADP-ribose and induce non-apoptotic cell death. iScience, 2019; 15:452-466.
5.Liu J#, Zhao YJ#*, Li WH, Hou YN, Li T, Zhao ZY, Fang C, Li SL, Lee HC*. Cytosolic interaction of type III human CD38 with CIB1 modulates cellular cyclic ADP-ribose levels. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2017, 114(31):8283–8288.
6.Zhao YJ#, Lam CM#, Lee HC*. The membrane-bound enzyme CD38 exists in two opposing orientations. Sci Signal. 2012; 5(241):ra67.

Google Scholar Profile (Citation: 1988 till Jan 24, 2025; H-index: 23):
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=V3x9K3wAAAAJ&hl=zh-TW