Xiao Zhao, M.D., Ph.D., FRCSC
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Surgery
About Dr. Xiao Zhao
Dr. Xiao Zhao received his medical degree (MD) from the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Western Ontario. He then completed his residency in Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery and concurrently completed his PhD at the University of Toronto. Dr. Zhao subsequently completed a clinical fellowship in Head and Neck Surgical Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center and a research fellowship in the laboratory of Dr. Guillermina Lozano at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Zhao has a clinical interest in oral cancer and oral premalignancy. Dr. Zhao also leads a basic science and translation research program centered on the evolution of head and neck cancers with a specific focus on oral premalignant lesions, oral cancer, and anaplastic thyroid cancer.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Research Interests
Tumor Evolution, Tumor Metabolism, Oral Premalignancy, Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2019 | University of Toronto, Toronto, CAN, PHD, Doctor of Philosophy |
| 2010 | Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, CAN, MD, Doctor of Medicine |
Honors & Awards
| 2017 | Laidlaw Manuscript Competition |
| 2017 | AACR Head and Neck Translational Research Award |
| 2016 | Canadian Institute of Health Research Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship |
| 2015 | Raymond Ng Graduate Award |
| 2015 | Chapnik, Freeman, and Friedberg Clinician Scientist Award |
| 2015 | Richard Hill Graduate Research Award |
| 2015 | Department of Otolaryngology Annual Research Day: Percy Ireland Best Overall Paper |
| 2015 | Society of Chinese Bioscientists in America Poster Award |
| 2015 | Excellence in Radiation Research 21 Poster Award |
| 2015 | The Ara Mooradian Scholarship |
| 2014 | Canadian Institute of Health Research – Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship |
| 2014 | Gifford Scholarship |
| 2013 | The Terry Fox Foundation Strategic Training Initiative for Excellence in Radiation Research for the 21st Century Scholarship |
| 2013 | Canadian Society of Otolaryngology Poliquin Resident Research Competition |
| 2013 | University of Toronto Shiley E.O. Pelausa Best Otolaryngology Resident Award |
| 2012 | Chapnik, Freeman, and Friedberg Clinician Scientist Award |
| 2006 | Samuel Lunenfeld Summer Research Poster Award |
| 2005 | Toronto Biotechnology Initiative Award |
| 2005 | Institute of Medical Sciences Summer Student Award |
| 2005 | University of Toronto Chemistry Excellence letter |
| 2004 | University of Toronto Dean’s List |
| 2004 | University of Toronto (U of T) Scholarship |
| 2004 | University of Toronto Dr. James Scholarship in Science and Mathematics |
| 2004 | University of Toronto Biology Outstanding Achievement Award |
| 2004 | University of Toronto Chemistry Excellence letter |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Cao S, Wang JR, Ji S, Yang P, Montierth MD, Guo S, Shen JP, Zhao X, Lee JJ, Guerrero PA, Spetsieris N, Engedal N, Taavitsainen S, Yu K, Livingstone J, Bhandari V, Hubert SM, Daw NC, Futreal A, Efstathiou E, Lim B, Viale A, Zhang J, Nykter M, Czerniak BA, Msaouel P, Maitra A, Kopetz S, Campbell P, Speed TP, Boutros PC, Zhu H, Urbanucci A, Demuelemeester J, Van Loo P, Zhang W.. Estimation of tumor cell total mRNA expression in 15 cancer types predict disease progression. Nature Biotechnology, 2022.
- Zhao X, Psarianos P, Ghoraie LS, Yip K, Goldstein D, Gilbert R, Witterick I, Pang H, Hussain A, Lee JH, Williams J, Bratman S, Ailles L, Haibe-Kains B, Liu FF. Metabolic regulation of dermal fibroblasts contributes to skin extracellular matrix homeostasis and fibrosis. Nature Metabolism 1(1):147-157, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 32694814.
Grant & Contract Support
| Title: | Developing anti-fibrosis treatment to improve cancer survivorship |
| Funding Source: | Canada Cancer Society Research Institute |
| Role: | Collaborator |
| Title: | Metabolic alterations in anaplastic thyroid cancer provide functional variation for tumor progression and vulnerabilities for treatment |
| Funding Source: | Petrick Thyroid Research Fund |
| Role: | Co-Investigator |