An Exclusive Interview with Prof. Liping Zhao - Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology
Microbiome Research Reports (MRR) recently had the privilege of speaking with Prof. Liping Zhao, a globally recognized leader in microbiome science and a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology. In this conversation, he shared his groundbreaking work on the gut microbiota and its profound implications for human health, along with broader reflections on scientific challenges, career experiences, and the evolving landscape of microbiome research.
Prof. Zhao currently serves as Chair Professor of Applied Microbiology at Rutgers University–New Brunswick in the United States. His distinguished career bridges continents and disciplines, offering transformative insights into microbiome science. Prof. Zhao’s research focuses on the role of the gut microbiota in human health and metabolic diseases, particularly obesity and type 2 diabetes. He pioneered the use of dietary interventions to modulate gut microbial ecosystems and has made major contributions to identifying microbiome-based biomarkers and elucidating their underlying mechanisms. With a career spanning both China and the United States, Prof. Zhao brings a unique cross-cultural perspective to microbiome research and has played a key role in advancing the field from basic research to clinical translation.
Interview Questions:
1. Your work on gut microbiota and metabolic diseases has been groundbreaking. Could you share what you consider to be your most significant scientific contribution, and how it advanced our understanding of host-microbiome interactions?
2. Your team's research revealed specific bacterial markers associated with obesity. What were the key methodological challenges in establishing causal relationships between gut microbes and metabolic disorders?
3. The microbiome field has evolved dramatically in the past decade. What do you see as the most persistent knowledge gaps that currently limit clinical translation of microbiome research?
4. Your career spans both China and international microbiome research. How has this cross-cultural perspective shaped your scientific thinking?
Watch the following video for insights from Prof. Liping Zhao:
Editor: Fiona Yin
Language Editor: Catherine Yang
Production Editor: Ting Xu
Respectfully Submitted by the Editorial Office of Microbiome Research Reports
