Jijun Hao, PhD

PhD. Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

BSc. Department of Biochemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China

Professor: Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, USA, 2023 - present

Associate Professor: Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, USA, 2018 - 2023

Assistant Professor: Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, USA, 2012 - 2018

Research Assistant Professor, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA, 2010 - 2012

Research Fellow, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA, 2004 - 2010

Stem cell biology, zebrafish-based drug screening and cancer biology.

My current research mainly focuses on 1) chemical approaches for stem cell/iPS cell cardiomyogenesis, 2) zebrafish-based drug screening, and 3) cancer biology.

By zebrafish-based screening, we have identified a number of small molecules which can modulate key signaling pathways such as BMP, Wnt/β-catenin and Hedgehog pathways. As these key signaling pathways are involved in stem cell fate decisions and many types of human diseases including cancer, the small molecules that modulate these key pathways may control stem cell differentiation as well as serve leads for cancer drug development.

American Heart Association

American Associaiton for Cancer Resarech

Western University of Health Sciences Research Committee, 2013 ~ Present

Research Advisory Committee, College of Veterinary Medicine,2012 ~ Present

Instructional Resource Committee,College of Veterinary Medicine,2012 ~ Present

Articles

2025

Kim, S.H. and Hao, J. (2025) “Recent advances in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for canine cognitive dysfunction” 86, (5), American Journal of Veterinary Research, DOI: https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.25.02.0053

2024

Kaur, G., Xie, C., Dong, C. Najera, J. Nguyen J.T. and*Hao, J (2024) "PDE4D and miR-203 are promising biomarkers for canine atopic dermatitis", Mol Biol Rep 51, 651

Sun, J., Zhong, H., Kang, B., Lum, T., Liu,D., Liang, S.,*Hao, J.and *Guo, R. (2024) "Roles Of PD-L1 In Human Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Under Inflammatory Microenvironment", Journal of Cellular Biochemistry,Chemical Biology in Regenerative Medicine: Bridging Stem Cells and Future Therapies”, John Wiley & Sons Inc.

2013

Han, G.F., Wang, H.T., and *Hao, J. (2013) "Molecular Mechanisms of Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency", Pluripotent Stem Cells", INTECH press, ISBN 978-953-51-1192-4(*corresponding author).

Hao, J, Ao, A, Zhou, L, Murphy, CK, Frist, AY, Keel, JJ, Throne, CA,Kim, K, Lee,E and Hong,CC. (2013) "Selective Small Molecule Targeting beta-Catenin Function Discovered by In Vivo Chemical Genetic Screen", Cell Reports, 4, 898-904

Sheng, CC., Zhou, L. and *Hao, J. (2013) “Current Stem Cell Delivery Methods for Myocardial Repair”, BioMed Research International (formerly titled Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology), Article ID 547902 (*corresponding author)

2012

Ao A, Hao J, Hopkins CR and Hong CC. (2012) “DMH1, a Novel BMP Small Molecule Inhibitor, Increases Cardiomyocyte Progenitors and Promotes Cardiac Differentiation in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells”, PLoS One, 7, e41627

2011

Wiley, DM., Kim, JD, Hao, J., Hong, CC., Bautch, VL., Jin, SK. (2011) “Distinct signaling pathways regulate sprouting angiogenesis from the dorsal aorta and axial vein” Nature Cell Biology, 13,686–692

*Hao, J,Sawyer, DB., Hatzopoulos, AK and *Hong,CC (2011) “Recent progress on chemical biology of pluripotent stem cell: self-renewal, reprogramming and cardiomyogenesis”, Recent Patents on Regenerative Medicine, 1, 263-274,

Ao, A., Hao, J, Hong, CC. (2011) “Regenerative chemical biology: current challenges and future potentials”, Chemistry & Biology, 18, 413-424

Wang, H., *Hao, J, *Hong, CC. (2011) “Cardiac induction of embryonic stem cells by a small molecule inhibitor of Wnt/β-catenin signalling”, ACS Chemical Biology, 6, 192–197, (*co-first author and co-corresponding author)

Ao, A, Williams, CH, *Hao, J, *Hong, CC. (2011) “Modified mouse embryonic stem cell based assay for quantifying cardiogenic induction efficiency”,J Vis Exp., 50, 2656.

Hao, J., Zhou, L., Hong, CC. (2011) “Chemical biology of pluripotent stem cells: Focus on cardiomyogenesis”, Embryonic Stem Cells - Recent Advances in Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Regenerative Medicine, INTECH, ISBN: 978-953-307-1985, 51-64

2010 and Before

Hao,J., Daleo, MA and Hong, CC. (2010) “Crosstalk between mitogen activated protein kinase and phosphoinositide-3 kinase signalling pathways in development and disease”, Systems Biology for Signaling Networks, , Springer, New York, ISBN:978-144-195-7962, 505-529

Hao, J, Williams, C H., Webb, M E., Hong, CC. (2010) “Large scale zebrafish-based in vivo small molecule screen”, J. Vis. Exp., 46, 2243

Hao, J, Ho, JN, Lewis, JA, Karim, K, Daniels, RN, Gentry, PR, Hopkins, CR, Lindsley, CW and Hong CC. (2010) “In vivo structure activity relationship study of dorsomorphin analogs identifies selective VEGF and BMP inhibitors”,ACS Chemical Biology, 5, 245–253

Hao,J., Daleo MA, Murphy, CK, Yu, PB, Ho, JN, Hu J, Peterson, RT., Hatzopoulos, AK., Hong, CC. (2008) “Dorsomorphin, a Selective Small Molecule Inhibitor of BMP Signaling, Promotes Cardiomyogenesis in Embryonic Stem Cells”, PLoS ONE, 3, e2904

Hao, J., Vann, WF., Hinderlich, S. and Sundaramoorthy, M. (2006)“Elimination of 2-keto-3-dexoy-D-glycero-D-galacto-nonulosonic acid 9-phosphate synthase activity from human N-acetylneuraminic acid 9-phosphate synthase by a single mutation”, Biochem. J. 397, 195-201

Hao, J., Balagurumoorthy, P., Sarilla, S. and Sundaramoorthy, M. (2005)“Cloning, expression and characterization of sialic acid synthases”, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 338,1507-1514

Hao, J.and Berry, A. (2004) “A thermostable variant of fructose bisphosphate aldolase constructed by directed evolution also shows increased stability in organic solvents”, Protein Eng, Des and Sel. 17, 689-697

Patents

Charles C. Hong, Corey R. Hopkins, Antonis K. Hatzopoulos, Craig W. Lindsley, Jijun Hao. “Compounds and methods useful for directing stem cell differentiation”, Patent number: US9040694B1

Charles C. Hong, Charles H. Williams, Jonathan Hempel, T K Feaster, Don H. Rubin, Gary Sulikowski, Jijun Hao, Audrey Frist. “Compounds and methods for inhibition of hedgehog signaling and phosphodiesterase”. Patent number: 10329304

Charles C. Hong, Charles H. Williams, Jonathan Hempel, T K Feaster, Don H. Rubin, Gary Sulikowski, Jijun Hao, Audrey Frist. “Compounds and Methods for Inhibition of Hedgehog Signaling and Phosphodiesterase”. Patent number: US2017190717A1

Selected Achievements in Small Molecule Development

1) Developed DMH1, a small molecule inhibitor of BMP signalling.

2) Developed DMH4, a small molecule inhibitor of VEGF signaling.

3) Discovered Windorphen, a small molecule inhibitor of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling

4) Discovered Eggmanone, a small molecularallostericinhibitor of PDE4.