Biography

Dr. Haijun Gao is a reproductive biologist and a basic medical scientist, and his overarching research interest is to improve pregnancy outcome and health. He majored in Biology, Cell Biology, Reproduction and Development, and Physiology of Reproduction when he studied in China (Sichuan University, Peking Union Medical College), Canada (the University of British Columbia) and the United States (Texas A&M University) for bachelor, master, and Ph.D. degrees, respectively. His previous research was involved in multidisciplinary research fields including reproduction (gametogenesis, fertilization, implantation, placentation, and pregnancy), endocrinology, fetal development and programming of adulthood hypertension, nutrition, metabolism, obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus, employing multiple conventional and high-throughput techniques at molecular, cellular, tissue and systems levels and targeting different species (sheep, pigs, rats, mice and humans). His current research interests include gestational diabetes mellitus, maternal obesity and other pregnancy related disorders, and developmental origin of adult metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. The ongoing research is to elucidate the role of mitochondria (mitochondrial function, biogenesis and mitophagy) in the development of gestational diabetes mellitus. On the other hand, he is also dedicated to teaching undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellow and medical students, residents, and fellows and to serving the local, national, and international academic communities.