Hongchao Guo, PhD
hongchao.guo@hsc.utah.edu

Dr. Guo is an assistant professor at the Department of Surgery at the University of Utah. He is also a principal investigator at Nora Eccles Harrison Cardiovascular Research and Training Institute (CVRTI) of Utah. Dr. Guo did his postdoctoral training in Dr. Joseph Wu’s laboratory at the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute. Dr. Guo received his Ph.D in cell biology at the University of Nankai (2015). He is the recipient of the prestigious NIH K99/R00 career development award (2020).

Yuyu Zhang

Dr. Yuyu Zhang earned her Ph.D. in Developmental Biology from the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Her research focuses on elucidating the genetic mechanisms underlying complex traits, with specialized expertise in quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and molecular genetics. Currently, Dr. Zhang is applying her background in genetics and computational biology to investigate the genetic basis of cardiovascular diseases.

Samuel Peng, B.S

Samuel joined the Guo Lab as a Lab Technician after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from UCLA. At UCLA, he worked in the Bouchard Lab where he developed a 3D bioreactor that can utilize flow to accurately simulate conditions found in the human body. He will be experimenting with induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). He plans to attend medical school and earn an MD.

Feifei Bi, PhD

Dr. Feifei Bi is currently pursuing her Postdoctoral Fellowship in Dr. Guo’s laboratory. Her research focuses on elucidating the genetic mechanisms underlying cardiovascular development and cardiac diseases, employing CRISPR screening technology and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) model. Dr. Bi earned her Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Agronomy from China Agricultural University in 2022.

Angelina Nguyen

Angelina is a high school intern from Hunter High School with a strong passion for genetic research and biomedical sciences. She is currently working on a project utilizing computational models to simulate in vitro biological processes. Her interests lie at the intersection of computational biology and experimental research, as she seeks to deepen her understanding of iPSC biology and genetic engineering. Angelina aspires to pursue a career in STEM, focusing on advancing genetic research and biotechnology.