Tao Yang, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
419.383.4139
Microbiota and Drug Metabolism in Hypertension Research Laboratory
education
- Ph.D. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
- Master of Life Sciences: Jilin University, Changchun, China
- Bachelor of Life Sciences: Jilin University, Changchun, China
Research interest
Our general research interest is on the role of the gut bacteria in blood pressure regulation. The goal is to treat hypertension more effectively by targeting the gut bacteria.
Three main aspects are highlighted:
- Research into specific microbial species/groups in the regulation of blood pressure;
- Research into specific microbial species/groups in the regulation of antihypertensive medication efficacy; and
- Research into how host/microbiota-derived metabolites contribute to blood pressure regulation.
honors and awards
- 2014 – University of Florida Outstanding International Student Award
- 2014 – Trends in Molecular Medicine Top 10 Article. “Trends Mol Med. 2013 Dec;19(12):714-25.”
- 2015 – American Heart Association New Investigator Award
- 2015 – American Heart Association Best of Specialty
- 2016 – American Physiological Society Data Sciences International Travel Award
- 2016 – University of Florida Charles F. Simpson Memorial Scholarship
- 2018 – American Physiological Society Experimental Biology Meeting Travel Award
- 2018 – ISH Meeting Travel Award
- 2018 – University of Florida Mcknight Brain Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship
- 2019 – APS Physiological -Omics group Trainee Research Recognition Award
- 2019 – AHA New Investigator Award
- 2019 – AHA Best of Specialty
- 2020 – Acta Physiologica Top Cited Article “Acta Physiol (Oxf). 2019 Jun;226(2):e13256. ”
- 2020 – Acta Physiologica Top Cited Article “Acta Physiol (Oxf). 2019 Sep;227(1):e13285.”
- 2020 – APS Journal Star Reviewer
- 2021 – APS Research Recognition Award, Cardiovascular Section (corresponding author)
- 2021 – ASPET Experimental Biology Meeting Travel Award (corresponding author)
- 2021 – AHA Stephanie Watts Career Development Award Finalist
- 2022 – ASPET Experimental Biology Blue Ribbon Pick
- 2022 – APSselect Article Award. “Physiol Genomics. 2022 May 1;54(5):177-185.”
- 2023 – APS Physiological -Omics group New Investigator Award
- 2023 – UToledo Department of Physiology and Pharmacology Research Excellence Award
- 2023 – UToledo Department of Physiology and Pharmacology Research Scholarship Award
- 2023 – UToledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences Dean’s Award for New Investigator Research
Journal editorial service
- 01/2020-now – Hypertension – Editorial board member
- 01/2020-now – Physiological Genomics – Editorial board member
- 03/2022-now – Antioxidants – Topical advisory panel member
- 08/2022-now – Frontiers in Physiology/Nutrition – Associate editor
Grant review service
- 2020 – Czech Science Foundation, Czech
- 2021, 2022 – AHA Virology and Diseases 2 Committee (Microbiology), U.S.
- 2022, 2023 – The Fund for Scientific Research-FNRS, Belgium
- 2023 – AHA Peer Reviewer for Organ Studies 1 (Hypertension), U.S.
- 2024 – Neuroscience of Interoception and Chemosensation study section, U.S.
Academic Committee Services
- 2022-now – Basic Science Curriculum Committee, UToledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences
- 2023-2025 – HTN&KCVD Hypertension Science Committee, AHA Hypertension Council
- 2023-2024 – University of Toledo Medical Student Research Committee
- 2023-2024 – APS summit WEH Programing Committee
ad Hoc reviewers
- Nature Review Nephrology | Circulation | Hypertension | Journal of the American Heart Association
- American Journal of Hypertension | Journal of Clinical Hypertension | PLoS One | JCI Insight |
- Pharmacological Research | Scientific Reports | Nutrients | Microbiology | Genome Biology | Gut |
- Gut Microbes | Science of the Total Environment | Microbiota and Host | Microorganisms |
- Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports | Dose-response | Journal of Functional Foods |
- Cardiovascular Diagnosis and Therapy |
- Frontiers in Physiology | Frontiers in Pharmacology | Frontiers in Microbiology |
- Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology | Frontiers in Oncology |
- Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine |
- American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology |
- American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology |
- American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology |
- American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology |
- American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology |
Media Reports
2017
- Tiny gut organisms may influence food cravings and what our bodies do with fat. The Washington Post.
- How your gut affects your health, from heart disease, to your mind, to weight loss efforts. Medical Daily
- A universe of organisms living in your gut. EarthSky
- Your gut could help you lose weight, fight depression and lower blood pressure.
- Your gut may help you lose weight, fight depression and lower blood pressure. Observer; Business Standard.
- Don’t hate your gut-it may help you lose weight, fight depression and lower blood pressure. MedicalXpress; My San Antonio; Billings Gazette; Houston Chronicle; San Francisco Chronicle; Salon; Alternet; SFGate; Seattle Post-Intelligencer; Northwest Indiana Time; The Conversation.
- How to lose weight, fight depression and lower blood pressure, all at the same time. International Business Times.
2019
- The role of gut bacteria in blood pressure. Medical News Today.
2022
- Gut bacteria may contribute to blood pressure medicine resistance. EurekAlert!; CathLabDigest; MedicalXpress.
- Gut bacteria may be an important factor in blood pressure medicine resistance. SciTechDaily.
- Resistant high blood pressure: Gut bacteria may be to blame. Medical News Today.
- Gut bacteria may explain why hypertension drugs don’t work for everyone with high blood pressure. PhillyVoice.
- Intestinal flora can cause resistance to drugs.
- Intestinal bacteria can contribute to resistance to blood pressure medications. WORLDFACE.
- High blood pressure: Gut bacteria may contribute to drug resistance.
- Gut bacterium may be an important factor in resistance to antihypertensive medications. News Medical Life Sciences.
- Gut bacteria may contribute to blood pressure drug resistance. Drug Target Review.
- Your gut health might be making it harder to keep your blood pressure in check. Eating Well.
- Med-munching gut bacteria. Spirituality&Health.
- Gut microbiome linked to resistant hypertension.
- Gut bacteria may interfere with the effectiveness of blood pressure medications.
- Gut bacteria may inactivate certain blood pressure medicines leading to resistant hypertension. Medical Dialogues.
- Blood pressure medications may become less effective due to microbiome. ThePrint. Medically Speaking. Lastly. GutHealth.
- Can your gut microbiome interfere with your blood pressure medication?
- 肠道细菌可能会导致血压药物抵抗.
- 吃药为啥有时没用？肠道细菌会降低药物作. 生物通(ebiotrade.com)
- Study finds gut bacteria can make blood pressure medication less effective. The University of Toledo.
2023
- Understanding Bacteria. The University of Toledo. https://www.utoledo.edu/features/bacteria/
- Understanding Bacteria. How our gut health impacts wellness. Toledo Blade.