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
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.
Journal editorial service
01/2020-now Hypertension Editorial board member
01/2020-06/2021 Physiological Genomics Editorial board member
09/2021-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), US
2022, 2023 The Fund for Scientific Research-FNRS, Belgium
2022 NIH Early Career Reviewer, US
ad Hoc reviewers
- Nature Review Nephrology | Circulation | 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 |
- 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