Our Team — The Tao Lab

Meet the Team

Senior Fellow

Wei Chen, Ph.D.

Dr. Wei Chen received his Ph.D. degree in Chemistry from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2019 under the supervision of Prof. Jeffrey I. Zink. He joined Dr. Tao’s lab in 2020. His research interests include nanomedicine and biomaterials in cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and other inflammatory diseases.

Qimanguli Saiding, Ph.D.

Qimanguli Saiding obtained her Ph.D. at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 2024. She joined Prof. Tao’s research group as a joint Ph.D. student in July 2023, and became a postdoctoral fellow after obtaining her Ph.D. degree. In Tao’s lab, her research interests include fabricating and designing anti-inflammatory biomaterials.

Research Fellow (Postdoc)

Xiangang Huang, Ph.D.

Dr. Xiangang Huang obtained his PhD in Pharmaceutical Science from ETH Zurich in 2016. He is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard Medical School. His current research focuses on siRNA delivery for gene silencing applications and mRNA delivery for in situ production of functional proteins.

Shu Zhang, Ph.D.

Dr. Shu Zhang received her Ph.D. degree in Biomedical Engineering from University of Houston in 2024. She joined Dr. Tao’s Lab in 2025 as a postdoctoral research fellow. Her research focuses on designing drug delivery systems and developing novel therapies for autoimmune diseases.

Xueyan Zhen, Ph.D.

Xueyan Zhen is a Ph.D. student in Xi’an Jiaotong University and a joint Ph.D student under the supervision of Prof. Wei Tao at BWH, HMS starting from Nov. 2022. In Tao’s Lab, her research interests include the development of novel mRNA-based therapies.

Soohwan An, Ph.D.

Dr. Soohwan An received his Ph.D. degree in Biotechnology from Yonsei University in 2022 and conducted his postdoctoral research at Yonsei University from 2022 to 2023. He joined Dr. Tao’s Lab in 2023 as a postdoctoral research fellow. His research interests include the development of nanotechnology-based RNA therapies combined with hydrogel systems.

Xinru You, Ph.D.

She received her Ph.D. at Sun Yat-sen University in 2020 and completed her post-doctoral research at Sun Yat-sen University in 2020 to 2022. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow in Tao lab and her research interests include the development of biodegradable and bioactive polymers for drug delivery.

Yesi Shi, Ph.D.

Dr. Yesi Shi completed his Ph.D. at Xiamen University in 2022. He is now a postdoctoral fellow under the co-supervision from Prof. Gang Liu and Prof. Wei Tao. In Tao Lab, his research interests include the development of novel nanotechnology-based siRNA and mRNA therapies.

Ph.D. Student

Zhuoming Zhou

Zhuoming Zhou is a Ph.D. student at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, majoring in cardiovascular surgery. He joined Prof. Wei Tao’s group as a joint Ph.D. student in May 2023. In Tao’s Lab, his research interests include the application of nanomedicine and biomaterials in cardiovascular diseases.

Senfeng Zhao

Senfeng Zhao is a Ph.D. student at Central South University, majoring in chemical engineering and technology. He joined Prof. Tao’s group as a joint Ph.D. student in Feb. 2024. In Tao’s Lab, his research interests include the development of multifunctional nanomaterials and drug delivery.

Jing Gao, Ph.D.

Dr. Jing Gao received her Ph.D. from Tongji University in 2024. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow under the supervision of Prof. Wei Tao and Prof. Yan Tang at BWH, HMS, starting from Oct 2025. Her research focuses on the development of novel multifunctional nanomaterials for drug delivery.

Guanheng Huang

Guanheng Huang is a Ph.D. student at the University of Hong Kong and a joint Ph.D student under the supervision of Prof. Wei Tao and Prof. Yan Tang at BWH, HMS starting from April 2025. In Tao Lab, his research interests include the development of novel mRNA formulations and photofunctional biomaterials.

Graduate & Undergraduate Student

Mahyar Mahmoudi

Mahyar Mahmoudi is a master’s student in Biomedical Engineering at Boston University. He joined Prof. Wei Tao’s lab in 2025. In Tao’s Lab, his research interests include in silico design of lipid nanoparticle formulations for mRNA and siRNA delivery.

Xinrui Lan

Xinrui Lan is a rising senior at the University of Rochester, majoring in Biochemistry and minoring in Economics. She joined Dr Tao’s lab in the summer of 2025. Her research interests include the development of nanotechnology on mRNA and siRNA-based drug delivery.

“Mascot”

“Lab Bear”

“Bear graduated from Harvard Medical School (HMS). She is now working as a mascot in the Tao Lab at BWH, HMS. In the Tao Lab, she watches every lab meeting, encourages all the lab members, and witnesses every progress of the Tao Lab.”