The Rao Laboratory uses human genetics to study hematopoiesis and how this process goes awry in human disease. We are particularly interested in identifying opportunities to use the insights we gain from our studies to develop improved therapies for a variety of blood disorders, including monogenetic disorders and blood cancers. Since 2015, we have published >20 papers in peer-reviewed journals, such as Cell Stem Cell (2021), Nat Commun (2022 and 2025), Cell Genomics (2024), Cell Rep (2024), Nucleic Acids Res (2024), J Clin Invest (2022), Am J Hum Genet (2021) and others.
Ph.D., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China, 2010-2015
B.A., Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China, 2006-2010
Professor in Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China, 2021-
Postdoctoral Associate in Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA, 2018-2021
Assistant Professor in Medical Genetics, School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China, 2016-2017
MAJOR NATIONAL LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, SOCIETIES AND BOARDS:
2023-2028 Committee Member, Tianjin Society for Cell Biology
2024-2029 Committee Member, Tianjin Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
1. Xinyue Wang#, Ning Li#*, Lu Han#, Ou Qiao#, Xin Chen, …, Shuquan Rao*, Zichuan Liu*, Yanhua Gong*. Rescue RM/CS-AKI by blocking strategy with one-dose anti-myoglobin RabMAb. Nature Communications, 2025, 16(1):1044.
2. Mutong Li#, Zhaohui Cai#, Shucheng Song#, Xinmin Yue, Wenyu Lu, Shuquan Rao*, Chuanbo Zhang*, Chaoyou Xue*. EcCas6e-based antisense crRNA for gene repression and RNA editing. Nucleic Acids Res, 2024, 52(14):8628-8642.
3. Yao Yao#*, Zhiwei Zhou#, Xiaoling Wang#, Zhirui Liu#, Yixin Zhai, …, Chaoyou Xue*, Shuquan Rao*. SpRY-mediated screens facilitate functional dissection of non-coding sequences at single-base resolution. Cell Genomics, 2024, 4(7):100583.
4. Chen Yang#, Zhiwei Zhou#, Xuanlong Sun, Haiyan Ju, Xinmin Yue, Shuquan Rao*, Chaoyou Xue*. PAMless SpRY exhibits a preference for the seed region for efficient targeting. Cell Rep, 2024, 43(5):114225.
5. Marsha Wheeler#, Adrienne Stilp#, Shuquan Rao#, Bjarni Halldorsson, Doruk Beyter, …, Daniel Bauer#, Paul L. Auer*, Alexander Reiner*. Whole genome sequencing identifies structural variants contributing to hematologic traits in the NHLBI TOPMed program. Nat Commun, 2022, 13(1):7592.
6. Fuquan Zhang#*, Shuquan Rao#, Hongbao Cao, Xiangrong Zhang, Qiang Wang, …, Ancha Baranova#. Genetic evidence suggests posttraumatic stress disorder as a subtype of major depressive disorder. J Clin Invest, 2022, 132(3):e145942.
7. Shuquan Rao#, Yao Yao#, Josias Soares de Brito#, Qiuming Yao, Anne H Shen, …, Peter E Newburger, Daniel E Bauer*. Dissecting ELANE neutropenia pathogenicity by human HSC gene editing. Cell Stem Cell , 2021, 28(5):833–845.e5.
8. Yao Hu#, Adrienne M Stilp#, Caitlin P McHugh#, Shuquan Rao#, Deepti Jain, …, Daniel E Bauer, Matthew P Conomos, Alexander P Reiner*. Whole-genome sequencing association analysis of quantitative red blood cell phenotypes: The NHLBI TOPMed program. Am J Hum Genet, 2021, 108(5):874-893.
9. Yao Yao#, Fei Ye#, Kailong Li#, Peng Xu, Wenjie Tan, Quansheng Feng, Shuquan Rao*. Genome and epigenome editing identify CCR9 and SLC6A20 as target genes at the 3p21.31 locus associated with severe COVID-19. Signal Transduct Target Ther, 2021, 6(1):85.