Exercise, Epigenetics and Human Health

Feng Gao MD, PhD, is a Professor of Physiology and Fellow of the American Physiological Society (FAPS) and the American Heart Association (FAHA). His research focuses on cardiovascular protection and exercise health benefits. Dr. Gao’s major contributions include elucidating mechanisms of exercise-induced cardioprotection via exosome-mediated cross-talk between vascular endothelial cells and the heart, as well as long-term benefits of physical activity on healthy aging. His work has been published in Circulation, Cir Res, PNAS, Hypertension, and Nat Commun, with over 120 peer-reviewed publications. He also serves as an Associate Editor of FASEB J and Acta Physiologica Sinica.

Xing Zhang obtained his PhD in Physiology from the Fourth Military Medical University in 2013, and serves as a Professor in the Key Laboratory of Aerospace Medicine of the Ministry of Education at the Fourth Military Medical University, China. His research focuses on the biological effects of lifestyle (e.g., exercise and diet) on health and the underlying mechanisms, with specific interests in metabolic regulation and mitochondrial function.