{"id":87,"date":"2023-04-04T21:51:55","date_gmt":"2023-04-04T21:51:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/?page_id=87"},"modified":"2026-10-05T21:07:44","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T21:07:44","slug":"research-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/research-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Research"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2023\/04\/grid_0.png\" alt=\"Zhang Lab research overview\" width=\"310\" height=\"310\" srcset=\"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2023\/04\/grid_0.png 1024w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2023\/04\/grid_0-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2023\/04\/grid_0-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2023\/04\/grid_0-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2023\/04\/grid_0-980x980.png 980w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2023\/04\/grid_0-480x480.png 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 310px) 100vw, 310px\" \/>Our laboratory&#8217;s research focuses on studying the relationship between dietary intake, human microbiome, metabolomics and digestive diseases, as well as gastrointestinal cancers such as hepatocellular carcinoma and colorectal cancer. We utilize innovative methodologies to examine the role of biological and modifiable factors in digestive disease and gastrointestinal cancer prevention and evaluate the joint effect of diet, human microbiome and metabolites with digestive diseases or gastrointestinal cancers. Additionally, we investigate methods for integrating the microbiome with host factors for dietary interventions on digestive diseases or cancers.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2>Current projects:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3>Navy Bean Dietary Intervention for MASLD<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The aim of this NIH R01-funded randomized trial is to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of incorporating navy beans into the diet of adults with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and moderate-to-advanced fibrosis. The study will assess adherence and dietary substitution while examining changes in liver fat, liver fibrosis, and gut\u2013liver axis pathways using advanced imaging, microbiome, metabolomics, and proteomics approaches.<\/p>\n<p>Funding: NIH\/NIDDK R01 (1R01DK148865-01), 2026\u20132029. Principal Investigator: Xiaotao Zhang, MD, PhD. The trial is registered as BEAN-MASLD at <a href=\"https:\/\/clinicaltrials.gov\/study\/NCT07730853\">ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT07730853)<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2026\/09\/NIH-R01-graph.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-567 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2026\/09\/NIH-R01-graph.png\" alt=\"Concept of the BEAN-MASLD trial: a navy bean dietary intervention, the gut microbiome and liver health\" width=\"1085\" height=\"723\" srcset=\"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2026\/09\/NIH-R01-graph.png 1536w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2026\/09\/NIH-R01-graph-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2026\/09\/NIH-R01-graph-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2026\/09\/NIH-R01-graph-768x512.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1085px) 100vw, 1085px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2026\/09\/Mount-Sinai-Liver-Clinic-Nutrition-Education-Material.pdf\">Mount Sinai Liver Clinic Nutrition Education Material<\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3 class=\"sc-fhHczv bhKAwf\">Improving MASH Treatment With Medically Tailored Meals<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"sc-fhHczv bhKAwf\">The aim of this trial is to assess the effectiveness of a nutrition-based intervention, including medically tailored meal (MTM) and nutrition education provision combined with resmetirom therapy, compared with resmetirom therapy combined with standard-of-care lifestyle recommendations, in improving health outcomes.<\/p>\n<p>Funding: Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, 2026\u20132028. This is a multicenter trial with Mount Sinai as the primary site. Dr. Zhang is Co-Principal Investigator, responsible for the nutrition intervention and dietary assessment. <a href=\"https:\/\/reports.mountsinai.org\/article\/liver2026-mash-meals\">Read the Mount Sinai Reports article<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/encyclopedia.pub\/video\/1890\">From Plate to Liver: How Diet Shapes MASLD<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-539 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2026\/03\/Food-is-medicine-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Medically tailored meals for patients with MASH\" width=\"1085\" height=\"606\" srcset=\"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2026\/03\/Food-is-medicine-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2026\/03\/Food-is-medicine-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2026\/03\/Food-is-medicine-1024x572.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2026\/03\/Food-is-medicine-768x429.jpg 768w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2026\/03\/Food-is-medicine-1536x857.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2026\/03\/Food-is-medicine-2048x1143.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1085px) 100vw, 1085px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3>From Diet to MASH Fibrosis: How Microbiota and Host Molecular Profiles Interact and Influence Disease Severity (DAMILE study)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The goal is to comprehensively define the nexus between dietary patterns, gut microbiota, metabolomics, and proteomic signatures, assessing their collective influence on liver fibrosis severity. One pilot grant has been secured, and related grant applications are pending.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2026\/09\/DAMILE-Study-graph.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-568 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2026\/09\/DAMILE-Study-graph.png\" alt=\"Overview of the DAMILE study of diet, microbiome and liver fibrosis\" width=\"1085\" height=\"723\" srcset=\"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2026\/09\/DAMILE-Study-graph.png 1536w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2026\/09\/DAMILE-Study-graph-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2026\/09\/DAMILE-Study-graph-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2026\/09\/DAMILE-Study-graph-768x512.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1085px) 100vw, 1085px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3>Longitudinal MASH Registry: Building an Infrastructure to Advance the Field<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This MASLD\/MASH registry is to provide exemplary clinical care to all patients with MASLD\/MASH through standardization of clinical protocols and innovative clinical\/translational studies and to elucidate molecular, cellular, immunological pathogenic pathways and predictors of disease progression (genetic\/biomarkers\/phenotyping algorithms). I have been serving as statistical core, nutrition core and microbiome core lead for the registry and biobank since 2022.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-384 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2023\/12\/MASH-registry-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Mount Sinai MASLD\/MASH registry overview\" width=\"1086\" height=\"577\" srcset=\"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2023\/12\/MASH-registry-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2023\/12\/MASH-registry-300x159.jpg 300w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2023\/12\/MASH-registry-1024x544.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2023\/12\/MASH-registry-768x408.jpg 768w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2023\/12\/MASH-registry-1536x816.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2023\/12\/MASH-registry-2048x1088.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1086px) 100vw, 1086px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3>Oral microbiome and liver fibrosis<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>We study whether the oral microbiome, alongside diet, carries signals of liver fibrosis in MASLD. The work combines a prospective cohort from the Mount Sinai MASH Registry with national survey data (NHANES 2009\u20132012), and was presented at Digestive Disease Week 2025 and AASLD The Liver Meeting 2025.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3>Liver stiffness trajectories in MASLD<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Using repeated liver stiffness measurements from routine care in a diverse urban MASLD population, we describe how fibrosis changes over time and which clinical, dietary and social factors go with faster progression. Three abstracts from this work were accepted for AASLD The Liver Meeting 2026.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3>Health disparities in the PBC care cascade<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This project looks at gaps in the diagnosis and treatment of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) across a large, urban health system, including barriers to second-line therapy after ursodeoxycholic acid failure (EASL Congress 2026). Supported by Gilead, 2025\u20132027; Dr. Zhang is Co-Investigator.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3>Beans to Enrich the Gut microbiome vs. Obesity\u2019s Negative Effects (BE GONE) trial<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The study aims to understand how increased bean consumption impacts metabolic health and cancer risk by examining changes in lipid metabolism, inflammation, and the gut microbiome. The trial uses a controlled diet approach, where participants are their own controls, to compare their usual diet with and without dry beans. I have been working with MD Anderson Cancer Center mentor Carrie R. Daniel on this trial for several years.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-379 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2023\/12\/adaptiveimage.resize-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Dry beans used in the BE GONE trial\" width=\"1085\" height=\"610\" srcset=\"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2023\/12\/adaptiveimage.resize-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2023\/12\/adaptiveimage.resize-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2023\/12\/adaptiveimage.resize-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2023\/12\/adaptiveimage.resize-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2023\/12\/adaptiveimage.resize-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2023\/12\/adaptiveimage.resize-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2023\/12\/adaptiveimage.resize-646x363.jpg 646w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1085px) 100vw, 1085px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3>A Study of Dietary Patterns Derived by Cluster Analysis and their Association with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Severity among Hispanic patients<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The study aimed to identify prevalent dietary patterns using cluster analysis and investigate their associations with NAFLD severity. We analyzed data from 421 Hispanic patients with NAFLD and identified two primary dietary patterns: a fast-food\/meats pattern and a plant-food\/prudent pattern. The fast-food\/meats pattern was associated with a 2.5-fold higher odds of more severe steatosis compared to the plant-food\/prudent pattern.\u00a0 The study highlights the importance of understanding dietary patterns among Hispanic patients with NAFLD for tailoring dietary interventions.<\/p>\n<h3>\u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-383 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2023\/12\/Cluster-analysis-for-Dietary-pattern-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Dietary patterns identified by cluster analysis among Hispanic patients with NAFLD\" width=\"1085\" height=\"490\" srcset=\"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2023\/12\/Cluster-analysis-for-Dietary-pattern-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2023\/12\/Cluster-analysis-for-Dietary-pattern-300x135.jpg 300w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2023\/12\/Cluster-analysis-for-Dietary-pattern-1024x462.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2023\/12\/Cluster-analysis-for-Dietary-pattern-768x347.jpg 768w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2023\/12\/Cluster-analysis-for-Dietary-pattern-1536x694.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2023\/12\/Cluster-analysis-for-Dietary-pattern-2048x925.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1085px) 100vw, 1085px\" \/><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3>The association between acculturation, allostatic load, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Hispanic adults: Analysis of the 2017-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Prevalence of HDV Testing Among HBV Patients in New York City<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Read paper <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s43856-026-01462-4#Sec18\">here<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2026\/09\/HDV.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-569 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2026\/09\/HDV.png\" alt=\"Hepatitis delta testing among patients with hepatitis B in New York City\" width=\"1086\" height=\"613\" srcset=\"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2026\/09\/HDV.png 1068w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2026\/09\/HDV-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2026\/09\/HDV-1024x578.png 1024w, https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/479\/2026\/09\/HDV-768x434.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1086px) 100vw, 1086px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our laboratory&#8217;s research focuses on studying the relationship between dietary intake, human microbiome, metabolomics and digestive diseases, as well as gastrointestinal cancers such as hepatocellular carcinoma and colorectal cancer. We utilize innovative methodologies to examine the role of biological and modifiable factors in digestive disease and gastrointestinal cancer prevention and evaluate the joint effect of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":606,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"full-width.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-87","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/87","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/606"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=87"}],"version-history":[{"count":32,"href":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/87\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":620,"href":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/87\/revisions\/620"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/xiaotaozhanglab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=87"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}