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Professor of Pharmacy Practice
University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Infectious disease and antimicrobial research
Yanan (Nancy) Zhao's research focuses on two critical aspects of infectious diseases: generating rapid molecular diagnostics for infections and drug resistance, and pioneering drug discovery and development against antimicrobial resistance.
The National Institutes of Health supports her work, including a $3.9 million research project grant to create a novel antibiotic (it's in a class called biamyxins, or BMX) that shows promise in killing bacteria more effectively while having low toxicity.
Prior to joining UB in March 2024, Zhao worked for more than 17 years developing diagnostic assays for bacterial, fungal and viral infections.
At the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Zhao invented a diagnostic test for COVID-19 that was approved under emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration. Zhao also created a novel SARS-CoV-2 variant screening tool, which was integrated into the New Jersey Department of Health’s COVID surveillance program.
Yanan (Nancy) Zhao, MD, PhD
Professor of Pharmacy Practice
University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences