Associate Research Fellow at The Third Affiliated Hospitial of Sun Yat sen University, China
Dr. Zecong Xiao is a distinguished Associate Research Fellow and Master’s Supervisor at the Nanomedicine Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. As a recognized member of Sun Yat-sen University’s prestigious “Hundred Talents Program” for Young Talents, Dr. Xiao is known for his pioneering research in nanomedicine, tumor immunotherapy, and tissue engineering. Born on January 5, 1992, he has swiftly risen through the academic ranks, demonstrating a strong commitment to translational biomedical research. His scientific contributions are substantiated by an H-index of 24 and over 1,900 citations. Dr. Xiao has published 49 SCI-indexed articles, with 41 of them as first or corresponding author in high-impact journals like Science Advances, ACS Nano, Bioactive Materials, and Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy. He has effectively integrated interdisciplinary strategies in engineering, pharmacology, and immunotherapy to advance cancer treatment methodologies. Beyond his publication record, he has served as a principal investigator in numerous national and provincial research grants, with total funding exceeding 2 million RMB. His ongoing commitment to innovation, mentoring, and collaborative science positions him as a prominent thought leader in applied biomedical research in China and beyond.
Professional Profile
Education
Dr. Zecong Xiao has received comprehensive academic training across multiple disciplines relevant to pharmaceutical and biomedical research. He earned his Ph.D. in Engineering with a focus on Materials Science from Sun Yat-sen University in June 2020, where he initiated his foundational research into drug delivery systems and nanomedicine. His doctoral work equipped him with interdisciplinary expertise blending materials science, pharmacology, and immunotherapy—areas central to his current research pursuits. Prior to his doctoral studies, he completed a Master’s degree in Medicine with a specialization in Pharmacology at Wenzhou Medical University in 2017. This phase of his education provided a critical understanding of drug mechanisms and therapeutic interventions at the cellular and systemic levels. Dr. Xiao began his academic journey with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine in 2014, grounding him in pharmaceutical sciences and traditional Chinese medicine. Each phase of his education not only broadened his technical skills but also deepened his commitment to translational research, laying a strong foundation for his contributions to cancer immunotherapy and advanced drug delivery technologies. His academic background showcases a rare integration of pharmacological principles and engineering applications.
Professional Experience
Dr. Zecong Xiao currently serves as an Associate Research Fellow and Master’s Supervisor at the Nanomedicine Center of The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. Since March 2023, he has been actively involved in cutting-edge research focused on nanodrug delivery, tumor-targeting immunotherapy, and tissue engineering repair. His role involves supervising graduate students, leading national and university-level research projects, and publishing high-impact papers. Before this, from August 2020 to August 2022, Dr. Xiao completed a productive postdoctoral fellowship at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University. During this period, he developed a number of innovative nanomedicine strategies for targeted cancer therapy, earning national-level funding and recognition. Dr. Xiao’s professional experience reflects a trajectory of consistent scientific growth, marked by deep collaborations across disciplines such as bioengineering, immunology, and clinical oncology. His participation in multi-million RMB projects, both as principal investigator and key contributor, highlights his strategic thinking and leadership. At every career stage, he has demonstrated a clear vision for applying laboratory innovation to clinical contexts. His position in Sun Yat-sen’s “Hundred Talents Program” further affirms his status as a rising star in translational biomedical research in China.
Research Interest
Dr. Zecong Xiao’s research interests lie at the dynamic interface of nanomedicine, immunotherapy, and materials science. His work is primarily focused on the design and development of smart drug delivery systems that can effectively target tumors and modulate the immune microenvironment for enhanced therapeutic efficacy. He is particularly interested in functional nanomaterials that can bypass biological barriers to deliver payloads such as siRNA, small molecules, and proteins directly to diseased tissues. Dr. Xiao’s lab explores methods for improving T-cell infiltration into solid tumors using bioorthogonal nanodrug strategies and CAR-T cell modifications. He is also deeply involved in the study of tumor interstitial pressure and how to engineer delivery platforms that overcome this hurdle. Recently, his research has expanded into tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, with projects investigating hydrogel-based scaffolds and MOF-based delivery systems for spinal cord injury and wound healing. His translational approach aims to bridge the gap between fundamental materials science and clinical applications in oncology and regenerative therapy. Overall, Dr. Xiao’s interdisciplinary focus on applying nanoscale innovations to solve complex biomedical problems situates him at the forefront of next-generation therapeutic development.
Research Skills
Dr. Zecong Xiao possesses an extensive and advanced skill set that supports his multidisciplinary research in nanomedicine and cancer immunotherapy. He is proficient in the synthesis and characterization of functional nanomaterials, including stimuli-responsive nanoparticles, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and hydrogel-based delivery systems. He demonstrates expertise in drug encapsulation techniques, bioorthogonal chemistry, and surface functionalization, which are critical for targeted delivery and controlled release. Dr. Xiao is also well-versed in various in vitro and in vivo experimental models, enabling comprehensive evaluation of therapeutic efficacy and biocompatibility. His ability to integrate imaging technologies such as fluorescence microscopy and ultrasound enhances his work in biodistribution and real-time tracking of nanodrugs. In immunological applications, he is skilled in flow cytometry, ELISA, cytokine profiling, and T-cell modification techniques such as CAR-T engineering. Computational modeling and statistical analysis are further tools he utilizes for experimental design and data interpretation. In addition to laboratory competencies, Dr. Xiao has demonstrated proficiency in academic writing, grant proposal development, and project management, contributing to his success in securing multiple national research grants. Collectively, these skills empower him to conduct high-impact, translational research aimed at improving clinical outcomes in oncology and tissue regeneration.
Awards and Honors
Dr. Zecong Xiao has earned significant recognition for his research contributions, highlighted by his selection into the prestigious “Hundred Talents Program” at Sun Yat-sen University—a testament to his exceptional promise as a young scientist. This competitive initiative supports top-tier early-career researchers, offering substantial research funding and institutional support. He has also received the First-Class Grant from the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, acknowledging his groundbreaking work on matrix clearance-based nanodelivery systems to improve T-cell tumor infiltration. Dr. Xiao has served as Principal Investigator on multiple nationally and provincially funded projects, including grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Guangdong Provincial Science Fund for Applied Basic Research. His cumulative research funding exceeds 2 million RMB, reflecting the strong institutional and governmental trust in his work. In addition to funding awards, his published works have garnered widespread academic acclaim, accumulating over 1,900 citations and an H-index of 24—extraordinary achievements for a researcher of his age. His papers frequently appear in top-tier journals with impact factors exceeding 10, further underscoring the innovation and relevance of his research in the global scientific community.
Conclusion
Dr. Zecong Xiao exemplifies the next generation of translational researchers, leveraging multidisciplinary expertise to address some of the most pressing challenges in medicine. Through a strong foundation in materials science, pharmacology, and nanotechnology, he has developed innovative solutions for cancer immunotherapy and tissue engineering. His prolific academic output—comprising 49 high-impact publications and a rapidly growing citation record—reflects both the depth and breadth of his contributions. As a core member of Sun Yat-sen University’s “Hundred Talents Program,” he continues to inspire through mentorship, collaboration, and leadership in scientific research. His success in securing major research grants highlights both his visionary research goals and his strategic planning capabilities. With demonstrated excellence in both fundamental science and clinical translation, Dr. Xiao is poised to make lasting contributions to global healthcare, particularly in oncology, regenerative medicine, and nanomedicine. His career trajectory is a powerful example of how dedicated research, supported by institutional trust and personal perseverance, can drive scientific innovation with real-world impact. As his research continues to evolve, Dr. Xiao is set to remain at the forefront of biomedical discovery and application.
Publications Top Notes
1. Title: Endothelia-targeting eye drops deliver a STING inhibitor to effectively reduce retinal neovascularization in ischemic retinopathy
Authors: Siying Wen, Xuemin He, Jiachen Wang, Zheyao Wen, Heying Ai, Mengyin Cai, Yi Yang, Hejun Li, Shasha Li, Guojun Shi, Aimin Xu, Zecong Xiao, Xintao Shuai
Year: 2025
2. Title: Targeting m6A demethylase FTO to heal diabetic wounds with ROS-scavenging nanocolloidal hydrogels
Authors: Xinyao Zheng, S.Z. Deng, Yuan Li, Zhipeng Luo, Ziqi Gan, Zheng Zhang, Rui Xu, Shan Xiao, Yuxiong Cai, Jiazheng Meng, Li Li, Changxing Li, Xianghong Xue, Wei Dai, Qin Si, Mengying Wang, Kang Zeng, Zecong Xiao, Lai-Xin Xia
Year: 2025
Citations: 2
3. Title: A dissolvable microneedle platform for the delivery of tumor-derived total RNA nanovaccines for enhanced tumor immunotherapy
Authors: Jiachen Wang, Siying Wen, Yujie Jiang, Zheyao Wen, Minghao Zhang, Yuchen Li, Jujian Ye, Zecong Xiao, Xintao Shuai
Year: 2025
4. Title: A PD-L1 siRNA-Loaded Boron Nanoparticle for Targeted Cancer Radiotherapy and Immunotherapy
Authors: Shaohui Deng, Lijun Hu, Guo Chen, Jujian Ye, Siying Wen, Zecong Xiao, Xintao Shuai
Year: 2025
Citations: 2
5. Title: Tertiary lymphoid structure formation induced by LIGHT-engineered and photosensitive nanoparticles-decorated bacteria enhances immune response against colorectal cancer
Authors: Lijun Hu, Tan Li, Shaohui Deng, Honglin Gao, Yujie Jiang, Qiu Chen, Hui Chen, Zecong Xiao, Xintao Shuai, Zhongzhen Su
Year: 2025
Citations: 4