HERCULES Pilots with Dr. Benson Ku and Dr. Wenhao Zhang

Join us in person in CNR 5001 or via Zoom for a seminar by Drs. Benson Ku and Wenhao Zhang –

Full Bio: Dr. Wenhao Zhang

Wenhao Zhang is a postdoctoral fellow who received his PhD in Environmental Health Sciences from Tulane University. He investigates cardiotoxicity from environmental contaminants and chemotherapy drugs using human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) and develops 3D heart organoid models. His research interrogates cardiotoxicity via quantitative assessments of cell viability, mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, and proteomic remodeling in hiPSC-CMs. Today’s talk focuses on how per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances affect hiPSC-CMs, linking changes in mitochondrial function with pathway-level alterations in protein expression profiles.

Full Bio: Dr. Benson Ku

Benson Ku, MD, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Emory University School of Medicine. He is the Associate Director of the Emory Psychosis Program and Attending Psychiatrist at the ARROW First Episode Psychosis clinic at Grady Hospital. Dr. Ku’s research investigates the impact of environment and genetics on neurobiology and risk for psychosis among youth at clinical high risk. His research has been recognized by several prestigious awards, including the NIMH K23 Award and the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation Young Investigator Grant. He serves as a Board Member of several international societies, including the Schizophrenia International Research Society and Social Determinants of Health Network. His research findings have been featured in PBS, New York Times Magazine, and Medscape.

Contact hillary.barton@emory.edu with any questions.