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McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory

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Heo Laboratory

Ellen Zhang

Ph.D. Student in Bioengineering 
University of Pennsylvania

Hometown

Qingdao, China

Education

M.S. Biotechnology, University of Pennsylvania, 2022

B.S. Biochemistry, University of Washington-Seattle, 2020

Areas of Special Interest

My research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of chondrocyte dedifferentiation and developing treatments for Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP). I love reading, traveling, playing my violin, and rubbing my Alaskan Malamute, Avi’s furry belly. 

Publications

  1. Zhang EY, Blanch TE, Ahmed SB, Jiang X, Dyment NA, Heo SC. Epigenetic regulation and mechanobiological adaptation in tenocytes during maturation. APL Bioengineering, 9 (2), 026127. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0271050
  2. Zhang Y, Zhang EY, Cheung C, Heo Y, Tumenbayar BI, Lee SH, Bae YH, Heo SC. Epigenetic dynamics in meniscus cell migration and its zonal dependency in response to inflammatory conditions. APL bioengineering, 9(1), 016109. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0239035
  3. Lee, SH, Li Z, Zhang EY, Kim DH, Huang Z, Heo Y, Lee SJ, Kang HW, Burdick JA, Mauck RL, Heo SC. Precision repair of zone-specific meniscal injuries using a tunable extracellular matrix-based hydrogel system. Bioactive Materials, 48, 400–413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioactmat.2025.02.013
  4. Lee SH, Kiapour A, Stoeckl BD, Zhang EY, Begley MR, Oldham J, Harrison L, Hunt J, Mauck RL, Heo SC. Therapeutic Implants: Mechanobiologic Enhancement of Osteogenic, Angiogenic, and Myogenic Responses in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells on 3D-Printed Titanium Truss. Advanced Healthcare Materials, 2501856. https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202501856
  5. Kim HH, Martinez Sarmiento JA, Palma FR, Kant A, Zhang EY, Guo Z, Mauck RL, Heo SJ, Shenoy V, Bonini MG, Lakadamyali M. O-SNAP: A comprehensive pipeline for spatial profiling of chromatin architecture. bioRxiv, p. 2025.07.18.665612. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.07.18.665612

Selected Conference Abstracts and Presentations

  1. Zhang EY, Tumenbayar BI, Jung J, Roberts D, Mauck RL, Shore EM, Heo SJ. BMP and Rho Signaling Interactions Regulate Chromatin Organization in FOP Cells. 2025 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) Annual Meeting. September 5-8. Seattle, WA, USA. – Plenary poster presentation and Young Investigator travel award

  2. Zhang EY, Lee SH, Heo Y, Lakadamyali M, Mauck RL, Jung I, Heo SJ. Identifying Key Molecular Factors in Chondrocyte Dedifferentiation through Single-Nuclei Multiome Sequencing. 2025 Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS) Annual Meeting. February 2-6. Phoenix, AZ, USA. – Podium presentation

  3. Zhang EY, Heo Y, Greenberg R, Lee SH, Jung I, Lakadamyali M, Mauck RL, Heo SJ. Preserving Chondrocyte Phenotype: Impact of in vitro Expansion on Chromatin Remodeling, Cytoskeletal Changes, and Mechanosensitivity. 2024 Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Annual Meeting. October 23-26. Baltimore, MD, USA. – Podium presentation

  4. Zhang EY, Roberts, D, Mourkioti F, Lakadamyali, M, Mauck, RL, Shore, EM, Heo, SJ. Elevated Rho Signaling Downstream Of The R206H Acvr1 Mutation In FOP Alters Chromatin Organization. 2023 Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS) Annual Meeting. February 10-14. Dallas, TX, USA. – Podium presentation

  5. Zhang EY, Ahmed, SB, Kim, DH, Li, Z, Mauck, RL, Lakadamyali, M, Heo, SJ. Epigenetic Approaches for Preserving Chondrocyte Phenotypes During in vitro Expansion. 2021 Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Annual Meeting. October 6-9. Orlando, FL, USA. - Podium presentation

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