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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, rubbing my Alaskan Malamute Avi’s furry belly, and watching LOTR for the 10000th time. 

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 EY, Roberts DW, Lee SH, Tumenbayar BI, Jung J, Rivera LM, Jung IK, Mauck RL, Shore EM, Heo SC. Hyperactive BMP and Mechanosignaling Remodel Chromatin to Drive Aberrant Osteogenesis in FOP. bioRxiv, p. 2026.01.05.697733. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.01.05.697733
  3. 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
  4. Blanch TE, Zhang EY, Kim SW, Tumenbayar BI, Jiang X, Kwon, IK, Dyment NA, Jung IK, Heo SC. Age-Dependent Chromatin Remodeling Drives Inflammatory Dysregulation in Tendon Cells. bioRxiv, p. 2026.01.05.697725. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.01.05.697725
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. Li Z, Lee SH, Xu L, Santos M, Lu R, Zhang EY, Kim DH, Tumenbayar BI, Blanch T, Jung J, Shin J, Bae Y, Tran RT, Schaer T, Heo SC. Engineering a Biomimetic Multiphasic Suture Anchor System for Enhanced Rotator Cuff Enthesis Regeneration. bioRxiv, p. 2025.10.30.685549. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.10.30.685549

Selected Conference Abstracts and Presentations

  1. Zhang EY, Roberts DW, Lee SH, Tumenbayar BI, Jung J, Rivera LM, Jung I, Mauck RL, Shore EM, Heo SC. Aberrant BMP And Mechanosignaling Remodel Chromatin To Drive Heterotopic Ossification In FOP. 2026 Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS) Annual Meeting. March 27-31. Charlotte, NC, USA. – Spotlight Podium Presentation

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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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