Professional role
tenured professor in CBG[1]
LC
genetic and pharmacological approaches to combat obesity, metabolic syndromes, aging, and cancer · the neural regulation of metabolism, immunity, and cancer
Reviewed sources document Education record: completed research fellowships at the University of Freiburg and Thomas Jefferson University and Education record: earned her PhD from the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Explore education and trainingReviewed sources document genetic and pharmacological approaches to combat obesity, metabolic syndromes, aging, and cancer and the neural regulation of metabolism, immunity, and cancer. Explore attributed publications and research affiliations.
Explore researchtenured professor in CBG[1]
genetic and pharmacological approaches to combat obesity, metabolic syndromes, aging, and cancer[1]
the neural regulation of metabolism, immunity, and cancer[1]
Sources are listed once and connected to each accepted claim they support. Excerpts preserve the source language used in the review.
6 source claims · Reviewed Sep 9, 2026
Education record: completed research fellowships at the University of Freiburg and Thomas Jefferson University
completed research fellowships at the University of Freiburg and Thomas Jefferson University
Education record: earned her PhD from the Chinese Academy of Sciences
She earned her PhD from the Chinese Academy of Sciences
Identity: Lei Cao
Lei Cao has been named as one of the top 3 Innovator of the Year finalists by the Enterprise for Research, Innovation, and Knowledge (ERIK). Dr. Cao holds the William C. and Joan E. Davis Endowed Professorship in Cancer Research and is a tenured professor in CBG. Her research focuses on the neural regulation of metabolism, immunity, and cancer, providing insights into how environmental stimuli to the central nervous system shape biological processes and disease pathology. Her lab also aims to foster genetic and pharmacological approaches to combat obesity, metabolic syndromes, aging, and cancer. Cao’s patents have been licensed to biotech companies for further development, and she is a co-founder of the gene therapy startup Zvelt Therapeutics. She earned her PhD from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and completed research fellowships at the University of Freiburg and Thomas Jefferson University before joining Ohio State University in 2006.
Professional role: tenured professor in CBG
Lei Cao has been named as one of the top 3 Innovator of the Year finalists by the Enterprise for Research, Innovation, and Knowledge (ERIK). Dr. Cao holds the William C. and Joan E. Davis Endowed Professorship in Cancer Research and is a tenured professor in CBG. Her research focuses on the neural regulation of metabolism, immunity, and cancer, providing insights into how environmental stimuli to the central nervous system shape biological processes and disease pathology. Her lab also aims to foster genetic and pharmacological approaches to combat obesity, metabolic syndromes, aging, and cancer. Cao’s patents have been licensed to biotech companies for further development, and she is a co-founder of the gene therapy startup Zvelt Therapeutics. She earned her PhD from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and completed research fellowships at the University of Freiburg and Thomas Jefferson University before joining Ohio State University in 2006.
Dr. Cao holds the William C. and Joan E. Davis Endowed Professorship in Cancer Research and is a tenured professor in CBG.
Research interests: genetic and pharmacological approaches to combat obesity, metabolic syndromes, aging, and cancer
Her lab also aims to foster genetic and pharmacological approaches to combat obesity, metabolic syndromes, aging, and cancer.
Research interests: the neural regulation of metabolism, immunity, and cancer
Her research focuses on the neural regulation of metabolism, immunity, and cancer, providing insights into how environmental stimuli to the central nervous system shape biological processes and disease pathology.