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Zhiqing Huang

Assistant Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Sciences
Duke PO Box 90534, Durham, NC 27710
the Chesterfield Building, 701 West Main Street, Durham, NC 27701
Office hours 8-10 hours per day.  

Research Interests


Dr. Huang’s current research interests include:
1). Impacts of the tumor microenvironment on ovarian cancer metastasis and recurrence;
2). The impacts of lipid metabolism in the tumor microenvironment in cancer development. 
3). Epigenetic modifications in relation to ovarian cancer development and progression
4). Identification of novel drugs that target ovarian cancer stem cells;
5). Functional impacts of epigenetic modifications, resulting from early life exposures, on disease risk (including cancer) in later life;
6). Development of epigenetic screening tools for diagnostic and prognostic utility;
7). In vivo animal models for the study of chemotherapeutic response, with a particular focus on ovarian cancer and the delay or prevention of recurrence;
8). The early DNA methylation profiles contribute to cancer development in late life;
9). The comprehensive profiling of spatial biology in the tumor microenvironment in ovarian cancer
10). The impact of ferroptosis in endometriosis development and therapy.

Selected Grants


Non-canonical role of Ninjurin 1 (NINJ1) in the ferroptosis of recurrent ovarian cancer

ResearchCollaborator · Awarded by Department of Defense · 2024 - 2026

Redox-active drug, BMX-001, as a neuroprotectant: A preventive strategy for chemotherapy induced neurotoxicity

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Health and Environmental Sciences Institute · 2022 - 2024

Role of Age-Related Changes in the Tumor Microenvironment on Ovarian Cancer Progression

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2021 - 2024

Paternal Transgenerational Epigenetic Legacy from Use of Cannabis

ResearchSenior Research Scientist · Awarded by John Templeton Foundation · 2017 - 2022

Triggering human anti-tumor stringent response to target recurrent ovarian cancer

ResearchSenior Research Scientist · Awarded by Department of Defense · 2017 - 2019

Immune regulated amino acid pathways in Alzheimer's Disease

ResearchResearch Scientist · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2016 - 2018

Functional Genomic Screens of Tumor Recurrence in Ovarian Cancer

ResearchResearch Scientist · Awarded by Department of Defense · 2014 - 2017

Obesity and deregulation of imprinted genes in early life

ResearchResearch Analyst · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2010 - 2015

Disparities in cervical cancer precursors and deregulation of imprinted genes

ResearchResearch Scientist · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2010 - 2014

Nutrition, Deregulation of Imprinted Genes and Rapid Weight Gain in Early Life

ResearchResearch Analyst · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2009 - 2014

Characterizing Alcohol's Effects on Repair of Liver Injury

ResearchLab Research Analyst II · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2009 - 2012

Mentored Oriented Research Career Development Award

ResearchResearch Scientist · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2000 - 2005

Fellowships, Gifts, and Supported Research


Early Establishment of Epigenetic Profiles that Increase Cancer Risk in Late Life · July 2024 - June 2025 PI · Awarded by: ASC-DCI · $50,000.00
Age Effects on Chemotherapy Targeting Cells Causing Ovarian Cancer Recurrence · January 2024 - December 2024 PI · Awarded by: Charles Hammond Fund
2023 DCI Spring Pilot Award · July 2023 - June 2024 Awarded by: Duke university Cancer institute Age Effects on Chemotherapy Targeting Cells Causing Ovarian Cancer Recurrence.
The Charles Hammond Research Fund (CHRF) · January 2023 - December 2023 Awarded by: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center Single Cell Spatial Transcriptomics in Highly Aggressive and Less Aggressive Ovarian Cancer
The Functions of Complement C7 in the Progression of Ovarian Cancer · January 2021 - December 2022 PI · Awarded by: Charles B. Hammond Research Fund. To gain a better understanding of complement component function(s) in the tumor microenvironment and to discover the biomarkers and novel immunotherapeutic approaches for serous epithelial OC.
The Function of Periostin (POSTN) in the Development of Chemo-Resistance and Recurrence of Ovarian Cancer · July 2018 - June 2020 principal investigator (PI) · Awarded by: Charles B. Hammond Research Fund · $10,000.00 We propose to use a 3D cell culture model containing preadipocytes (fibroblasts) and cancer cells to study how POSTN supports cell survival in the presence of chemotherapy reagents. A 3D cell culture model more accurately mimics in vivo tumor formation and how the cells will respond to treatment. We will also test POSTN in cancer formation, chemosensitivity, and tumor recurrence in vivo with a mouse model. Aim 1. Determine the function of POSTN in OC with a 3D cell culture model. Aim 2. Determine the function of POSTN in tumor formation and OC recurrence using a xenograft mouse model.
Identification of genes associated with ovarian cancer recurrence using FFPE specimens. · 2014 Principal Investigator · Awarded by: Oncology Research Grant by EA|Quintiles and Illumina
German Research Foundation Scholarship · 1996 Scholarship Winner · Awarded by: Heidelberg University, Germany