Looking for a doctor? This faculty member is affiliated with UBMD, the group comprised of practicing physicians who are also professors in the UB Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
I am a physician-scientist with substantial experience in translational research and mitochondrial medicine. My focus is on the integration of research, molecular testing and clinical service to improve the care of patients. Recently, I have been recruited to be the Chief of Genetics for Pediatrics at SUNY Buffalo, Director of Genetics & Metabolism at Oishei Children’s Hospital and Program Director of Clinical Cancer Genetics at Great Lakes Cancer Center. Previously, I served for eight years as Professor in Human Genetics, Director of the Program of Mitochondrial Medicine and Director of the Molecular Diagnostic laboratory at Cincinnati Children‘s Hospital Medical Center. My goal is to advance both UB and Oishei Children’s Hospital by bringing my cutting-edge research program and personnel from my previous institute, along with my 25 years of experience in clinical genetics. In addition, as the Chief of Genetics, I will help recruit additional experts in the field and attract new trainees to build up the research and clinical genetics environment at UB.
Clinically, I am interested in the genetics of mitochondrial diseases, genetic syndromes with congenital cardiac defects, newborn screening, and prenatal screening and diagnosis. I am also actively committed to the training of junior faculty, clinical and research fellows, a commitment that I will continue to follow at UB. Many of my trainees have become independent investigators and/or serve as lab directors in molecular diagnostic labs and cytogenetic labs.
My primary research interest is in ground-breaking translational research into the basis of mitochondrial disease. My group has published over 120 articles on a variety of topics, ranging from genetic syndromes to molecular mechanisms. Our research on mitochondrial replacement therapy in collaboration with Dr. John Zhang was ranked among the top 10 stories in 2016 by Nature and Science. Our discovery on paternal mtDNA was also ranked in the top 10 publications from 2019 by Nature. We plan to continue our research into novel disease-causing genes related to mitochondrial dysfunction, studying their pathogenic mechanisms and developing therapeutic treatments. Recently, we have shown that gene therapy based on the adeno-associated virus system can dramatically rescue the neurodegenerative phenotype in several of our mouse models of mitochondrial disease. Given these exciting results, we hope to eventually conduct clinical trials that will help translate these approaches into viable bedside treatments. In the long term, my vision is to apply these discoveries from rare, primary mitochondrial disorders to common conditions, such as aging, neurodegeneration and diabetes.
Education and Training:
PhD, Biomedical Science, Mount Sinai Medical School (1991)
MD, Fujian Medical College (1983)
Employment:
Division Chief of Human Genetics, Pediatrics, University at Buffalo (2020-present)
Medical Director of Genetics & Metabolism, Oishei Children’s Hospital (2020-present)
Program Director of Clinical Cancer Genetics, Great Lakes Cancer Center (2020-present)
Guest Professor, Nanchang University, China (2019-present)
Director, Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (2016–2020)
Professor, Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (2012–2020)
Director, Program of Mitochondrial Medicine, Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (2012–2020)
Professor, Nanchang University, China (2017–2019)
Associate Director, Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (2012–2016)
Honorable Professor, Peking Union Medical College, China (2011–2016)
Staff physician, Department of Pediatrics and Genetics, Orange County Children’s Hospital (2009–2012)
Associate Professor (joint appointment), Department of Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of California, Irvine, College of Medicine (2008–2012)
Associate Professor (joint appointment), Department of Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Irvine, College of Medicine (2008–2012)
Associate Professor (Tenured), Attending Physician in Human Genetics/Metabolism, Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics, University of California, Irvine, College of Medicine (2008–2012)
Associate Professor (joint appointment), Department of Developmental Biology, Department of Developmental Biology, University of California, Irvine, School of Biological Science (2008–2012)
Consultant physician, Department of Pediatrics/Genetics, Long Beach Memorial Hospital (2007–2012)
Director, MitoMed Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, University of California, Irvine, College of Medicine (2004–2012)
Medical staff, Long Beach Memorial Medical Center (2004–2012)
Attending Physician, Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics, University of California, Irvine, College of Medicine (2001–2012)
Director of Cardiovascular Genetic Clinic, Department of Pediatrics and Genetics, University of California, Irvine, College of Medicine (2001–2012)
Medical Director and Consultant, Ambry Genetics (2008–2010)
Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, University of California, Irvine, College of Medicine (2004–2008)
Assistant Professor (Tenure track), Attending physician in Human Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics and Genetics, University of California, Irvine, College of Medicine (2001–2008)
Assistant Professor, Department of Developmental Biology, University of California, Irvine, School of Biological Science (2001–2008)
Instructor in Genetics, Harvard Medical School (1999–2001)
Attending Physician and Assistant in Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School (1999–2001)
University of California, Irvine College of Medicine: Junior Physician-Scientist Award (2004)
University of California, Irvine College of Medicine: Second Place Research Award (2003)
National Health Institute: Clinical Associate Physician Award (1999)
Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School: Farley Fellowship (1998)
Georgetown University‘s Children‘s Medical Center: Resident Research Award (1996)
National Health Institute/Harvard Medical School: Fellowship Training Grant (1996)
Society of Chinese Biomedical Scientists in America: Third Place SCBA Poster Competition (1990)
American Society of Virology: Predoctoral Travel Fellowship (1989)
Research Expertise:
Clinical Genetics
Human Genetics
Metabolism
Mitochondrial Medicine
Pathogenic Mechanisms
Translational Research
Grants and Sponsored Research:
April 2019–March 2024 Molecular Mechanism of Biallelic Mutations of FDXR Causing Novel Mitochondriopathy with Optic Atrophy NIH-National Eye Institute Role: Principal Investigator $1,250,000
April 2018–March 2023 Exploration of the genetic basis and molecular mechanism for paternal mitochondrial DNA inheritance. NIH-National Institute of Child Health & Development Role: Principal Investigator $1,200,000
April 2019–March 2021 Causal Role of Mitochondrial Dysfunctions in Aging by Analyzing an Epigenetic Clock in Patients with Mitochondrial DNA Mutations NIH-National Institute of Aging Role: Principal Investigator $250,000
September 2012–August 2019 Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Research Foundation Grant. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Research Foundation Role: Principal Investigator $2,000,000
April 2016–March 2018 Molecular pathogenesis of SLC25A46 mutations in optic atrophy, axonal neuropathy, and cerebellar neurodegeneration Role: Principal Investigator $500,000
April 2008–March 2014 Genetics studies of optic atrophy NIH-National Eye Institute Role: Principal Investigator $1,000,000
January 2011–January 2013 Genetic and iPS Cell studies. Role: Principal Investigator $150,000
July 2005–December 2011 Studies of the TBX5 targets Larry & Helen Hoag Foundation Role: Principal Investigator $300,000
March 2008–June 2011 The role of TBX3 in Human Embryos Stem Cell Differentiation Minority Supplement for Taraneh Esmailpour NIH-National Cancer Institute Role: Principal Investigator $250,000
July 2007–June 2011 Intracellular Network of TBX3 in breast cancer NIH-National Cancer Institute Role: Principal Investigator $750,000
April 2006–March 2008 Transgenic TBX3 Animal Model to study breast cancer Susan Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Role: Principal Investigator $240,000
July 2001–June 2004 Faculty Development (Howard Hughes) Howard Hughes Medical Research Program Role: Principal Investigator $180,000
April 1999–March 2004 Clinical Associate Physician Award (K23): The Molecular Basis of Phenotypic Variability in Holt-Oram Syndrome. NIH Role: Co-Investigator $650,000
Huang T, Li P. Principles guiding the development of clinical practice guidelines for medical genetics and genomics specialty.. Zhonghua Yi Xue Yi Chuan Xue Za Zhi. 2020; 37.
Sun G, Mathur A, Zou F, Husami A, Denton J, Zhang K, Huang T, Valencia CA. Two Novel Mutations in SALL1 Cause Townes-Brocks-Like Syndrome: New Findings from an Old Case.. Genet Mol Med. 2019; 1.
Jiang Y, Huang T. Foreign experience the history and current status of medical genetics and genomics system in the United States.. Zhonghua Yi Xue Yi Chuan Xue Za Zhi. 2019; 36.
Luo S, Valencia CA, Zhang J, Lee NC, Slone J, Gui B, Wang X, Li Z, Dell S, Brown J, Chen SM, Chien YH, Hwu WL, Fan PC, Wong LJ, Atwal PS, Huang T. Biparental Inheritance of Mitochondrial DNA in Humans. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018; 115(51).
Hayashi Y, Zhang Y, Yokota A, Yan X, Liu J, Choi K, Li B, Sashida G, Peng Y, Xu Z, Huang R, Zhang L, Freudiger GM, Wang J, Dong Y, Zhou Y, Wang J, Wu L, Bu J, Chen A, Zhao X, Sun X, Chetal K, Olsson A, Watanabe M, Romick-Rosendale LE, Harada H, Shih LY, Tse W, Bridges JP, Caligiuri MA, Huang T, Zheng Y, Witte DP, Wang QF, Qu CK, Salomonis N, Grimes HL, Nimer SD, Xiao Z, Huang G. Pathobiological Pseudohypoxia as a Putative Mechanism Underlying Myelodysplastic Syndromes. Cancer Discov. 2018; 8(11).
Kang E, Wu J, Gutierrez NM, Koski A, Tippner-Hedges R, Agaronyan K, Platero-Luengo A, Martinez-Redondo P, Ma H, Lee Y, Hayama T, Van Dyken C, Wang X, Luo S, Ahmed R, Li Y, Ji D, Kayali R, Cinnioglu C, Olson S, Jensen J, Battaglia D, Lee D, Wu D, Huang T, Wolf DP, Temiakov D, Belmonte JC, Amato P, Mitalipov S. Mitochondrial replacement in human oocytes carrying pathogenic mitochondrial DNA mutations. Nature. 2016; 540(7632).
Ma H, Folmes CD, Wu J, Morey R, Mora-Castilla S, Ocampo A, Ma L, Poulton J, Wang X, Ahmed R, Kang E, Lee Y, Hayama T, Li Y, Van Dyken C, Gutierrez NM, Tippner-Hedges R, Koski A, Mitalipov N, Amato P, Wolf DP, Huang T, Terzic A, Laurent LC, Izpisua Belmonte JC, Mitalipov S. Metabolic rescue in pluripotent cells from patients with mtDNA disease. Nature. 2015; 524(7564).
Simon M, Richard EM, Wang X, Shahzad M, Huang VH, Qaiser TA, Potluri P, Mahl SE, Davila A, Nazli S, Hancock S, Yu M, Gargus J, Chang R, Al-Sheqaih N, Newman WG, Abdenur J, Starr A, Hegde R, Dorn T, Busch A, Park E, Wu J, Schwenzer H, Flierl A, Florentz C, Sissler M, Khan SN, Li R, Guan MX, Friedman TB, Wu DK, Procaccio V, Riazuddin S, Wallace DC, Ahmed ZM, Huang T, Riazuddin S. Mutations of human NARS2, encoding the mitochondrial asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase, cause nonsyndromic deafness and Leigh syndrome. PLoS Genet. 2015; 11(3).
Hufnagel RB, Arno G, Hein ND, Hersheson J, Prasad M, Anderson Y, Krueger LA, Gregory LC, Stoetzel C, Jaworek TJ, Hull S, Li A, Plagnol V, Willen CM, Morgan TM, Prows CA, Hegde RS, Riazuddin S, Grabowski GA, Richardson RJ, Dieterich K, Huang T, Revesz T, Martinez-Barbera JP, Sisk RA, Jefferies C, Houlden H, Dattani MT, Fink JK, Dollfus H, Moore AT, Ahmed ZM. Neuropathy target esterase impairments cause Oliver-McFarlane and Laurence-Moon syndromes. J Med Genet. 2015; 52(2).
Basson CT, Huang T, Lin RC, Bachinsky DR, Weremowicz S, Vaglio A, Bruzzone R, Quadrelli R, Lerone M, Romeo G, Silengo M, Pereira A, Krieger J, Mesquita SF, Kamisago M, Morton CC, Pierpont ME, Müller CW, Seidman JG, Seidman CE. Different TBX5 interactions in heart and limb defined by Holt-Oram syndrome mutations. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999; 96(6).
Huang T, Palese P, Krystal M. Determination of influenza virus proteins required for genome replication.. Journal of Virology. 1990; 64.
Huang T, Dong Y. Changes in protein metabolism in the soleus muscles of the scalded rats and the therapeutic effect of leucine and insulin (II). Journal of PLA Medical Colleges. 1987; 4.
Huang T, Dong Y. Changes in protein metabolism in the soleus muscle of the scalded rats and therapeutic effect of leucine and insulin (I). Acta Academia Medicine (Chinese). 1987; 9.
Huang T, Dong Y. Changes in protein and nucleic acid metabolism in the liver of the scalded rats. Acta Academia Medicine (Chinese). 1987; 10.
Huang T, Dong Y. Assay of the protein turnover rate for skeletal muscle.. Biochem Biophys Acta (Chinese). 1987; 11.
Strehle EM, Yu L, Rosenfeld JA, Donkervoort S, Zhou Y, Chen TJ, Martinez JE, Fan YS, Barbouth D, Zhu H, Vaglio A, Smith R, Stevens CA, Curry CJ, Ladda RL, Fan ZJ, Fox JE, Martin JA, Abdel-Hamid HZ, McCracken EA, McGillivray BC, Masser-Frye D, Huang T. Genotype-phenotype analysis of 4q deletion syndrome: proposal of a critical region. Am J Med Genet A. 2012; 158A(9).
"Organizing Committee Member" 5th Global Congress on Pediatrics & Neonatology (2020)
"Mitochondria and Reproductive Medicine" , International Society of Reproductive Genetics (ISRG) (2019)
"New Insights into Mitochondrial Medicine, Keynote Speaker" The Association of Chinese Geneticists in America (ACGA) Annual Meeting, The Association of Chinese Geneticists in America (ACGA) (2019)
"Mitochondria Health and Diseases" (2019)
"New Insights into Mitochondrial Medicine" , Jiangxi Children's Hospital (2019)
"New Insights into Mitochondrial Medicine" , Xinhua Hospital (2019)
"New Insights into Mitochondrial Medicine" , Shanghai Children Hospital (2019)
"New Insights into Mitochondrial Medicine" , Jiangxi Agricultural University (2019)
"New Insights into Mitochondrial Medicine, Keynote Speaker" World Chinese Pediatrician Conference-Qingdao (2019)
"Carrier Screening" , Sichuan University, School of Medicine (2019)
"New Insights into Mitochondrial Medicine" , Tulane University (2019)
"Mitochondria Health and Diseases" , Wenzhou Medical University (2018)
"Mitochondria Health and Diseases" , University of Iowa (2018)
"First Live Birth of Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy" The 30th Anniversary of ART in China (2018)
"Medical Genetic System in USA" Annual Meeting National Society of Genetic Counseling (2018)
"Genetics of Mitochondrial Diseases, Keynote speaker" Annual meeting on Women and Children’s Health (2018)
"Mitochondria Health and Diseases" CAMA Annual Lecture (2018)
"Mitochondrial-Related Retinopathy" , National Eye Institute, NIH (2017)
"First Live birth derived from oocyte spindle transfer to prevent mitochondrial disease" American Society of Human Genetics Annual Meeting, American Society of Human Genetics (2017)
"Organizing Committee Member" 3rd Annual Congress on Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs (2017)
"Mitochondria in Health & Disease" , University at Buffalo (2017)
"Mitochondria in Health & Disease, Departmental Seminar" , Indiana University (2017)
"Biallelic mutations in the ferredoxin reductase gene cause novel mitochondriopathy with optic atrophy" ACMGG annual meeting, ACMGG (2017)
Looking for a doctor? This faculty member is affiliated with UBMD, the group comprised of practicing physicians who are also professors in the UB Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.