Translational Research in Mitochondrial Medicine

As a leading faculty member in the University at Buffalo’s Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Taosheng Huang will share his discoveries related to treating novel disease-causing genes and his research of rare genetic diseases.

About Taosheng Huang
Dr. Taosheng Huang is a physician-scientist with substantial experience in translational research and mitochondrial medicine. His focus is on the integration of research, molecular testing and clinical service to improve the care of patients. Dr. Huang was recently recruited to be the Chief of Genetics for Pediatrics at UB, Director of Genetics & Metabolism at Oishei Children’s Hospital and Program Director of Clinical Cancer Genetics at Great Lakes Cancer Center. His goal is to advance both UB and Oishei Children’s Hospital by bringing his cutting-edge research program and personnel, along with his 25 years of experience in clinical genetics. In addition, as the Chief of Genetics, Dr. Huang will help recruit additional experts in the field and attract new trainees to build up the research and clinical genetics environment at UB.

Clinically Dr. Huang is interested in the genetics of mitochondrial diseases, genetic syndromes with congenital cardiac defects, newborn screening, and prenatal screening and diagnosis. He is actively committed to the training of junior faculty, clinical and research fellows and many of his previous trainees have become independent investigators and/or serve as lab directors in molecular diagnostic labs and cytogenetic labs.

His primary research interest is in ground-breaking translational research into the basis of mitochondrial disease. Dr. Huang plans to continue his research into novel disease-causing genes related to mitochondrial dysfunction, studying their pathogenic mechanisms and developing therapeutic treatments. Recently, he and his team 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, they hope to eventually conduct clinical trials that will help translate these approaches into viable bedside treatments. Dr. Huang’s vision is to apply these discoveries from rare, primary mitochondrial disorders to common conditions, such as aging, neurodegeneration and diabetes.