Management & Leadership
TeloHealthDx has assembled a core team of employees and advisors experienced in biotechnology, product development, and business operations.
Dr. Yun-Ling Zheng, MD, PhD, MPH, Founder and President, is the inventor of the telomere profiling technology and the Principal Investigator of seven foundation- and NIH-funded projects. These include the NIH-funded Telomere Research Network study (U01ES031786), which funded the development of telomere profiling technology, and the Egypt Bladder Cancer Study (R01CA132996), which investigates the link between telomere deficiency on chromosome 9 and bladder cancer risk.
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With over 20 years of research experience, Dr. Zheng’s research has focused on understanding the role of telomere biology in cancer and aging. Her expertise spans molecular epidemiology, design and execution of large population studies, telomere biology, biostatistics, molecular genetics, and cytogenetics. Dr. Zheng received her medical training from Jiangxi Medical College in China, PhD training in Human Genetics from the University of Cambridge in the UK, and MPH training in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. Additionally, she received business and entrepreneurship training through the Faculty Entrepreneurship Academy Program at the McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University.
Dr. Ying Wang, MD, Senior Scientist, plays a pivotal role in advancing the company's work in telomere-based diagnostics. She earned her medical degree from Harbin Medical University in China and pursued advanced research training as a Clinical Research Fellow in the Department of Clinical Molecular Nutrition at Tokushima University in Japan.
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With over 20 years of experience in both industrial and academic settings, Dr. Wang has expertise in molecular genetic techniques, including qPCR, digital PCR, microarray construction, Q-FISH, fluorescent microscopy, cell culture, and animal models. Her research interests have ranged from stroke treatment to exploring the role of telomeres in aging and cancer. Dr. Wang’s work at Georgetown University Medical Center contributed to significant discoveries in telomere length variation as a risk factor for various cancers, including breast, lung, and bladder cancers. Throughout her career, Dr. Wang has also developed innovative telomere measurement methodologies, such as metaphase and interphase Q-FISH and DNA array-based telomere profiling method for single telomere analysis. Her work has been instrumental in bringing telomere research into clinical applications.
Dr. Xin Zhou, PhD, Senior Scientist (part-time), is an accomplished biologist with over 20 years of research and teaching experience across academia and industry. He holds a PhD degree in Biology from Texas A&M University (2005) and a BS in Biology from the University of Science & Technology of China (1997). Dr. Zhou is the Program Head of the Biotechnology Program and a Full Professor at Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) at Manassas, where he has taught since 2012. He is also a co-principal investigator on the NSF ATE grant "The NOVA Biotechnology and Leadership in Education (NOBLE)."
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Dr. Zhou’s professional background spans several prestigious institutions, including Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University, George Washington University School of Medicine, and Cornell University. He has extensive research expertise in cancer biology, wound healing, and functional genomics. Throughout his career, Dr. Zhou has developed a diverse skill set that includes expertise in molecular genetics, cell culture, fluorescence in situ hybridization, fluorescent microscopy, and advanced analytical techniques such as HPLC, GC-MS, and mass spectrometry. His research has contributed significantly to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer and other diseases, and his work is published in multiple high-impact journals.
Scarlett Sun, BS, Project Manager (part-time), brings a strong foundation in molecular biology and project coordination. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Georgetown University in 2017, where she gained hands-on experience in molecular biology assays. Since joining TeloHealthDx in 2023, Scarlett has utilized her excellent communication and organizational skills to effectively coordinate research efforts between Georgetown University and the company. Her expertise in managing complex projects and fostering collaboration across teams has played a pivotal role in advancing research initiatives and ensuring the successful execution of multiple projects.
Dr. Joseph Pergolizzi Jr., MD, Consultant, is the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of NEMA Research, Inc. NEMA Research is established as a Contract Research Organization (CRO) to provide full-spectrum services for conducting and implementing clinical trials and to facilitate the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products and medical devices. As the COO of NEMA since 2001, Dr. Pergolizzi has extensive experience in designing and conducting clinical trials, interacting with regulatory agents (such as the FDA), and commercializing medical products.