Scientific research is a continuous journey of discovery, innovation, and collaboration. Dr. Hao Zhang, a highly accomplished researcher in neuro-oncology and cancer immunotherapy, embodies these principles. Recently promoted to Section Editor at Biomolecules and Biomedicine, Dr. Zhang brings extensive expertise in the tumor microenvironment, bioinformatics, and targeted therapies. His work has not only contributed to advancing cancer treatments but has also significantly shaped the scientific community through his editorial roles in numerous high-impact journals.
With 47 first-author or corresponding-author publications in leading journals like Molecular Cancer, Journal of Hematology & Oncology, and Cancer Communications, Dr. Zhang has established himself as a thought leader in oncology research. His work has garnered over 3,000 citations, reflecting its influence on the field. In addition to his research, he has led multiple projects, including one funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and was ranked among the top 51 most influential figures in neurosurgery in China over the past five years.
Beyond the lab, Dr. Zhang finds inspiration in the resilience of patients and the collaborative nature of the scientific community. His passion for discovery extends beyond research—his love for travel and staying active fuels his intellectual curiosity and problem-solving mindset.
In this interview, Dr. Zhang shares insights into his career path, research interests, and vision for the future of oncology and scientific publishing.
Interview Questions for Dr. Hao Zhang
Career and Research Journey
- What initially drew you to the field of oncology, and how did your journey in cancer research begin?
My interest in oncology began during my undergraduate studies in molecular biology, where I was struck by the complexity of gliomas as a disease—both biologically and in its profound human impact. My journey formally started during my MD, where I explored genomic instability in tumors. This led me to bioinformatics, as I realized the power of computational tools to decode the vast data behind cancer biology.
- Your research covers a broad spectrum, from bioinformatics to immunotherapy. What drives your interest in these areas?
Cancer is a multifaceted challenge, and no single approach can fully address it. Bioinformatics provides the lens to uncover patterns in complex datasets, while immunotherapy represents a revolutionary shift in treatment—harnessing the body’s own defenses. The synergy between these fields excites me: bioinformatics identifies predictive biomarkers, and immunotherapy translates these insights into therapies. This interdisciplinary approach is key to personalized medicine, which I believe is the future of oncology.
The Role of a Section Editor
- Congratulations on your recent promotion to Section Editor at Biomolecules and Biomedicine! What are the main responsibilities of this role?
Thank you! As a Section Editor, I oversee the peer-review process for submissions in oncology and related fields. This involves ensuring rigorous evaluation, identifying emerging topics, and collaborating with reviewers and authors to maintain high standards. A key responsibility is to balance innovation with methodological soundness, especially in fast-moving areas like immuno-oncology.
- How do you see your editorial responsibilities influencing the future of cancer research publications?
By prioritizing studies that bridge gaps between basic science and clinical application, I hope to amplify research with translational potential. I also aim to promote transparency—encouraging pre-registration, data sharing, and negative result publications to combat bias. Supporting early-career researchers and diverse voices is equally important to foster a dynamic academic ecosystem.
- What challenges do you face in maintaining scientific quality and integrity of scientific publishing?
The surge in submissions poses a strain on peer review, risking delays or superficial evaluations. Another challenge is detecting subtle forms of misconduct, like image manipulation or AI-generated text. To address this, we’re adopting AI screening tools while emphasizing ethical training for authors and reviewers. Maintaining trust in published science is non-negotiable.
The Future of Cancer Research
- The field of cancer immunotherapy has evolved rapidly in recent years. What do you think are the most promising developments?
CAR-T therapies for solid tumors and bispecific antibodies are breaking new ground. Equally exciting are neoantigen-based vaccines, which could offer tailored prevention for high-risk patients. However, overcoming resistance mechanisms and managing toxicity remain critical hurdles. Combining immunotherapy with targeted therapies or radiotherapy may unlock synergistic effects.
- How do you see artificial intelligence and bioinformatics shaping the future of oncology research?
AI accelerates drug discovery by predicting compound interactions and optimizing clinical trial design. In bioinformatics, deep learning models can integrate multi-omics data to stratify patients or uncover resistance pathways. Yet, challenges persist—like ensuring AI models are interpretable and equitable across diverse populations. Collaboration between computational and clinical experts will be vital.
- Are there any specific gaps or challenges in the field that you believe need more attention?
We need better preclinical models that mimic human tumor microenvironments, as many therapies fail in translation. Additionally, global disparities in cancer care demand low-cost diagnostics and therapies. Finally, fostering interdisciplinary training programs will prepare the next generation to tackle these complex challenges.
Personal Insights and Work-Life Balance
- Beyond your research, what inspires and motivates you every day?
The resilience of patients and their families motivates me deeply. Scientifically, I’m driven by the “aha moments”—when data reveals a new mechanism or a therapy succeeds in a refractory case. Collaborating with passionate colleagues across disciplines also fuels my enthusiasm.
- You’ve mentioned that staying active and traveling play an important role in your life. How do these activities influence your approach to scientific discovery?
Hiking and running help me clear my mind—often leading to creative solutions to research problems. Traveling exposes me to diverse perspectives; for instance, visiting labs in different countries has taught me alternative approaches to problem-solving. Both activities remind me that science thrives when we step outside our comfort zones.
- If you could give one piece of advice to young researchers aspiring to make an impact in oncology, what would it be?
Be relentlessly curious and unafraid to pivot when data challenges assumptions. Build a network of mentors and collaborators—science is a team sport. Lastly, prioritize resilience over perfection; setbacks are inevitable, but each one teaches you how to advance.
This conversation with Dr. Zhang promises to provide valuable insights into the evolving landscape of cancer research and scientific publishing. Stay tuned for his thoughts on the latest advancements, editorial challenges, and the driving forces behind his passion for discovery.
The translation of the preceding English text in Chinese:
科学研究是一场持续不断的探索、创新和合作之旅
张浩博士是一位在神经肿瘤学和癌症免疫治疗领域卓有成就的研究者，他完美诠释了这些科学精神。近期，他被**《Biomolecules and Biomedicine》聘为分栏目编辑（Section Editor），为该领域带来了他在肿瘤微环境、生物信息学和靶向治疗方面的深厚专业知识。他的研究不仅推动了癌症治疗的进展，也通过在多个高影响因子期刊**的编辑工作，深刻影响了科学界。
在他的学术生涯中，张博士以第一作者或通讯作者身份在**《Molecular Cancer》《Journal of Hematology & Oncology》《Cancer Communications》等顶级期刊发表了47篇论文**，确立了他在肿瘤学研究领域的思想领袖地位。他的研究已获得超过3000次引用，反映了其在该领域的重要影响力。此外，他还主持了多个科研项目，包括国家自然科学基金资助的研究，并在过去五年中被评为中国神经外科领域最具影响力的51位学者之一。
科研之外，张博士的灵感来源于患者的坚韧不拔以及科学界的合作精神。他对探索的热爱不仅体现在研究工作中，也延伸到他的个人生活——旅行和运动帮助他保持敏锐的求知欲和卓越的问题解决能力。
在本次访谈中，张博士将分享他在科研道路上的经历、研究兴趣以及他对肿瘤学和科学出版未来的展望。
访谈：张浩博士
职业与研究历程
问：是什么吸引您进入肿瘤学领域？您的癌症研究之旅是如何开始的？
张浩博士： 我的肿瘤学兴趣始于本科阶段的分子生物学学习，当时我被胶质瘤的复杂性深深吸引——不仅是其生物学特性，还有它对患者和家庭的深远影响。在攻读医学博士（MD）期间，我正式开启了癌症研究的旅程，重点研究肿瘤的基因组不稳定性。随着研究的深入，我意识到生物信息学的强大之处，它能够解析癌症生物学背后的海量数据，于是我逐步向这个方向拓展。
问：您的研究涵盖了从生物信息学到免疫治疗等多个领域，是什么驱动了您对这些方向的兴趣？
张浩博士： 癌症是一个极其复杂的挑战，没有单一方法能够完全解决它。生物信息学能够帮助我们在复杂数据集中找到隐藏的模式，而免疫治疗则是一种彻底改变癌症治疗方式的创新方法——它利用人体自身的免疫系统来对抗癌症。我对这两个领域的兴趣源于它们的协同作用：生物信息学可以发现预测性生物标志物，而免疫治疗则能将这些发现转化为新的疗法。这种跨学科整合是**个性化医学（precision medicine）**的关键，我坚信这是肿瘤学的未来发展方向。
分栏目编辑的角色
问：祝贺您被任命为《Biomolecules and Biomedicine》的分栏目编辑！这个职位的主要职责是什么？
张浩博士： 感谢您的祝贺！作为分栏目编辑，我的主要职责包括：
-
监督同行评审过程，确保提交的论文经过严格的科学审查。
-
识别新兴研究热点，引导期刊关注前沿领域。
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与审稿人和作者合作，保持论文质量的高标准。
在快速发展的领域（如免疫肿瘤学）中，我的职责是平衡创新性与方法学的严谨性，确保发表的研究具有科学价值和临床转化潜力。
问：您如何看待您的编辑工作对癌症研究出版物未来的影响？
张浩博士： 我的目标是优先支持基础科学与临床应用结合的研究，放大具有转化医学价值的工作。此外，我希望促进透明度，鼓励研究预注册、数据共享以及负面结果发表，以减少发表偏倚（publication bias）。同时，我也重视支持青年学者和多元化声音，推动形成一个充满活力的学术生态系统。
问：在维护科学出版质量和诚信方面，您面临哪些挑战？
张浩博士： 主要挑战包括：
- 稿件激增导致审稿流程紧张，可能影响审查深度。
- 科学不端行为的检测，如图像操纵或AI生成文本，变得更加隐蔽。
为了解决这些问题，我们正在引入AI筛查工具，同时加强对作者和审稿人的学术诚信培训，确保科学出版的公信力和可信度。
癌症研究的未来
问：近年来癌症免疫治疗发展迅速，您认为最具前景的研究方向是什么？
张浩博士： 目前CAR-T细胞疗法在实体瘤中的突破以及双特异性抗体的进展令人振奋。此外，新抗原疫苗（neoantigen-based vaccines）有望为高危人群提供个性化预防策略。但我们仍然面临挑战，如免疫耐受机制和治疗毒性的管理。我认为，联合治疗策略（如将免疫疗法与靶向治疗或放疗结合）可能带来协同效应，是未来的关键发展方向。
问：人工智能（AI）和生物信息学如何塑造肿瘤学研究的未来？
张浩博士： AI正在加速药物发现，通过预测药物相互作用和优化临床试验设计，显著提高研发效率。在生物信息学领域，深度学习模型能够整合多组学数据（multi-omics data），帮助患者分层并揭示耐药机制。然而，挑战仍然存在，例如确保AI模型的可解释性以及跨种族和群体的公平性。未来，计算科学家与临床专家的深度合作将至关重要。
个人视角与工作生活平衡
问：在研究之外，是什么激励着您每天前进？
张浩博士： 患者及其家庭的坚韧不拔精神深深激励着我。从科学角度来看，“aha时刻”——当数据揭示一个新机制或治疗方案在疑难病例中成功时——是我科研工作的最大动力。此外，与不同学科的热情科学家合作也让我充满激情。
问：您提到运动和旅行对您很重要，这些兴趣如何影响您的科学探索？
张浩博士： 跑步和徒步帮助我整理思绪，常常能在这些过程中产生新的研究想法。旅行让我接触到不同文化和研究方法，例如在不同国家的实验室交流让我学习到创新的科学视角。这让我相信，科学的进步往往发生在我们跳出舒适区的时候。
问：如果给年轻研究者一句建议，您会说什么？
张浩博士： 保持好奇心，勇于挑战假设，构建强大的学术网络，并学会从失败中学习。科学不是独行侠游戏，而是团队合作。
这次访谈将为您带来癌症研究与科学出版的前沿洞察，敬请期待张博士的深入见解！
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