Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Germany
Profile
Orcid
🎓 Early Academic Pursuits
Dr. Lior Zangi’s academic journey began in Jerusalem, Israel, where he earned his B.Sc. in Biology from the Hebrew University, Givat-Ram in 2000. He proceeded to obtain an M.Sc. in Experimental and Developmental Medicine in 2003 at the Hebrew University Hadassah-Medical School, under the mentorship of Prof. Raphael Gorodetsky. His academic commitment culminated in a Ph.D. in Immunology from the prestigious Weizmann Institute of Science in 2009, where he trained under Prof. Yair Reisner. These formative years laid the foundation for his future in translational and cardiovascular medicine.
🧑🔬 Professional Endeavors
Dr. Zangi pursued postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School, where he was mentored by eminent scientists including Prof. Derrick Rossi and Prof. Kenneth Chien (2010–2014). He also undertook postdoctoral research at the Pediatric Stem Cell Research Institute, Sheba Medical Center in Israel. In 2014, he joined the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where he progressed from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor with Tenure in both Cardiology and Genetics & Genomic Sciences by 2020. His academic appointments reflect a commitment to leadership in cardiovascular science and regenerative medicine.
🔬 Contributions and Research Focus
Dr. Zangi’s work focuses on mRNA-based protein replacement therapies, regenerative medicine, and stem cell biology with applications in cardiovascular repair and disease treatment. His pioneering contributions include developing novel RNA-based methods for delivering therapeutics, particularly targeting heart disease and brain-related applications. A notable project includes the development of RNA-based approaches to intranasally deliver neuropeptides to the brain, recognized by Mount Sinai’s SINAInnovations Faculty Idea Prize.
🌍 Impact and Influence
Dr. Zangi has significantly shaped the future of cardiovascular and gene therapy through his role as a Science Advisor for the U.S.–Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF), board member of the Society for RNA Therapeutics, and as Scientific Director of the PSMC5 Foundation. His research was acknowledged by Research Insights as one of the most influential studies in mRNA-Based Protein Replacement Therapy for the Heart.
📚 Academic Citations & Peer Review Engagement
Dr. Zangi is an active peer reviewer for leading journals including Nature Nanotechnology, Circulation, Cell Reports, Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), and Stem Cells Translational Medicine. His extensive manuscript reviews and involvement in scientific advisory committees underscore his scholarly authority and influence in the biomedical community.
🛠️ Technical Skills
Dr. Zangi brings technical mastery in areas such as:
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mRNA engineering and delivery systems
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Stem cell and cardiac tissue regeneration
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Molecular and cell biology techniques
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CRISPR and gene editing technologies
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Translational immunology and therapeutics
👨🏫 Teaching Experience
As an Associate Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine, Dr. Zangi mentors graduate and medical students, offering expertise in genomic sciences, cardiology, and stem cell research. His prior instructional role at Harvard Medical School further highlights his commitment to academic excellence and medical education.
🏆 Honors and Distinctions
Dr. Zangi has earned numerous prestigious awards including:
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American Society of Hematology (ASH) Travel Awards (2008, 2009)
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ISSCR Travel Award (2012)
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AHA Postdoctoral Fellowship (2014) with an excellent 1.32% priority score
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Mount Sinai Faculty Idea Prize (2017)
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Endowed Chan Soon-Shiong Professorship in Cardiovascular Research (2023)
🧬 Legacy and Future Contributions
Dr. Zangi’s legacy lies in his innovative use of RNA therapeutics for cardiovascular health and his leadership in developing translational approaches that bridge bench science with clinical applications. As a founding member of the Society for RNA Therapeutics, his future contributions are poised to influence personalized medicine, gene therapy, and regenerative cardiology at a global level.
Publication Top Notes
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Publication: The Potential of RNA Therapeutics in Treating Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Mainkar G, Ghiringhelli M, Zangi L.
Journal: Drugs
Year: 2025
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Publication: Clinical development of therapeutic mRNA applications
Authors: Żak MM, Zangi L.
Journal: Molecular Therapy
Year: 2025
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Publication: Transcriptional activation of regenerative hematopoiesis via microenvironmental sensing
Authors: Itkin T, Houghton S, Schreiner R, Lin Y, Badwe CR, Voisin V, Murison A, Seyedhassantehrani N, Kaufmann KB, Garcia-Prat L, Booth GT, Geng F, Liu Y, Gomez-Salinero JM, Shieh JH, Redmond D, Xiang JZ, Josefowicz SZ, Trapnell C, Pietras EM, Spencer JA, Levine R, Xiao W, Zangi L, Hadland B, Dick JE, Xie SZ, Rafii S.
Journal: Nature Immunology
Year: 2025
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Publication: Induced Cytokinesis Generates Highly Proliferative Mononuclear Cardiomyocytes at the Expense of Contractility
Authors: Lam NT, Nguyen NUN, Elhelaly WM, Hsu CC, Menendez-Montes I, Xiao F, Ali SR, Vo N, Briard N, El-Feky L, Omari QM, Cardoso AC, Liu Y, Ahmed MS, Li S, Thet S, Xing C, Zangi L, Sadek HA.
Journal: Circulation
Year: 2025