41288-Hao, Chunhai
Faculty

Chunhai Hao, MD, PhD, MSC

Bicentennial Professor of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine II

Address
Research II
950 W Walnut Str, R2 E378

Indianapolis, IN 46202
Download CV

Bio

Dr. Hao is a physician-scientist who has been practicing clinical neuropathology and conducting laboratory research in the last 25 years. His research has been funded by National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and other agencies. His research is focusing on protein ubiquitination and degradation and targeted anticancer and antiaging drug discovery. He has served several NCI study sections.

Dr. Hao received MD, MSc in pathology, PhD in cellular biology/Anatomy and neuropathology residency training. He is a certified neuropathologist and Fellow of Royal College of Physicians of Canada (FRCPC). He started his academic career at University of Alberta and then moved to Emory University and McGill University. In January 2018, he joined the Indiana University School of Medicine as the Bicentennial Chair, Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Adjunct Professor of Neurological Surgery. He also serves a neuropathologist at Indiana University Health.

Key Publications

Bellail AC, Jin HR, Lo HY, Jung SH, Hamdouchi C, Kim D, Higgins RK, Blanck M, le Sage C, Cross BCS, Li J, Mosley AL, Wijeratne AB, Jiang W, Ghosh M, Zhao YQ, Hauck PM, Shekhar A, Hao C. Ubiquitination and degradation of SUMO1 by small-molecule degraders extends survival of mice with patient-derived tumors. Sci Transl Med. 2021 Oct 13;13(615):eabh1486. doi: 10.1126/ scitranslmed.abh1486. Epub 2021 Oct 13.PMID: 34644148.

Mirzaei R, Gordon A, Zemp FJ, Kumar M, Sarkar S, Luchman HA, Bellail AC, Hao C, Mahoney DJ, Dunn JF, Bose P, Yong VW. PD-1 independent of PD-L1 ligation promotes glioblastoma growth through the NFκB pathway. PD-1 inde. Sci Adv. 2021 Nov 5;7(45):eabh2148. doi: 10.1126/sciadv. abh2148. Epub 2021 Nov 5. PMID: 34739319 Free PMC article.

Bellail ACj, Olson JJ, Hao Cj. SUMO1 modification stabilizes CDK6 protein and drives the cell cycle and glioblastoma progression. Nat Commun 2014 June 23; 5:4234. PMID: 24953629                                                                                                         
Bellail AC, Olson J, Yang X, Chen Z, Hao Cj. A20 ubiquitin ligase-mediated polyubiquitination of RIP1 inhibits caspase-8 cleavage and TRAIL-induced apoptosis in glioblastoma. Cancer Discov 2012 Feb; 2(2):140-155. Epub 2012 Jan 24. PMID: 22585859 

Titles & Appointments

  • Bicentennial Professor of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine II
  • Professor of Neurological Surgery
  • Bicentennial Chair, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
  • Education
    1997 RES Residency (Neuropathology), University of Western Ontario
    1991 PhD University of Saskatchewan
    1985 MSC Jilin University
    1982 MD Beihua University
  • Research

    Dr. Hao's research focuses on the posttranslational modifications of UB and SUMO and targeted protein degradation drug discovery. His team has identified the small molecule degraders of SUMO1 and revealed the targeted E3 ligase complex for SUMO1 degradation in cancer cells. In addition, the team has also identified the small molecule degraders of APP in Alzheimer's disease. His current efforts focus on development of small molecule degraders as novel anticancer and antiaging drugs. He co-founded the start-up biotech, HB Therapeutics, Inc., for commercialization of the small molecule degraders as the first-in-class anticancer and antiaging drugs. 

    Ongoing Research Support

    Source: NIH/NCI, R01 CA203893, 2017.01.01 – 2022.12.31 (NCE: 2023.12.31)
    Role: PI: Hao C                                                                                             
    Title: SUMO1 inhibition compound as a new anticancer drug for glioblastoma therapy

    Source: IUSM / Lilly Endowment Inc;  2018.01.13 – 2023.01.12
    Role: PI: Hao C                                                                     
    Title:  Indiana University School of Medicine Physician Scientist Initiative

    Source: NIH/NINDS, 1 R01 NS126358-01;  2022.03.01 – 2027.02.28
    Role: PIs: Hao C, Hamdouchi C, co-Is: Bellail AC, Zeng L, Desta Z,         
    Title: Development of BBB-permeable SUMO1 small molecule degraders for glioblastoma therapy.

    Source: NIH/NCI, R01 CA288899; 2022.07.01 – 2027.06.30
    Role: PI: Bellail A, co-Is: Hao C. O’Connell T
    Title: Targeting SUMO1 degradation for advanced colon cancer therapy

    Source: NIH/NCI, R44 CA265547; 2022.05.01 – 2024.04.30
    Role: Multi-PIs: Bellail A, Hamdouch C, Hao C
    Title: Development of SUMO1 small molecule degraders as the first-in-class anticancer drugs for metastatic colorectal cancer

  • Professional Organizations
    American Association for the Advancement of Science
    American Association of Cancer Research
    American Association of Neuropathologists
    Canadian Association of Neuropathologists
    Society of Neuro-oncology
  • Clinical Interests

    Dr. Hao's clinical practice includes adult and pediatric neuropathology, muscle and nerve biospy, and ocular pathology. 

  • Awards
    Org: CANP
    Desc: Morrison H. Finlayson Award
    Scope:
    Date:
    Org: CANP
    Desc: Morrison H. Finlayson Award
    Scope:
    Date:
    Org: Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research
    Desc: Clinical Investigator
    Scope: National
    Date:
    Org: Georgia Cancer Coalition
    Desc: Distinguished Cancer Clinician and Scholar
    Scope: National
    Date:

Looking for patient care?

To schedule an appointment with a faculty member physician of IU School of Medicine, contact Indiana University Health at 888-484-3258 or use the physician finder by clicking the button below.

Find a doctor