Epidemiology · Biostatistics · Health Informatics

Qizheng
Zhao

MSc in Health Informatics · Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm University

MSc student at Karolinska Institutet, recently getting into proteomics and applied statistics for large-scale biomedical data analysis. Still very much learning.

Qizheng Zhao
Latest Updates
Apr 2026

Seeking PhD positions — Epidemiology & Biostatistics, expected start 2027

Open to Offers
Oct 2025

Paper published in Neural Networks (IF 6.3) — MIEF-Net

Publication
Sep 2025

Joined Pereira Research Group, Karolinska Institutet — CSF proteomics / ADNI

Research Assistant
Jun 2025

Graduated with Outstanding Thesis Award — Sun Yat-sen University

Award

About

Research Overview

How can high-dimensional proteomic and genomic data be leveraged to identify early molecular signatures of neurodegeneration — and how do population-level risk factors causally shape disease trajectories?

I am a research student in Health Informatics at Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm University, working at the intersection of computational proteomics, genomic epidemiology, and clinical AI. My current research focuses on high-throughput CSF proteomics for Alzheimer's disease biomarker discovery, using the SOMAscan aptamer-based platform with data from the ADNI cohort, with a particular emphasis on mitochondrial protein signatures.

With a foundation in preventive medicine and training in epidemiological methods — including Mendelian randomization and GBD-based disease burden analysis — I bridge population-level insights with molecular data. I also have prior experience in transformer-based fall risk prediction and multimodal wearable sensor fusion, which informs my broader interest in intelligent clinical decision support.

My published work includes first-author papers in Neural Networks (IF 6.3) and IEEE Internet of Things Journal (IF 10.6), as well as global disease burden analyses published in the Journal of Global Health. I have served as Principal Investigator on a nationally-funded research project on gait-based risk identification in the elderly.

Genomic Epidemiology Mendelian Randomization GBD Analysis Deep Learning
Quick Info
Current Position
MSc Student, Health Informatics
Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm University
Undergraduate Research (2021–2025)
Prof. Yiqiang Zhan Lab & A.P. Yang Zhao Lab, Sun Yat-sen University

Graduate Research (2025–Present)
Pereira Research Group, Karolinska Institutet
CSF proteomics · Mitochondrial proteins · Alzheimer's disease (SOMAscan / ADNI)
Background
Preventive Medicine (BMed, Sun Yat-sen University)
Programming
Python, R · PyTorch, Keras · SAS
Databases
ADNI, UK Biobank, NHANES, GBD

Education

Academic Background

Sep 2025 — Jun 2027 (Expected)

Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm University

Master of Science in Health Informatics

Dept. of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics (LIME) · Joint Master's Programme · 120 ECTS credits

Key Courses
Epidemiology & Biostatistics · Health Data Science · Clinical Decision Support · Medical Informatics · Research Methods in Health Informatics

Sep 2020 — Jun 2025

Sun Yat-sen University

Bachelor of Medicine · Preventive Medicine

School of Public Health · Shenzhen Campus

GPA 3.4 / 4.0

Thesis
"Gait Anomaly Detection Based on Deep Learning and Motion Sensor Technology Fusion" · University-Level Outstanding Thesis Award, 2025

Key Courses
Epidemiology · Biostatistics · Preventive Medicine · Clinical Medicine · Medical Statistics · Toxicology · Nutrition & Food Hygiene

Publications

Research Output

1
JCR Q1 IF 6.3 Neural Networks · 2025

MIEF-Net: Multimodal Image-Enhanced Fusion Network for Intelligent Fall Risk Prediction

Zhao, Q., Wu, R., Chen, M., Tsui, K.L., & Zhao, Y.

Neural Networks, vol. 195, article 108260, Oct. 30, 2025.

View on Neural Networks ↗
2
JCR Q1 IF 10.6 IEEE IoT Journal · 2024

MSS-Former: Multi-Scale Skeletal Transformer for Intelligent Fall Risk Prediction in Older Adults

Zhao, Q., Fan, X., Chen, M., et al.

IEEE Internet of Things Journal, vol. 11, pp. 33040–33052, Jun. 28, 2024.

View on IEEE ↗
3
JCR Q1 IF 7.66 Journal of Global Health · 2024

Assessing and projecting the global burden of thyroid cancer, 1990–2030: Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study

Zhao, Q., Chen, M., Fu, L., Yang, Y., & Zhan, Y.

Journal of Global Health, vol. 14, article 04090, Apr. 5, 2024.

View Paper (DOI) ↗
4
Conference · Poster ACM BCB 2024

MIEFP-Net: A Multimodal Image-Enhanced Network for Fall Prediction Using IMU Data

Zhao, Q., Chen, M., & Zhao, Y.

The 15th ACM Conference on Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, and Health Informatics, 2024. (Poster)

ACM DL Proceedings ↗
5
JCR Q2 IF 4.9 BMC Geriatrics · 2024

Identifying sensors-based parameters associated with fall risk in community-dwelling older adults: an investigation and interpretation of discriminatory parameters

Wang, X., Cao, J., Zhao, Q. et al.

BMC Geriatrics, published Feb. 1, 2024.

6
Conference Springer · Aug 2024

Enhancing City-Level Influenza Nowcasting on Island Terrain with Graph Neural Networks: Spatial Feature Insights

Luo, J., Wang, X., Chen, M., Zhao, Q., & Zhao, Y.

Intelligent Systems Conference. Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, August 2024.

Research

Research Experience

Sep 2025 — Present

CSF Proteomics & Mitochondrial Protein Analysis in Alzheimer's Disease

Karolinska Institutet · Pereira Research Group

Research Assistant

Contributing to high-throughput proteomic profiling of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from the ADNI cohort using the SOMAscan aptamer-based platform. Current analyses centre on mitochondrial protein signatures and their associations with Alzheimer's disease progression, incorporating bioinformatic pipelines for differential expression and pathway-level interpretation.

SOMAscan ADNI CSF Proteomics Mitochondrial Proteins Alzheimer's Disease R Bioinformatics
── Previous Research Experience ──

Mar 2022 — Jun 2025

AI-Driven Fall Risk Prediction & Elderly Care

Sun Yat-sen University School of Public Health (Shenzhen) · A.P. Yang Zhao Research Group

PI & Team Member

Developed predictive models for personalized health management and elderly care using machine learning and deep learning. Concentrated on sensor-based health monitoring — integrating motion recognition technologies, spectral analysis (FFT/GAF), and spatial-temporal skeletal transformers (MSS-Former) — for early detection and risk stratification of geriatric fall risk. This work produced 5 peer-reviewed publications including in Neural Networks (IF 6.3) and IEEE IoT Journal (IF 10.6).

PyTorch Transformer IMU Sensors Kinect Spectral Analysis Fall Risk Older Adults

Dec 2022 — Dec 2023  |  Funded Jan 2024 — Dec 2024

Gait Anomaly Analysis & Intelligent Fall Intervention

Innovation & Entrepreneurship Training Program 2023 · Shenzhen Medical Research Fund (A2301041)

Project Leader / Principal Investigator

Led the development of a real-time gait risk identification model for elderly individuals using inertial measurement units (IMU). Applied Gramian Angular Field (GAF) image encoding and multi-branch ResNet architecture to convert 6-axis IMU signals into RGB feature images for fall prediction. The innovation project received the highest school review rating of "Excellent". The subsequent national grant (¥50,000, SMRF) extended this work into an intelligent intervention system combining large deep learning models with deep imaging data.

IMU · 6-axis GAF Image Encoding ResNet Gait Analysis SMRF Grant ¥50K ⭐ Excellent

Jul 2023 — Jun 2025

Epidemiology of Neurodegenerative & Chronic Diseases

Sun Yat-sen University School of Public Health (Shenzhen) · Prof. Yiqiang Zhan Research Group

Team Member

Investigating epidemiological characteristics and survival outcomes of neurodegenerative diseases using advanced statistical methodologies. Applied Mendelian randomization techniques to examine causal relationships in genetic epidemiology; leveraged large-scale databases (UK Biobank, NHANES, GBD) for comprehensive data mining. Published global disease burden analysis on thyroid cancer in Journal of Global Health (IF 7.66). Two additional manuscripts on diabetes and neurodegenerative disease burden are currently under review.

Mendelian Randomization UK Biobank NHANES GBD Analysis R / SAS Survival Analysis

Dec 2021 — Nov 2022

Early Prediction of Alzheimer's Disease Using Machine Learning

Innovation & Entrepreneurship Training Program 2022 · Sun Yat-sen University

Team Member

Established an early predictive model for Alzheimer's Disease risk using meta-analyses of modifiable risk factors. Identified key early-stage AD risk factors and trained six machine learning classifiers (Logistic Regression, SVM, Random Forest, XGBoost, etc.) achieving high predictive accuracy. The project was awarded "Excellent" rating for innovation and practical utility.

Alzheimer's Disease Meta-analysis ML Classification SVM · XGBoost Risk Stratification ⭐ Excellent

Skills

Technical Expertise

Programming
Python R SAS SPSS
Deep Learning
PyTorch Keras Transformers ResNet / FPN STGCN
Bioinformatics & Proteomics
SOMAscan limma DESeq2 enrichR GSEA Pathway Analysis
Epidemiological Methods
Mendelian Randomization GBD Analysis Survival Analysis Biostatistics
Biomedical Databases
ADNI UK Biobank NHANES GBD

Awards & Funding

Honors & Recognition

2025
Outstanding Undergraduate Thesis · Sun Yat-sen University (University-Level) "Gait Anomaly Detection Based on Deep Learning and Motion Sensor Technology Fusion" · School of Public Health (Shenzhen) · Supervisor: A.P. Yang Zhao · Certificate No. 2025248
2024
Principal Investigator — Shenzhen Medical Research Fund (SMRF) Research on Real-time Risk Identification Self-Prediction Model and Intelligent Intervention System for Elderly People's Gait Based on Deep Learning. Project No. A2301041 · Funding: ¥50,000
2023
Second Prize · Guangdong Provincial Statistical Modeling Competition National College Students Statistical Modeling Competition, Undergraduate Group
2023
Outstanding Project · Innovation & Entrepreneurship Training Program Gait Anomaly Analysis and Fall Risk Prediction Model Based on Deep Imaging and Deep Learning · Rated "Excellent"
2022
Outstanding Project · Innovation & Entrepreneurship Training Program Early Prediction and Risk Assessment Model of Alzheimer's Disease Based on Machine Learning · Rated "Excellent"

Personal

Cooking

This is how I decompress. I cook mostly to share — and the real reward is watching someone genuinely enjoy something I made.

01 Cantonese 粤菜
Not my hometown, but where I grew up.
Clean food, high bar — worth the effort.
Cheung Fun 肠粉
2 photos
肠粉
肠粉
Char Siu 叉烧
2 photos
叉烧
叉烧
White-Cut Chicken 白切鸡
1 photo
白切鸡
Sizzling Claypot 啫啫煲
1 photo
啫啫煲
Wonton 云吞
2 photos
云吞
云吞
02 Hunan 湖南菜
Mostly retired since leaving China.
The smoke detector had opinions.
Hunan Dishes 湖南菜
5 photos
湖南菜
湖南菜
湖南菜
湖南菜
A spread
03 Baking 烘焙
Still learning. Less sugar — by necessity,
which turned out to be a fine reason to start.
Basque Cheesecake
Basque Cheesecake
Sponge Base
Sponge Base
Brownie
Brownie
Layer Cake
Layer Cake
Cream Finish
Cream Finish

Contact

Get In Touch

I am open to research collaborations and academic discussions across health informatics, epidemiology, and computational biology. I am actively seeking PhD positions, particularly in epidemiology and biostatistics, with an expected start in 2027. Please don't hesitate to reach out.