Dr. Rao is currently a Professor at Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. She previously served as an Assistant Professor at Case Western Reserve University and Oregon Health & Science University in the United States. Since her doctoral training, Dr. Rao has been dedicated to cardiovascular research, with a particular focus on: The impact and mechanisms of environmental risk factors on cardiovascular disease; The roles and mechanisms of immune cells in cardiovascular pathophysiology.