Rong Cao, Ph.D.

Research Scientist

Food Bioactives Chemistry and Biochemistry

Current research and/or projects

Dr. Cao leads multi-disciplinary teams to conduct national and international research to support AAFC’s mandate and priorities. His research focuses on two AAFC Strategic Objectives: “Improve attributes for food and non-food uses” and “Addressing threats to the agriculture and agri-food value chain”, in the Focus Areas of (1) Cereals & Pulses; (2) Agri-Food, (3) Bioproducts, and (4) Horticulture as set in AAFC’s Agri-Food Sector - Science Strategy. Dr. Cao is an internationally highly recognized authority in food bioactives and attributes, especially in those with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. He contributes by developing novel methods for the identification of food bioactives and their important functional properties in all aforementioned four areas, by taking new approaches to assess bioaccessibility, bioavailability, metabolomics and molecular mechanisms of action, and by providing information essential to crop breeding and processing programs, health claims substantiation and to forage crops. Dr. Cao also addresses the above threats by developing new methods for the detection and identification of regulated and emerging mycotoxins, by using natural antimicrobials, and optimizing food processing conditions to mitigate mycotoxin contamination.

Research and/or project statements

A systematic approach to characterization of free; conjugated and bound forms of food bioactives and their antioxidant/anti-inflammatory activities in pulses using cell models and in vitro gastrointestinal and gut digestions
Integrated research-development-technology-transfer approach to enhance productivity and sustainability of potato production in Canada
Applying genomic ideotype breeding to increase bean productivity, healthfulness and sustainability
Characterization of phytochemicals and dietary fibres in pulse processing by-products for value-added functional food products
Research network on emerging mycotoxins of potential importance for Canadian agriculture and regulation of domestic commodities and international trade

Professional activities / interests

Characterization of food bioactives with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities
Bioaccessibility, bioavailability, metabolism and cell signaling modulating effects of food bioactives
Characterization and mitigation of mycotoxins in food and natural antimicrobials

Education and awards

Education

Postdoctoral Fellow Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA (1992-1996)
Ph.D. in Agricultural Chemistry, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan (1991)
M.Sc. in Agricultural Chemistry, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan (1988)
B.Sc. in Agricultural Chemistry, Beijing Agricultural University, Beijing, China (1984)

Awards

Gold Harvest Award - Innovation, Collaboration and Service Excellence, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, 2016
Highly Cited Researchers since 2014-present, Thomson Reuters (http://highlycited.com/ )

International experience and/or work

Collaboration with researchers in Italy, Mexico and China

Key publications

Acta Hortic. 1271:141-148 (ISHS) 2020. DOI 10.17660/ActaHortic.2020.1271.20
2020 - View publication details
Dupuis, J.H., Tsao, R., Yada, R.Y., Liu, Q. (2017). Physicochemical properties and in vitro digestibility of potato starch after inclusion with vanillic acid. Food Science and Technology - LWT, [online] 85 218-224. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2017.07.010
2017 - View publication details
Waduge, R.N., Warkentin, T.D., Donner, E., Cao, R., Ramdath, D.D., Liu, Q. (2017). Structure, physicochemical properties, and in vitro starch digestibility of yellow pea flour modified with different organic acids. Cereal Chemistry, [online] 94(1), 142-150. http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/CCHEM-03-16-0068-FI
2017 - View publication details
Ioi, D., Zhou, T., Marcone, M.F., and Tsao, R. (2016). "Resistance of mycotoxins and fungi to commercial processing in apple and tomato products.", World Mycotoxin Forum, Winnipeg, Canada, 6-10 June, 2016, Poster presentation, pp. 137-138. (Abstract)
2016 - View publication details
Hao, X.M., Little, C., Zheng, J.M., and Tsao, R. (2016). "Far Red LED Improved Fruit Production in Greenhouse Tomato Grown under High Pressure Sodium Lighting.", 8th International Symposium on Light in Horticulture, East Lansing, Michigan, USA, May 22-26, 2016. (Abstract)
2016 - View publication details
Li, H., Cao, W., Navabi, A., Tsao, R., Bock, J.E., Wang, X.L., and Khanizadeh, S. (2016). "Agronomic characteristics and quality of select advanced purple wheat lines.", Joint Annual Conference for the Canadian Society of Agronomy and the Canadian Society for Horticultural Science, Montreal, QC, Canada, 24-26 July, 2016. (Poster)
2016 - View publication details
Guo, X.-B., Hao, X.M., Khosla, S., Kumar, K., Tsao, R., and Bennett, N. (2016). "Effect of LED interlighting combined with overhead HPS light on fruit yield and quality of year-round sweet pepper in commercial greenhouse.", 8th International Symposium on Light in Horticulture, East Lansing, Michigan, USA, May 22-26, 2016. (Abstract)
2016 - View publication details
Pinhero, R.G., Tsao, R., Liu, Q., Sullivan, J.A., Bizimungu, B., and Yada, R.Y. (2016). "Protein and Phenolic Contents and Antioxidant Activities of 14 Early Maturing Potatoes as Affected by Processing.", American Journal of Plant Sciences, 7, pp. 69-81. doi : 10.4236/ajps.2016.71008
2016 - View publication details
Guo, X.-B., Hao, X.M., Tsao, R., Zheng, J.M., Little, C., and Khosla, S. (2016). "Response of greenhouse mini-cucumber to different vertical spectra of LED lighting under overhead high pressure sodium and plasma lighting.", 8th International Symposium on Light in Horticulture, East Lansing, Michigan, USA, May 22-26, 2016. (Abstract)
2016 - View publication details
Tsao, R. and Zhou, T. (2016). "An integrated approach to patulin reduction in food.", World Mycotoxin Forum, Winnipeg, Canada, 6-10 June, 2016, pp. 71. (Abstract)
2016 - View publication details
Pinhero, R.G., Waduge, R.N., Liu, Q., Sullivan, J.A., Tsao, R., Bizimungu, B., Yada, R.Y. (2016). Evaluation of nutritional profiles of starch and dry matter from early potato varieties and its estimated glycemic impact. Food Chemistry, [online] 203 356-366. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.02.040
2016 - View publication details
Hao, X.M., Little, C., Zheng, J.M., and Tsao, R. 2016. "Far Red LED Improved Fruit Production in Greenhouse Tomato Grown under High Pressure Sodium Lighting.", Acta Horticulturae (ISHS)1134:95-102.
2016 - View publication details
Guo, X.-B., Hao, X.M., Tsao, R., Zheng, J.M., Little, C., and Khosla, S. 2016. "Response of greenhouse mini-cucumber to different vertical spectra of LED lighting under overhead high pressure sodium and plasma lighting.", Acta Horticulturae (ISHS)1134:87-94.
2016 - View publication details
Guo, X.-B., Hao, X.M., Khosla, S., Kumar, K., Tsao, R., and Bennett, N. 2016. "Effect of LED interlighting combined with overhead HPS light on fruit yield and quality of year-round sweet pepper in commercial greenhouse.", Acta Horticulturae (ISHS){1134/71-78}.
2016 - View publication details
Zhang, H., Liu, R., Tsao, R. (2016). Anthocyanin-rich phenolic extracts of purple root vegetables inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by H2O2 and enhance antioxidant enzyme activities in Caco-2 cells. Journal of Functional Foods, [online] 22 363-375. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2016.01.004
2016 - View publication details
Zhang, H. and Tsao, R. (2016). "Dietary polyphenols, oxidative stress and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.", Current Opinion in Food Science, 8, pp. 33-42. doi : 10.1016/j.cofs.2016.02.002
2016 - View publication details
Tang, Y., Zhang, B., Li, X., Chen, P.X., Zhang, H., Liu, R., Tsao, R. (2016). Bound Phenolics of Quinoa Seeds Released by Acid, Alkaline, and Enzymatic Treatments and Their Antioxidant and α-Glucosidase and Pancreatic Lipase Inhibitory Effects. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, [online] 64(8), 1712-1719. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5b05761
2016 - View publication details
Tang, Y., Li, X., Chen, P.X., Zhang, B., Liu, R., Hernandez, M., Draves, J., Marcone, M.F., Tsao, R. (2016). Assessing the fatty acid, carotenoid, and tocopherol compositions of amaranth and quinoa seeds grown in Ontario and their overall contribution to nutritional quality. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, [online] 64(5), 1103-1110. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5b05414
2016 - View publication details
Power, K.A., Lepp, D., Zarepoor, L., Monk, J.M., Wu, W., Tsao, R., Liu, R. (2016). Dietary flaxseed modulates the colonic microenvironment in healthy C57Bl/6 male mice which may alter susceptibility to gut-associated diseases. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, [online] 28 61-69. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jnutbio.2015.09.028
2016 - View publication details
Peng, Y., Zhang, H., Liu, R., Mine, Y., McCallum, J., Kirby, C., Tsao, R. (2016). Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of pyranoanthocyanins and other polyphenols from staghorn sumac (Rhus hirta L.) in Caco-2 cell models. Journal of Functional Foods, [online] 20 139-147. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2015.10.026
2016 - View publication details