Bio

Kristina Zdantsevich, MD, is a physician-scientist and postdoctoral fellow in Joseph Wu's laboratory at the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, where she uses induced pluripotent stem cells to model cardiovascular disease.

Kristina earned her MD from Belarusian State Medical University, graduating top of her class. She completed residency in Cardiovascular Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine at the Republican Scientific and Practical Center "Cardiology" in Minsk, the country's leading cardiac referral center. Her clinical work covered high-acuity cardiovascular care, from cardiogenic shock and acute coronary syndromes to perioperative management of coronary bypass, valve, and aortic surgery. In parallel, she practiced general anesthesia and critical care at Minsk Central District Clinical Hospital, including dedicated COVID-19 intensive care from March 2020 through May 2022. For her leadership during the pandemic, she received an award from the Belarusian Minister of Health, given to roughly 1 in 500 physicians nationwide.

She serves as Education Lead for iWISH Talks (Inspiring Women in Science and Healthcare), a global community of more than 500 early-career scientists, and the team received the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute Recognition Award. Outside the lab, she bakes sourdough, swims, practices Pilates, visits museums, and follows AI biology agents.

Stanford Advisors

Contact

  • Academic
    kzdant@stanford.edu
    University - Scholar Department: Cardiovascular Institute Operations Position: Postdoctoral Scholar

Additional Info

  • Mail Code: 5454

All Publications

  • Generation of two induced pluripotent stem cell lines from patients carrying heterozygous PTEN mutations associated with PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome. Stem cell research Zdantsevich, K., Tan, R., Li, D., Walther, P., Ladabaum, U., Wu, J. C. 2026; 94: 104000

    Abstract

    PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome (PHTS) is an inherited condition caused by germline mutations in PTEN, characterized by abnormal development and an elevated cancer risk driven by altered PI3K-AKT signaling. To model this disease in vitro, we derived human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines SCVIi142-A and SCVIi143-A from two male donors clinically diagnosed with PHTS carrying heterozygous PTEN mutations. Both lines displayed undifferentiated iPSC morphology, robust expression of undifferentiated iPSC state markers, trilineage differentiation capacity, normal karyotypes, and validated PTEN variants. These iPSC lines provide a patient-specific platform for studying PTEN-associated developmental and signaling abnormalities.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.scr.2026.104000

    View details for PubMedID 42086021

  • Dietary ingredients inducing cellular senescence in animals and humans: A systematic review. Mechanisms of ageing and development Guan, L., Zdantsevich, K., Sandalova, E., Crasta, K. C., Maier, A. B. 2025: 112083

    Abstract

    Cellular senescence (CS) is a hallmark of ageing and age-related diseases. While dietary interventions are often explored to reduce CS, less is known about dietary ingredients that induce it. This study systematically reviews the evidence on dietary ingredients that promote CS in animal models and humans.Following PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD42022338885), PubMed and Embase were searched for studies on dietary ingredients administered via the gastrointestinal tract affecting CS markers in animal models or adults. Risk of bias was assessed using SYRCLE's and Cochrane's tools.From 10,806 articles, 80 studies (77 animal, 3 human) were included. In animals, high-fat diets commonly induced CS across tissues. The plant extract Teng Long Bu Zhong Tang and certain bioactives promoted CS in tumor tissues, potentially offering anti-cancer benefits. Excessive ethanol intake caused CS in the liver and other organs. In humans, increased CS load was linked to red meat-based meals, high protein intake, and DHA-enriched fish oil. Most studies showed unclear risk of bias.High-fat diets and anti-cancer natural products promote CS in animal models. Preliminary human evidence suggests similar effects from high-protein, red meat-based diets, or DHA-enriched fish oil. Further research is needed to clarify mechanisms and guide dietary and public health recommendations.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.mad.2025.112083

    View details for PubMedID 40482726