多年来，一直从事免疫分子与微环境和疾病之间关系的研究。所带领的课题组与美国密西根大学、匹斯堡大学合作，在乳腺癌、前列腺及卵巢癌骨转移方面进行了深入探讨，发现了上述肿瘤发生骨转移的特异基因、相关蛋白及相关机制，为进一步探讨上述肿瘤发生转移的机制奠定了基础；与耶鲁大学及相关企业合作，从免疫器官中分离出十余个具有治疗作用的免疫小肽分子，目前已有一个小分子多肽完成临床试验，二个小分子多肽进入临床试验阶段。围绕上述两个研究方向，近年来先后主持了国家重大基础研究（973项目）前期专项1项、国家“863”项目2项、国家自然科学基金2项、省部级重点项目5项。发表学术论文209篇，其中SCI收录43篇，影响因子总计179.819。获得省部级科研奖励4项，获国家发明专利2项。指导博士生32名，硕士生36名。主编、参编教材专著6部。
    鉴于他在教学与科研方面的成绩先后获得：天津市教书育人十大标兵称号、天津市“八五”“九五”及“十五”立功奖章、天津市劳动模范、天津市第四界青年科技奖、天津市免疫学授衔专家、国务院特殊津贴专家、卫生部有突出贡献中青年专家称号及“百千万人才工程”国家级人选等荣誉称号。
近年来代表性论文：

1. Yao Z, Che X, Lu R, Zheng M, Zhu Z, Li J, Jian X, Shi L, Liu J, Gao W. Inhibition by Tyroserleutide on the invasion and adhesion of the mouse melanoma cell. Molecular Medicine. 2007 Jan-Feb;13(1-2):14-21.(IF:3.349)
2. Fu Z, Lu R, Jia J, Zhao L, Ma R, Lv JQ, Li XL, Chen LJ, Zhang HL, Wang L, Yao Z. Inhibition of five xenografted human cancers and two murine cancers by the tripeptide tyroservatide. Anti-Cancer Drugs. 2007 Apr;18(4):467-70. (IF: 2.245)
3. Wang Y,? Yang J, Gao Y, Dong L, Liu S, Yao Z. Reciprocal regulation of 5α-dihydrotestosterone, Interleukin-6 and Interleukin-8 during proliferation of epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Cancer Biol Ther. 2007 Mar 1;6(6). (IF:2.981)
4. Zhao L, Zhao Q, Lu R, Fu Z, Zhu Z, Jia J, Wang S, Shi L, Jian X, Yao Z. Effects of tyroserleutide on gene expression of calmodulin and PI3K in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Cell Biochem. 2007 Jun 1; [Epub ahead of print] (IF:3.591)
5. Zheng M, Lu R, Che X, Li J, Zhou C, Wang L, Xu Q, Cao H, Li Q and Yao Z. Tyroservatide therapy for tumor growth, invasion and metastasis of Lewis lung carcinoma and human lung carcinoma A549. Oncology. 2006 Jan;70(6):418-26. (IF: 1.985)
6. Jia J, Lu R, Zhou C, Zhao L, Fu Z, Zhu Z, Wang L, Zheng M, Yang J, Zhang Y, Yao Z. Gene-chip analysis of the effect of tripeptide tyroservatide (YSV) on gene-expression in human hepatocarcinoma BEL-7402 tumors transplanted to nude mice. Mol Carcinog. 2006 Mar;45(3):197-203. (IF:2.371)
7. Zhu Z, Jia J, Lu R, Lu Y, Fu Z, Zhao L, Wang L, Jin M, Zhao L, Gao W, Yao Z. Expression of PTEN, p27, p21 and AKT mRNA and protein in human BEL-7402 hepatocarcinoma cells in transplanted tumors of nude mice treated with the tripeptide tyroservatide (YSV). Int J Cancer. 2006 Mar 15;118(6):1539-44. (IF:4.693)
8. Lu R, Jia J, Bao L, Fu Z, Li G, Wang S, Wang Z, Jin M, Gao W, Yao Z. Experimental study of the inhibition of human hepatocarcinoma Bel7402 cells by the tripeptide tyroserleutide(YSL). Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2006 Jan;57(2):248-56. (IF:2.235)
9. Yao Z, Qiu S, Wang L, Lu R, Zhou CL, Zhao PP, Li HQ, Gao WY. Tripeptide tyroserleutide enhances the antitumor effects of macrophages and stimulates macrophage secretion of IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and NO in vitro. Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2006 Jan;55(1):56-60. (IF:4.313)
10. Jia J, Lu R, Qiu S, Li H, Che X, Zhai P, Jin M, Yang H, Lin G, Yao Z. Preliminary investigation of the inhibitory effects of the tyroservaltide (YSV) tripeptide on human hepatocarcinoma BEL-7402. Cancer Biol Ther. 2005 Sep;4(9):993-7. (IF:2.981)