Hanzhang Xu's research focuses on enhancing cognitive and cardiovascular health among older adults through an equity lens. She pioneered the study of how (im)migration impacts late-life cognition in low- and middle-income countries. Additionally, she quantified the impact of social factors on poor cardiovascular outcomes. Dr. Xu has led NIH-funded interdisciplinary studies, resulting in ongoing collaborations with Singapore's Ministry of Health, Novartis Foundation, and local health systems to identify and mitigate social drivers of cardiovascular health using data-driven methods. Locally, one of her recent NIH-funded clinical trials employs cognitive training to prevent dementia in older Chinese Americans, a high-risk group with limited access to risk-mitigating services. She has established an innovative partnership among academic, local communities, and industry stakeholders, facilitating the rapid dissemination of much-needed findings back to the community. Her research has a far-reaching impact, cited in nursing, gerontology, and global health journals by researchers across 53 countries and 6 continents. She holds Editorial Board positions for the Journal of Aging Health and Advances in Nursing Science. Dr. Xu received her BSN from Southeast University, her PhD in Nursing Science and Doctoral Certificate in Global Health from Duke University.