Adjunct Professor
Educational Background
- MD, Medicine, Fujian Medical College, Fuzhou, China
- PhD, Biochemistry/Immunology, Second Medical College, Shanghai, China
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, Immunology/Pharmacology, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute and Idaho State University
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, Molecular Biology/Cancer Therapeutics, Georgetown University
Professional Societies and Committees
- 1999-2003: Reviewer for basic, clinical, and translational research grants, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
- 1996-present: Member, American Association for Cancer Research and Radiation Research Society
Honors and Awards
- Casarett Research Award, University of Rochester
Research Areas
Dr. Zhang has explored several research areas since 1984, resulting in over 90 publications and 12 grants. Her work has focused on:
- Biomarkers for liver fibrosis
- The alteration of lymphocyte subsets in hepatitis and hematoma
- An in vitro combined sensitivity assay for guiding the use of anti-tumor drugs in the treatment of acute leukemia
- Luciferase activity as a marker of tumor burden and an indicator of tumor response to antineoplastic therapy
- A solid-phase radioimmunoassay for cyclic AMP
- Correlations between fibroblast growth factors and hormones in the proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis of breast cancer
- The role of extracellular matrices (such as hyaluronan, extracellular matrix protein 1) in the progression of cancer
- The role hyaluronan-binding proteins/peptides and hyaluronidase in cancer progression and regression
- The role of RGD-tachyplesin in the inhibition of tumor growth and its action mechanism
- The expression of DcR3, a decoy receptor in the TNFR family, in cancer and infectious diseases
- The mitigatory effect of triptolide on tumors and radiation-induced inflammation
- The effect of anti-apoptotic molecules in preventing radiation-induced damage
Current laboratory projects focus on:
- Designing, synthesizing, and characterizing a small bioactive peptide for the mitigation of radiation-induced acute damage of bone marrow and the gastrointestinal system
- Exploring agents that can increase the therapeutic gain of radiation treatment by sensitizing tumor cells to radiation and reducing radiation toxicity
- Studying radiation-induced immunity in the eradication of tumor cells
- Identifying the mechanism whereby small molecules, such as triptolide and cucurbitacin, are able to mitigate cancer and radiation-induced inflammation
- Developing new forms of biodosimetry that determine radiation exposure for triage and help guide treatment following a nuclear event
A selection of publications available through PubMed.
