Faculty Appointments
Biography
Research
Dr. Zhang's research centers on finding ways to "revitalize, " or reactivate the healing processes of bone. When people suffer massive bone loss due to traumatic injury or a tumor, bone grafts are used to restore the shape and strength of the bone. Even when a bone graft from the patient's own body is used, healing and strengthening are sometimes never complete.
By studying how our body's cells mature to become bone-forming cells, Dr. Zhang hopes to find ways to turn the process of healing on so that the entire bone graft will heal after surgery.
Adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have enormous potential for bone tissue repair and regeneration. Our research has been focused on understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms that control the activation, proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells during skeletal repair. We are particularly interested in the periosteal stem cells that play key roles in repair and regeneration. Our current program has integrated the following topics:
1) Molecular signals that control mesenchymal stem cell differentiation.
2) Mechanism of skeletal repair and regeneration
3) Stem cell therapy and bone tissue engineering for repair and reconstruction of large segmental defects.
Credentials
Education
1990
MD | China-Shanghai Medical University
Medicine
1993
MS, | China-Shanghai Medical University
Biochemistry
1999
PhD, | University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry
Biochemistry
Awards
2008
MTF J.R. Neff Award
2005
Orthopaedic Research Society New Investigator Recognition Award
Location: Chicago, IL
2002
Orthopaedic Research Society Travel Fellowship Award
Location: Chicago, IL
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Publications
Journal Articles
12/2022
Ahamed SHR, Shakil S, Lyu H, Zhang X, Luo J. "Doctors vs. Nurses: Understanding the Great Divide in Vaccine Hesitancy among Healthcare Workers." Proceedings : ... IEEE International Conference on Big Data.. 2022 Dec; 2022:5865-5870.
11/3/2022
Schilling K, Zhai Y, Zhou Z, Zhou B, Brown E, Zhang X. "High resolution imaging of the osteogenic and angiogenic interface at the site of murine cranial bone defect repair via multiphoton microscopy." eLife.. 2022 Nov 3; 11Epub 2022 Nov 03.
11/2022
Wang H, Zhou X, Wang J, Zhang X, Zhu M, Wang H. "Fabrication of channeled scaffolds through polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) printed sacrificial templates for tissue formation." Bioactive materials.. 2022 Nov; 17:261-275. Epub 2022 Jan 29.
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