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Yi Zhang, Ph.D., M.S., M.B.A.

Contact Information

Phone Numbers

Office: (585) 275-1950

Fax: (585) 756-4468

Locations

University of Rochester Medical Center
School of Medicine and Dentistry
601 Elmwood Ave, Box 626
Rochester, NY 14642

Biography

Dr. Zhang has studied the cell signaling, stem cell biology and chemical biology drug discovery. Dr Zhang studied Wnt signaling first as a graduate student and then as a postdoctoral fellow at Yale. He took the training on chemical biology and drug discovery at Yale. As a Faculty and Principle Investigator, he is currently working on mechanisms of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and leukemia initiating cells (LIC) (leukemia stem cell) regulations using a combination of mouse genetics, human tissue biosystem marrow-on-a-chip and chemical biology chemical genetics approaches.

Research

Dr. Zhang's graduate work revealed a role for the Wnt regulator Axin in the regulation of signaling and disease. As a postdoc at Yale University, he worked at the interface of chemistry, biology, and drug target identification. He discovered a connection between the drug TNP-470 and its chemical biology target pathway using whole tissue biosystem chemical genetics and mouse genetics approach.
As a Faculty and Principle Investigator at University of Rochester, Dr. Zhang discovered a novel marker gene MECOM for long term hematopoietic stem cells, and its regulation of Cdkn1c for stem cell quiescence. He developed multiple genetic mouse strains for stem cell lineage tracing and chemical genetics tools to identify novel marker for stem cell research. Studies using human clinical samples, testing human tissue biosystem "marrow on a chip" approach as well as developing chemical biology small molecule probes are underway.
Dr. Zhang also developed first mouse model of inducible kyphosis for bone research.
Dr. Zhang's medical management research contributed to stem cell application, biotech entrepreneurship, medical finance, operation management as well as community population prediction preventive medicine study.

Credentials

Education

1990
BS | Fudan University
Biophysics and Physiology

2001
PhD | National University of Singapore (rank Top in Asia), IMCB, A-STAR
Molecular and Cell Biology

2004
Post-doc Training (2002-2004) | Yale University
Chemical Genetics Chemical Genomics (advisor: Craig M Crews, AAAS Fellow, Director Yale Center for Molecular Discovery, Lab of Invention of PROTAC technology and FDA-approved drug Carfilzomib/KyprolisTM), Yale University

2007
Promoted to Associate Research Scientist (2004 -2007) after Post-Doc Training | Yale University
Chemical Genetics Chemical Genomics (advisor: Craig M Crews, AAAS Fellow, Director Yale Center for Molecular Discovery, Lab of Invention of PROTAC technology and FDA-approved drug Carfilzomib/KyprolisTM), Yale University

2012
MS, | Simon Business School, University of Rochester, New York
Master Medical Management

2014
MBA, | Simon Business School, University of Rochester, New York
Graduate Business Administration

Post-doctoral Training & Residency

2004 - 2007
Research Faculty, Chemical Biology Drug Mode-of-Action Study, Chemical Genetics and Chemical Genomics, Department of MCDB and Yale Center for Molecular Discovery, Yale University

2002 - 2004
Postdoctoral Fellow, Chemical Genetics and Chemical Genomics, (advisor: Craig M Crews, AAAS Fellow, Director Yale Center for Molecular Discovery, Lab of Invention PROTAC technology and FDA-approved drug Carfilzomib/KyprolisTM), Yale University

Awards

2014 - Present
New York State Stem Cell Sciences funding
Sponsor: New York State Department of Health

2011
Empire State Stem Cell Board IDEA Award
Sponsor: New York State

2008
James P. Wilmot Cancer Center Symposium 1st place award
Sponsor: University of Rochester Medical Center

2006
Advanced Training in Science Teaching
Sponsor: Yale Graduate Teaching Center

2003
Life Science Research Foundation Finalist
Sponsor: Princeton University

2003
Helen Hay Whitney Foundation finalist

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Publications

Journal Articles

11/13/2022
Ping Koh C, Govind Bahirvani A, Qiuxia Wang C, Yokomizo T, Ee Lin Ng C, Du L, Tergaonkar V, Chih-Cheng Voon D, Kitamura H, Hosoi H, Sonoki T, Meng Huang Michelle M, Jye Tan L, Niibori-Nambu A, Zhang Y, Perkins AS, Hossain Z, Tenen DG, Ito Y, Venkatesh B, Osato M. "Highly efficient Runx1 enhancer eR1-mediated genetic engineering for fetal, child and adult hematopoietic stem cells." Gene.. 2022 Nov 13; :147049. Epub 2022 Nov 13.

2/5/2020
Christodoulou C, Spencer JA, Yeh SA, Turcotte R, Kokkaliaris KD, Panero R, Ramos A, Guo G, Seyedhassantehrani N, Esipova TV, Vinogradov SA, Rudzinskas S, Zhang Y, Perkins AS, Orkin SH, Calogero RA, Schroeder T, Lin CP, Camargo FD. "Live-animal imaging of native haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells." Nature.. 2020 Feb 5; Epub 2020 Feb 05.

10/12/2018
Ayoub E, Wilson MP, McGrath KE, Li AJ, Frisch BJ, Palis J, Calvi LM, Zhang Y, Perkins AS. "EVI1 overexpression reprograms hematopoiesis via upregulation of Spi1 transcription." Nature communications.. 2018 Oct 12; 9(1):4239. Epub 2018 Oct 12.

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