Education
- M.D., Department of Medicine, Shandong Medical College
- Ph.D., Department of Physiology, University of Toronto
Areas of Expertise
- Electrophysiolog
- In vitro and In vivo Recording
- Two-photon Imaging
- Confocal Imaging
Research
Dr. Zhang’s research focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern synaptic transmission and plasticity, and on how these processes are disrupted by inflammation, metabolic stress, environmental neurotoxins, and receptor-level dysfunction.
Dr. Zhang combines electrophysiology, advanced imaging, synaptic structural analysis, and mechanistic pharmacology to define the presynaptic and postsynaptic determinants of synaptic function, including NMDA receptor allosteric modulation, vesicular release dynamics, and mitochondrial support of neurotransmission. By identifying therapeutic strategies that restore synaptic function, including NMDAR modulators, Dr. Zhang’s work addresses mechanisms relevant to depression, Alzheimer’s disease, diet-induced neuroinflammation, and lead neurotoxicity. This research bridges molecular biophysics and translational neuroscience, with the goal of advancing new approaches to understand and treat synaptic dysfunction.
Memberships and Affiliations
- Society for Neuroscience
