Scientific Research Areas
Neuromuscular diseases, Striated muscle physiology, Ca2+ signaling and mitochondrial function in health and disease.
Research Information
The scientific research of Zhou lab covers striated muscle physiology, skeletal muscle regeneration, aging and neuromuscular diseases. The research in Zhou lab has been supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), Department of Defense (DOD), the ALS Association, Bank of America Victor E. Speas Foundation, and universities, etc. One of our major focuses is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a neuromuscular disease characterized by motor neuron death and severe muscle wasting. Three FDA-approved therapies only extend the life span by a few months, while the progressive skeletal muscle paralysis in ALS usually affects respiratory function, frequently leading to ventilatory failure and death in 3–5 years following the disease diagnosis. We collaborate with experts in the field and combine comprehensive biomedical research techniques to explore molecular mechanisms underlying neuromuscular degeneration at the levels of molecular, cellular, whole animal models and patients of ALS, and to develop potential therapeutic interventions.
Education
Postdoctoral Fellow in Pharmacology
Vanderbilt University College of Medicine, 2001
Ph.D. in Molecular Biophysics and Physiology
Rush University School of Medicine, 1997
Diploma in Medicine
Hunan Medical University (Xiangya Medical School), 1986
