ZHANG Yong
Zhang Yong （张勇）PH.D.
Investigator
Neuroscience Research Institute,
IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research,
Peking University Health Science Center
No. 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing P.R.China 100191
Tel: 86-10-82802920
Email: yongzhang@hsc.pku.edu.cn
EDUCATION
2003—2008 Ph.D., Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (Advisor: Dr. Duojia Pan)
1995—1999 B.S., Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Science
Shandong University, P.R.China
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
2016—Present Principal Investigator, Neuroscience Research Institute,
IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research,
Peking University Health Science Center
2015—2016 Research Associate (Faculty), Advisor: Dr. Richard L. Huganir
AMPA receptor synaptic plasticity in awake behaving animals
Department of Neuroscience
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
2008—2015 Postdoctoral fellow, Advisor: Dr. Richard L. Huganir
Visualization of NMDA receptor-dependent AMPA receptor
synaptic plasticity in vivo
Department of Neuroscience
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
2003—2008 Doctoral Training, Advisor: Dr. Duojia Pan
Genetic and biochemical characterization of the Tsc-Rheb-TOR signaling pathway in Drosophila
Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Transferred from UT Southwestern Medical Center to Hopkins in 2004
2001—2003 Visiting Research Scholar, Laboratory of Dr. Duojia Pan
Department of Physiology
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
1999—2001 Research Assistant, Laboratory of Prof. Binggen Ru
State Key Laboratory of Protein Engineering and Plant Genetic Engineering, Beijing University, P.R.China
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Sep.—Oct. 2004 Teaching Assistant, ME:800.600--Molecules & Cells.
Cell physiology block, Core course for Hopkins Medical students
Duties to include:Leading small group discussions related to lecture material, setting up laboratory experiments, and grading exams.
HONORS AND AWARDS
2015 The W. Barry Wood Jr. Research Award, Johns Hopkins Young Investigators’ Award
2014 Best poster awards, Gordon Research Conference—Molecular & Cellular Neurobiology 2014
2006 Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-Financed Students Abroad
2004 Second prize, the National Natural Science Award, Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China
POSTER PRESENTATION & INVITED TALKS
Jun. 2016 Current Trends and Future Directions of Synaptic Plasticity Research (US-Japan Brain Research Cooperative Program). “Visualizing AMPA receptor synaptic plasticity in vivo”. Invited seminar. Baltimore, MD. U.S.A.
Jan. 2016 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas. “Visualizing AMPA receptor synaptic plasticity in vivo”. Invited seminar. Lawrence, KS. U.S.A.
Jan. 2016 Neuroscience Research Institute, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University. “Visualizing AMPA receptor synaptic plasticity in vivo”. Invited seminar. Beijing, China.
Dec. 2015 Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences. “Visualizing AMPA receptor synaptic plasticity in vivo”. Invited seminar. Shanghai, China.
Sep. 2015 Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, West Virginia University. “Imaging of AMPA receptor synaptic plasticity in vivo”. Invited seminar. Morgantown, WV. U.S.A.
Sep. 2015 Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Health Center. “Imaging of AMPA receptor synaptic plasticity in vivo”. Invited seminar. Farmington, CT. U.S.A.
Apr. 2015 The 38th annual Johns Hopkins Young Investigators’ Day. “Visualization of NMDA receptor-dependent AMPA receptor synaptic plasticity in vivo”. Poster. Baltimore, MD. U.S.A.
Mar. 2015 Junior research group leader recruitment symposium, German Center for Neurodegenerative diseases (DZNE). “Visualization of NMDA receptor-dependent AMPA receptor synaptic plasticity in vivo”. Invited seminar. Berlin, Germany.
Nov. 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting 2014. “Visualization of NMDA receptor-dependent AMPA receptor synaptic plasticity in vivo”. Poster. Abstract# 246.05. Washington D.C. U.S.A.
Sep. 2014 Neuroscience Department Retreat. (Invited by Hopkins Neuroscience Graduate Program director) “Visualization of NMDA receptor-dependent AMPA receptor synaptic plasticity in vivo”. Research Talk. St. Michaels, MD. U.S.A.
Jun. 2014 Gordon Research Conference—Molecular & Cellular Neurobiology 2014. “Visualization of NMDA receptor-dependent AMPA receptor synaptic plasticity in vivo”. Poster. Hong Kong, China.
May 2013 Brain Activity Map Mini-Symposium. Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “Imaging of AMPA receptor trafficking and Regulation in vivo”. Poster. Baltimore, MD. U.S.A.
Oct. 2012 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting 2012. Nanosymposium 523 Mechanisms of Somatosensation. “Imaging of AMPA receptor trafficking and regulation in vivo”. Research Talk. Abstract# 523.10. New Orleans, LA. U.S.A.
Sep. 2012 Neuroscience Department Lab Lunch. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “Trafficking and regulation of AMPA receptors in vivo”. Research talk. Baltimore, MD. U.S.A.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
A long-term goal of my laboratory will be to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity and learning and memory in the brain in both health and disease. Specifically, we utilize two photon imaging to study AMPA receptor dynamics, neuronal activity (GCamP6), and activity of different signaling pathways (FRET or single color based biosensors) in vivo during animal behavior and learning and memory.
- Investigate AMPA receptor dynamics and behavior during learning in awake behaving animals to better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying learning and memory.
- Investigate the effect of synaptic dysfunction and AMPA receptor regulation disruption in the onset of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, the results of which will help us to develop new strategies for early disease detection and timely intervention.
PUBLICATIONS
1. Zhang Y, Cudmore R, Lin DT, Linden DJ, and Huganir RL. 2015. Visualization of NMDA receptor-dependent AMPA receptor synaptic plasticity in vivo. Nat. Neurosci. 18: 402-407.
2. Sharma K, Choi SY, Zhang Y, Nieland T, Long S, Li M, and Huganir RL. 2013.High-throughput Genetic Screen for Synaptogenic Factors: Identification of LRP6as Critical for Excitatory Synapse Development. Cell Rep. 5: 1330-1341.
3. Zhang Y, Billington CJ Jr, Pan D, and Neufeld TP. 2006. Drosophila target of rapamycin kinase functions as a multimer. Genetics.172: 355-362.
4. Pan D, Dong J, Zhang Y,and Gao X. 2004. Tuberous sclerosis complex: from Drosophila to human disease. Trends Cell Biol.14: 78-85.
5. Zhang Y, Gao X, Saucedo L, Ru B, Edgar B, and Pan D. 2003. Rheb is a direct target of the tuberous sclerosis tumour suppressor proteins. Nat. Cell Biol.5: 578-581.
6. Gao X#, Zhang Y#, Arrazola P, Hino O, Kobayashi T, Yeung R, Ru B, and Pan D. 2002. Tsc tumor suppressor proteins antagonize amino-acid-TOR signaling. Nat. Cell Biol.4: 699-704. (# Equal contribution)