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 38^th 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.

1. Investigate AMPA receptor dynamics and behavior during learning in awake behaving animals to better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying learning and memory.
2. 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)