Professor Max Zhang has expertise in the translational research of genetic modulation-based strategies in musculoskeletal diseases. He has identified a series of muscle atrophy-related lncRNAs that have anabolic or catabolic effects on skeletal muscle homeostasis. The new understandings of lncRNAs in skeletal muscle homeostasis could help to complete the whole picture of anabolic and catabolic mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle atrophy induced by different pathological condition, e.g. aging and mechanical unloading. Meanwhile, the researches provide novel lncRNA-based therapeutic strategies to counteract skeletal muscle atrophy.

Another research interest of Professor Zhang has been focused on aptamer-based tissue-targeted drug delivery. Aptamers are single-stranded oligonucleotides that can bind to their targets with high affinity and selectivity, which makes them promising escort molecules for drug delivery systems. Prof. Zhang has made significant progress on identification of novel skeletal muscle-targeted aptamer, which could facilitate developing a novel skeletal muscle-targeted drug delivery strategy.

Professor Zhang’s group has published papers in a series of international journals with high impact factor, including Nature Communications, Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, Biomaterials, Molecular Therapy and Aging Cell.

Enquiries to join the team or to collaborate are most welcome.

Researcher ID AAB-2564-2020
ORCID 0000-0003-1646-7871
Publons Link https://publons.com/researcher/3328809/zongkang-zhang/