Cheng Zhang, Ph.D. - Faculty Profile

Biography

Dr. Cheng Zhang is an Instructor in the Department of Pathology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Holding a Ph.D. in Cell Biology from Zhejiang University, Dr. Zhang has applied his expertise in molecular biology and genomics to advance cancer biology and develop innovative therapeutic strategies.

At UT Southwestern, Dr. Zhang has focused on oncology research, leading studies into the molecular mechanisms of m6A modification and its role in renal carcinoma. He has also been involved in the preclinical development of bispecific antibodies for tumor immunotherapy and PROTAC molecules targeting clear cell renal cell carcinoma. These efforts have resulted in first-author publications in high-impact journals and presentations at leading international conferences.

Dr. Zhang excels in utilizing advanced techniques such as CRISPR-based gene editing, next-generation sequencing, and immunoassays. He has a proven history of mentoring graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and technicians, fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation.

With a strong commitment to research and collaboration, Dr. Cheng Zhang continues to drive progress in cancer biology and therapeutic development, aiming to improve patient outcomes worldwide.

Research Interest

kidney cancer, hypoxia signaling, VHL, post-translational modification

Publications

Featured Publications

Von Hippel Lindau tumor suppressor controls m6A-dependent gene expression in renal tumorigenesis.: Zhang C, Yu M, Hepperla AJ, Zhang Z, Raj R, Zhong H, Zhou J, Hu L, Fang J, Liu H, Liang Q, Jia L, Liao C, Xi S, Simon JM, Xu K, Liu Z, Nam Y, Kapur P, Zhang Q, J Clin Invest 2024 Apr 134 8
Kinome-wide siRNA screen identifies a DCLK2-TBK1 oncogenic signaling axis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.: Hu L, Zhang Y, Guo L, Zhong H, Xie L, Zhou J, Liao C, Yao H, Fang J, Liu H, Zhang C, Zhang H, Zhu X, Luo M, von Kriegsheim A, Li B, Luo W, Zhang X, Chen X, Mendell JT, Xu L, Kapur P, Baldwin AS, Brugarolas J, Zhang Q, Mol Cell 2024 Feb 84 4 776-790.e5
Endothelial Mitochondria-Associated Membranes (MAMs) Isolation by Percoll Step Gradients.: Baldini M, Zhang C, Yu J, Methods Mol Biol 2024 2782 113-122
Pulsatilla Saponins Inhibit Experimental Lung Metastasis of Melanoma via Targeting STAT6-Mediated M2 Macrophages Polarization.: Yang X, Wu M, Yan X, Zhang C, Luo Y, Yu J, Molecules 2023 Apr 28 9
Tumor hypoxia: From basic knowledge to therapeutic implications.: Liao C, Liu X, Zhang C, Zhang Q, Semin Cancer Biol 2023 Jan 88 172-186
Histone H3 proline 16 hydroxylation regulates mammalian gene expression.: Liu X, Wang J, Boyer JA, Gong W, Zhao S, Xie L, Wu Q, Zhang C, Jain K, Guo Y, Rodriguez J, Li M, Uryu H, Liao C, Hu L, Zhou J, Shi X, Tsai YH, Yan Q, Luo W, Chen X, Strahl BD, von Kriegsheim A, Zhang Q, Wang GG, Baldwin AS, Zhang Q, Nat Genet 2022 Nov 54 11 1721-1735
An oncogenic JMJD6-DGAT1 axis tunes the epigenetic regulation of lipid droplet formation in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.: Zhou J, Simon JM, Liao C, Zhang C, Hu L, Zurlo G, Liu X, Fan C, Hepperla A, Jia L, Tcheuyap VT, Zhong H, Elias R, Ye J, Henne WM, Kapur P, Nijhawan D, Brugarolas J, Zhang Q, Mol Cell 2022 Aug 82 16 3030-3044.e8
Enterobacter aerogenes ZDY01 inhibits choline-induced atherosclerosis through CDCA-FXR-FGF15 axis.: Tang J, Qin M, Tang L, Shan D, Zhang C, Zhang Y, Wei H, Qiu L, Yu J, Food Funct 2021 Oct 12 20 9932-9946
MAP Kinase Phosphatase-5 Deficiency Protects Against Pressure Overload-Induced Cardiac Fibrosis.: Zhong C, Min K, Zhao Z, Zhang C, Gao E, Huang Y, Zhang X, Baldini M, Roy R, Yang X, Koch WJ, Bennett AM, Yu J, Front Immunol 2021 12 790511
Tiliroside Ameliorates Ulcerative Colitis by Restoring the M1/M2 Macrophage Balance via the HIF-1α/glycolysis Pathway.: Zhuang H, Lv Q, Zhong C, Cui Y, He L, Zhang C, Yu J, Front Immunol 2021 12 649463

Honors & Awards

American Heart Association (AHA) Postdoctoral Fellowship
(2017-2019)
Young Investigator Award (2018)
CAAC-ATVB Metabolic Vascular Disease Symposium