June 2023
A review paper came out of the Zhang Lab to summarize the role of OVOL2
A reviewer paper from the Zhang Lab was recently published on Trends in Cell Biology. In this review, both the classic role of OVOL2 in embryogenesis and tumorigenesis, and the emerging role of OVOL2 in energy homeostasis have been discussed.
Read the paper here
October 2022
Defect in gene caused massive obesity in mice despite normal food intake
The third paper came out of the Zhang Lab published on Cell Metabolism to identify a form of obesity caused not by hyperphagia or hypokinesis but by decreased thermal energy expenditure due to a viable hypomorphic allele of the essential gene Ovol2. Ovol2 may eventually become target for anti-obesity drugs.
This research has been reported by D Magazine:
https://www.dmagazine.com/healthcare-business/2022/11/study-obesity-caused-by-faulty-gene-not-diet/
October 2022
Welcome Jiayi Zhang
Jiayi Zhang recently joined the Zhang Lab as a undergraduate student assiatant. Jiayi is a 4th year undergraduate student from Sichuan University. She joined the Zhang Lab as a Beutler Institute exchange student. Welcome!
September 2022
UT Southwestern geneticists identify new mechanism for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease absent obesity
The second paper came out of the Zhang Lab published on Nature Communications to identify two mutants of a poorly studied GTPase Gm4951 that contribute to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Different from the general thinking that NAFLD is strongly associated with obesity, these two mutants develop servere fatty liver without further increase in body weight. Identifying the role of this gene in development of NAFLD provides important new direction to find potential treatments.
Read UTSW's news release about the researchApril 2022
Dr. Zhang invited to speak at the 2022 Gordon Research Conference
Dr. Zhang presented a talk titled “Forward Genetics of Fatty Liver Disease” during the Keynote Session of 2022 GRC “Alcohol-Induced End Organ Diseases” on April 24, 2022 in Ventura, CA.
More information about the meetingApril 2022
Welcome Dr. Yiao Jiang
Dr. Yiao Jiang officially joined the Zhang Lab as a postdoctoral researcher. Yiao received his Ph.D. degree from the Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2022. He joined the Zhang Lab right after graduation. Welcome!
January 2022
Dr. Zhao Zhang awarded R01 Grant
Dr. Zhao Zhang received an R01 grant to study the role of GM4951 in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease from NIDDK.
Congrats!
November 2021
Zhang Lab moves to new space at Simmons Biomedical Research Building (NB)
We recently moved into a newly renovated lab space at NB9. Let’s keep the new lab clean and organized.
February 2021
Zhang Lab welcomes Dr. Yu Xun
Dr. Yu Xun officially joined the Zhang Lab as the first postdoc. Yu earned his Ph.D. from Hunan Normal University in 2018. He did a short postdoc at Louisiana State University before he joined the Zhang Lab at UT Southwestern.
Welcome!
July 2020
Gene in fat plays key role in insulin resistance
The first paper came out of the Zhang Lab published on PNAS to follow up our discovery of KBTBD2. Developing a better understanding of KBTBD2 could have implications for Type 2 diabetes.
Read UTSW's news release about the researchJune 2020
Zhang Lab is officially open today!
The Zhang Lab is officially open on June 1, 2020, with a primary affiliation to the Center for the Genetics of Host Defense, and a secondary affiliation to the Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine. We are looking for postdocs, graduate students, and technical staff to join our growing lab.
Join us