Dr. Zhu is an Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at University of Michigan. He received his BS (2008) in Biotechnology from Nankai University, China, and completed Ph.D. (2013) in Medical Sciences at the University of Florida College of Medicine. Dr. Zhu was a postdoc at National Institutes of Health. His research interests lie at the interface of nucleic acid therapeutics and vaccines, gene/drug/vaccine delivery, and immunology.
Biography
Research Interest
Engineering and delivery of nucleic acid therapeutics and vaccines for cancer, infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, and genetic diseases
Research Opportunities for Rotating Students
The research in my lab lies at the interface of immunology, nucleic acid engineering, and functional biomaterials. Our current focus is to develop novel circRNA/mRNA/oligonucleotides immunotherapeutics and vaccines and their delivery systems for the prophylaxis and immunotherapy of cancer, infectious diseases, and autoimmune disorders. Our research has been funded by federal and foundation grants from National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Defense (DoD), and American Cancer Society (ACS).
1. Circular RNA (circRNA) and mRNA therapeutics and vaccines for various diseases;
2. Cytosolic nucleic acid sensors (ADAR1, cGAS, STING)-related nucleic acid theranostics and immunomodulators;
3. Novel nanoparticle and biomaterial delivery systems for nucleic acid therapeutics and vaccines.