Welcome to the Zhang Neuroscience Research Laboratories

 

The clinically related basic science research in the Zhang Neuroscience Research Laboratories focuses on cerebral vascular diseases (stroke). There are about 700,000 people suffering from stroke each year in the United States. Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the first leading cause of long-term neurological disability in adults in America. Cerebral vascular diseases are divided into two types: hemorrhagic (responsible for <20 percent of cerebral vascular diseases) and ischemic (responsible for >80 percent of cerebral vascular disease). Direct medical expenses, lost income, and decreased productivity after cerebral vascular diseases cost billions of dollars in the United States.

The main research direction in the Zhang Laboratory is focused on the ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, as well as global cerebral ischemia, neonatal hypoxia, and neurological complications of neurosurgery and anesthesia. Animal models of above mentioned neurological disorders are currently employed in the studies of cerebral physiology including blood-brain barrier, brain edema, cerebral blood flow and intracranial pressure, cerebral morphology, especially immunohistochemistry, molecular biology, neuro-imaging, neurological and neurobehavioral functional testing. The main focus of research interests is cerebral vascular biology, neuroprotective strategies, gene therapy, signaling pathways, apoptosis, and hyperbaric medicine.

One of the goals of the Neuroscience Research Laboratories involves training in neuroscience research. The Laboratories currently host researchers from America, Canada, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Iraq, Japan, China, Poland, Russia, Ireland, Turkey, and India. In addition neurosurgery and anesthesiology residents are encouraged to participate in the basic science research. Graduate students in basic science departments are encouraged to investigate clinical neuroscience problems.

Dr. Zhang's research efforts have been and are supported by grants from American Heart Association, National Institute of Health, and several other foundations.

 

Lab Location

 

Dr. Zhang's Clinical Neuroscience Research Laboratories are located in the first floor of Risley Hall (about 3,000 sq. ft.) in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology. The laboratories are equipped for animal surgery, molecular biology, morphology, physiology, and neurological functional studies.

 

Collaborators

 

Our lab is very proud to collaborate with a large and diverse group of capable researchers especially with members of the Loma Linda University Neuroscience Research Consortium. Among them, Dr. Steve Ashwal's clinical and basic science research in pediatric brain injury, Dr. Andy Obenaus' animal MRI and PET facility and expertise in different brain injury modalities, Dr. Richard Hartman's neurobehavioral function lab equipped with water maze and other modalities, Dr. Jiping Tang's experience in transgenic animal studies especially in intracerebral hemorrhage, and Dr. Bill Pearce's experience in basic cerebral vascular studies. Learn about our research collaborators.