Zhang Neuroscience 
Research Laboratories News
Dr. Raj Ratan visited LLU
Dr. Raj Ratan of Cornell University, who is a renowned expert in the hypoxic signaling pathways, visited LLU and delivered a lecture for the IBGS on January 7, 2010. Dr. Ratan, hosted by Dr. Zhang, visited the Zhang Neuroscience Research Lab and met with students and faculty. This meeting resulted in an exchange of ideas and brought new perspectives for collaboration between the two research groups.
Dr. Hank Chen and Bin Huang joined Zhang Lab in January of 2010
Dr. Chen started his postdoctoral fellowship in neurosciences. He is completing a study in post-treatment neuroprotection in surgical brain injury. He is also pursuing his other research interests, which include cerebral angiopathies, neonatal hypoxia and neuroprotection using nano-medicines.
Bin is a graduate student from China who joined Dr. Zhang's lab to complete training in neuroscience research. He will study molecular mechanisms of ICH-induced brain injury.
We hope that their work will soon come to fruition!
Dr. Manaenko receives the Julian Hoff Award
The award, with a check for $1000, was handed to Dr. Anatol Manaenko at the Third International Conference on Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Palm Springs, California on March 9, 2010. His research presentation, which received this honor, was entitled “Geldanamycin Reduced Brain Injury in Mouse Model of Intracerebral Hemorrhage.” It offered in-depth insight into neuroprotective mechanisms of geldanamycin in the treatment of hemorrhagic brain injury. Congrats from the whole Zhang Lab!
Farewell to Drs. Yu Hasegawa and Yilin Zhou
On March 12, 2010 Zhang lab members went for farewell lunch for departing post-doctoral fellows, Drs. Yu Hasegawa and Yilin Zhou. The event took place at BJ’s restaurant in San Bernardino. Both doctors have been productive and well liked by collaborators. During lunch, the doctors received many warm wishes for their future welfare.
Awards
This year’s Annual Postgraduate Convention held at LLU honored Dr. Robert Ayer from Neurosurgery Department for his research carried out in the Zhang Lab. Dr. Ayer, who had conducted studies on surgical brain injury, received the first place award in the Research Fellow category.
Mr. Adriel Fajilan was granted Alpha Omega Alpha Carolyn L. Kuchein Student Research Fellowship to support his research on new neuroprotectants in neonatal hypoxia.
This calls for a celebration!
Welcome, Drs. Yoshiteru Soejima and Mutsumi Fujii
Two Japanese neurosurgeons joined our research staff. Dr. Yoshiteru Soejima from the University of Occupational and Environmental Health in Fukuoka and Dr. Mutsumi Fujii from Tokyo Medical and Dental University joined the Zhang lab in April for two years of postdoctoral training. Dr. Soejima will study the role of cytokines in cerebral ischemia. Dr. Fujii will pursue novel therapies of subarachnoid hemorrhage in the experimental setting. Good luck to both of you!
Dr. Nikan Khatibi receives 1st place trophy at WARC
Having completed his outstanding research in the Zhang Lab, Dr. Khatibi submitted an abstract on the experimental therapies of intracerebral hemorrhage to the Western Anesthesia Resident Conference. He gave an oral presentation and was declared a winner of the conference. Congratulations, Nikan!
So Long Tim & Nancy
On May 7th, all lab members and our guest speaker, Dr. Carmichael from UCLA, joined Drs. Zhang and Tang in the conference room for a farewell party in honor of our wonderful students, Timothy Lekic and Nancy Fathali. They both will be graduating soon. Tim and Nancy received many words of appreciation and cordial wishes for their future endeavors.
Everybody at the party enjoyed delicious multinational food.
Welcome, Jerome and Frederic
It has become Zhang lab tradition to admit students from France in the summer. This year we are happy to have Jerome Kammer and Frederic Spagnoli from the University of Nancy. This renowned institution for higher learning is located in the city of Nancy, the Art Nouveau capital of France and home to Stanislas square. Both students will pursue their research interests in investigational drugs and medical bioengineering. We believe they will significantly contribute to the scientific output of our lab.
Drs. Paul Krafft and Jun Mu joined the Zhang Lab in the Spring/Summmer of 2010
Paul Krafft is a medical doctor from Germany. His project's aim is to develop novel experimental therapies for intracerebral hemorrhage. Dr. Mu, a neurologist from China, joined us to study neurogenesis in the focal ischemic model of stroke. We are thrilled to have them work with us!
Zhang Lab Potluck
On July 13, 2010 the Zhang Lab organized a potluck in celebration of the newly arrived & departing lab members. New students Johnathan Chou, Timothy Lee, and Mike Zaki have joined us for eight weeks of summer research. We were also welcoming Dr. Michael Benggon from LLU Anesthesiology Department who wants to do research on surgical brain injury. Welcome aboard!
All members of the Zhang lab were saying goodbyes to French students, Jerome Kammer and Frederic Spagnoli. They both have worked with us for a couple of months and made themselves quite popular around here. Congrats and many thanks for your hard work and dedication!
