Dr. Lei Zhang is working on investigating several longevity factors and pro-aging signaling pathways using cell culture and mouse models, as well as developing potential senotherapeutics to extend healthy lifespan. Outside the lab, he enjoys reading, cooking, fishing, and exploring the beauty of nature with his cat.
Representative Publications:
Zhang L, Pitcher LE, Prahalad V, Niedernhofer LJ, Robbins PD. Targeting Cellular Senescence with Senotherapeutics: Senolytics and Senomorphics. FEBS J. 2022 Jan 11. doi: 10.1111/febs.16350. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35015337.
Zhang L, Zhao J, Mu X, McGowan SJ, Angelini L, O'Kelly RD, Yousefzadeh MJ, Sakamoto A, Aversa Z, LeBrasseur NK, Suh Y, Huard J, Kamenecka TM, Niedernhofer LJ, Robbins PD. Novel small molecule inhibition of IKK/NF-κB activation reduces markers of senescence and improves healthspan in mouse models of aging. Aging Cell. 2021 Nov 3:e13486. doi: 10.1111/acel.13486. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34734460.
Zhang L, Pitcher LE, Prahalad V, Niedernhofer LJ, Robbins PD. Recent advances in the discovery of senolytics. Mech Ageing Dev. 2021 Dec;200:111587. doi: 10.1016/j.mad.2021.111587. Epub 2021 Oct 14. PMID: 34656616; PMCID: PMC8687661.
Zhao J, Zhang L, Mu X, Doebelin C, Nguyen W, Wallace C, Reay DP, McGowan SJ, Corbo L, Clemens PR, Wilson GM, Watkins SC, Solt LA, Cameron MD, Huard J, Niedernhofer LJ, Kamenecka TM, Robbins PD. Development of novel NEMO-binding domain mimetics for inhibiting IKK/NF-κB activation. PLoS Biol. 2018 Jun 11;16(6):e2004663. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2004663. PMID: 29889904; PMCID: PMC6013238.
Zhao J, Zhang L, Lu A, Han Y, Colangelo D, Bukata C, Scibetta A, Yousefzadeh MJ, Li X, Gurkar AU, McGowan SJ, Angelini L, O'Kelly R, Li H, Corbo L, Sano T, Nick H, Pola E, Pilla SPS, Ladiges WC, Vo N, Huard J, Niedernhofer LJ, Robbins PD. ATM is a key driver of NF-κB-dependent DNA-damage-induced senescence, stem cell dysfunction and aging. Aging (Albany NY). 2020 Mar 22;12(6):4688-4710. doi: 10.18632/aging.102863. Epub 2020 Mar 22. PMID: 32201398; PMCID: PMC7138542.
