Hu Zhang
Professor, Ph.D., PI
Email:zhanghu@seu.edu.cn
Address: Room B202 Huichuan Building, Jiangbei Campus, Southeast University
Personal Profile
I graduated with a bachelor's degree from Zhengzhou University of Light Industry in 2009. After that, I obtained master's and doctoral degrees from Henan University and Zhejiang University in 2012 and 2018 respectively. From the end of 2018 to 2024, I conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Colorado Boulder in the United States. In February 2025, I officially joined the School of Life Science and Technology of Southeast University as professor and principal investigator (PI).
Research Directions
Neurons play a crucial role in animals' maintenance of normal bodily functions, adaptation to the external environment, and execution of complex cognitive tasks. The functional state of neurons is influenced and regulated by multiple factors, both intrinsic and extrinsic, and is closely related to an individual's abilities, the occurrence and development of related diseases, and even the survival and reproduction of species. I am deeply interested in researching the functional regulation of the nervous system and the pathology of nervous system-related diseases. The research I conduct covers important neuroscience directions such as the functions and interactions of neurons and neuroglial cells, the pathogenesis and treatment of nervous system-related diseases, and the impact of mitochondrial dysfunction on the nervous system. Major research achievements have been published in international authoritative journals such as Science Advances, PNAS, and Neuron.
Representative Papers
(# co-first author; * corresponding author)
1.H Zhang#, YN Zhu#, and D Xue*. Moderate embryonic delay of paternal mitochondrial elimination impairs mating and cognition and alters behaviors of adult animals. Science Advances. 2024 Oct 4;10(40):eadp8351.
(This paper has received attention and reports from dozens of media, including Bioon, Biology Valley, BioArt，NetEase, Sina, Biological Exploration, MedSci, Technology Networks, MSN, Hindustan Times, and Mirage)
2.H Zhang#, YN Zhu#, Y Suehiro, S Mitani, and D Xue*. AMPK-FOXO-IP3R signaling pathway mediates neurological and developmental defects caused by mitochondrial DNA mutations. PNAS. 2023 Sep 5;120(36):e2302490120. Epub 2023 Aug 28.
(This paper has received attention and reports from scientific media such as Kudos; Based on this paper, an international invention patent related to the treatment of mitochondrial diseases is being applied for in the United States)
3.D Duan#, H Zhang#, XM Yue#, YD Fan#, YD Xue, JJ Shao, G Ding, D Chen, ST Li, HK Chen, XY Zhang, WJ Zou, J Liu, J Zhao, LM Wang, BZ Zhao, ZP Wang, SH Xu, Q Wen, J Liu, SM Duan*, and LJ Kang*. Sensory Glia Detect Repulsive Odorants and Drive Olfactory Adaptation. Neuron. 2020 Nov 25;108(4):707-721.
(This paper has received attention and reports from multiple media outlets including Sina, Qiushi News Network, and Biology Valley; The Neuron journal specially published a commentary article “C. elegans Glia Are Bona Fide Odorant Receptor Cells” for this paper in the same issue https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2020.10.026)