Dr. Zhang is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Alpert Medical School of Brown University and a Principal Investigator in the Ocean State Research Institute at the Providence VA Medical Center. He is also the Director of the Mitochondrial Function and In Vivo Function (MF-II) Core of the CardioPulmonary Vascular Biology (CPVB) COBRE, which offers expertise services including animal model characterizations, mitochondrial function assessments, and high-resolution in vivo imaging. Dr. Zhang's research interests concentrates on cardiovascular remodeling and signaling pathway cascades in response to hemodynamic stress, with a particular focus on cellular functions and the underlying regulatory mechanisms in the normal and diseased hearts. The long-term goal of Dr. Zhang's studies is to advance understanding of the signaling mechanisms that determine cardiopulmonary function and may provide new opportunities for treatment and prevention of various cardiopulmonary diseases. Dr. Zhang's research has been funded by the NIH, the American Heart Association (AHA), Department of Defense, pharmaceutics company, and local funding agencies.
| Agraz, Melih, Goksuluk, Dincer, Zhang, Peng, Choi, Bum-Rak, Clements, Richard T., Choudhary, Gaurav, Karniadakis, George Em. "ML-GAP: machine learning-enhanced genomic analysis pipeline using autoencoders and data augmentation." Frontiers in Genetics, vol. 15, 2024. |
| Zimmer A, Wang ER, Choudhary G, Zhang P. "Protocol for simultaneous isolation of high-quality and high-quantity cardiomyocytes and non-myocyte cells from adult rat hearts." STAR protocols, vol. 5, no. 3, 2024, pp. 103174. |
| Zhang, Peng, Da Silva Goncalves Bos, Denielli, Vang, Alexander, Feord, Julia, McCullough, Danielle J., Zimmer, Alexsandra, D'Silva, Natalie, Clements, Richard T., Choudhary, Gaurav. "Reduced exercise capacity occurs before intrinsic skeletal muscle dysfunction in experimental rat models of pulmonary hypertension." Pulmonary Circulation, vol. 14, no. 2, 2024, pp. e12358. |
| Ma W, Zhang P, Vang A, Zimmer A, Huck S, Nicely P, Wang E, Mancini TJ, Owusu-Sarfo J, Cavarsan CF, Belyvech AE, Campbell KS, Terentyev D, Choudhary G, Clements RT. "Reduction in activity and abundance of mitochondrial electron transport chain supercomplexes in pulmonary hypertension-induced right ventricular dysfunction." [], 2024. |
| Polina, Iuliia, Mishra, Jyotsna, Cypress, Michael W, Landherr, Maria, Valkov, Nedyalka, Chaput, Isabel, Nieto, Bridget, Mende, Ulrike, Zhang, Peng, Jhun, Bong Sook, O-Uchi, Jin. "Mitochondrial Ca2+uniporter (MCU) variants form plasma-membrane channels." [], 2023. |
| Teixeira RB, Pfeiffer M, Zhang P, Shafique E, Rayta B, Karbasiafshar C, Ahsan N, Sellke FW, Abid MR. "Reduction in mitochondrial ROS improves oxidative phosphorylation and provides resilience to coronary endothelium in non-reperfused myocardial infarction." Basic research in cardiology, vol. 118, no. 1, 2023, pp. 3. |
| Zhang, Peng, Ford, Kara, Sung, Jae Hwi, Suzuki, Yuta, Landherr, Maria, Moeller, Jacob, Chaput, Isabel, Polina, Iuliia, Kelly, Madeline, Nieto, Bridget, Tachibana, Toshiaki, Kusakari, Yoichiro, Cypress, Michael W., Drenkova, Kamelia, Adaniya, Stephanie M., Mishra, Jyotsna, Mende, Ulrike, Jhun, Bong Sook, O-Uchi, Jin. "c-Src-dependent phosphorylation of Mfn2 regulates endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria tethering." [], 2022. |
| D'Silva, Natalie M., Wang, Eric R., Fernandez‐Nicolas, Ana, Vang, Alexander, Yano, Naohiro, Zimmer, Alexsandra, Fedulov, Alexey V., Zhang, Peng, Choudhary, Gaurav. "Epigenetic regulation of Anoctamin1 in pulmonary arterial hypertension." The FASEB Journal, vol. 36, no. S1, 2022. |
| Li, Xiaofei, Braza, Julie, Mende, Ulrike, Choudhary, Gaurav, Zhang, Peng. "Cardioprotective effects of early intervention with sacubitril/valsartan on pressure overloaded rat hearts." Scientific Reports, vol. 11, no. 1, 2021, pp. 16542. |
| Vang A, da Silva Gonçalves Bos D, Fernandez-Nicolas A, Zhang P, Morrison AR, Mancini TJ, Clements RT, Polina I, Cypress MW, Jhun BS, Hawrot E, Mende U, O-Uchi J, Choudhary G. "⍺7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor mediates right ventricular fibrosis and diastolic dysfunction in pulmonary hypertension." JCI insight, vol. 6, no. 12, 2021. |
| Valkov N, King ME, Moeller J, Liu H, Li X, Zhang P. "MicroRNA-1-Mediated Inhibition of Cardiac Fibroblast Proliferation Through Targeting Cyclin D2 and CDK6." Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, vol. 6, 2019, pp. 65. |
| Yao, Hongwei, Gong, Jiannan, Peterson, Abigail L., Lu, Xuexin, Zhang, Peng, Dennery, Phyllis A. "Fatty Acid Oxidation Protects against Hyperoxia-induced Endothelial Cell Apoptosis and Lung Injury in Neonatal Mice." American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, vol. 60, no. 6, 2018, pp. 667-677. |
| Chorzalska A, Ahsan N, Rao RSP, Roder K, Yu X, Morgan J, Tepper A, Hines S, Zhang P, Treaba DO, Zhao TC, Olszewski AJ, Reagan JL, Liang O, Gruppuso PA, Dubielecka PM. "Overexpression of Tpl2 is linked to imatinib resistance and activation of MEK-ERK and NF-κB pathways in a model of chronic myeloid leukemia." Molecular oncology, vol. 12, no. 5, 2018, pp. 630-647. |
| Vang A, Clements RT, Chichger H, Kue N, Allawzi A, O'Connell K, Jeong EM, Dudley SC Jr, Sakhatskyy P, Lu Q, Zhang P, Rounds S, Choudhary G. "Effect of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor activation on cardiac fibroblasts: a mechanism underlying RV fibrosis associated with cigarette smoke exposure." American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology, vol. 312, no. 5, 2017, pp. ajplung.00393.2016. |
| Zhang P, Kofron CM, Mende U. "Heterotrimeric G protein-mediated signaling and its non-canonical regulation in the heart." Life Sciences, vol. 129, 2015, pp. 35-41. |
| Chichger, Havovi, Vang, Alexander, O'Connell, Kelly A., Zhang, Peng, Mende, Ulrike, Harrington, Elizabeth O., Choudhary, Gaurav. "PKC δ and βII Regulate Angiotensin II Mediated Fibrosis through p38: A Mechanism of RV Fibrosis in Pulmonary Hypertension." American Journal of Physiology - Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology, vol. 308, no. 8, 2015, pp. L827-36. |
| Zhang P, Mende U. "Functional role, mechanisms of regulation, and therapeutic potential of regulator of G protein signaling 2 in the heart." Trends in cardiovascular medicine, vol. 24, no. 2, 2014, pp. 85-93. |
| Zhang, P., Su, J., Mende, U. "Cross talk between cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts: from multiscale investigative approaches to mechanisms and functional consequences." AJP: Heart and Circulatory Physiology, vol. 303, no. 12, 2012, pp. H1385-96. |
| Desroches BR, Zhang P, Choi BR, King ME, Maldonado AE, Li W, Rago A, Liu G, Nath N, Hartmann KM, Yang B, Koren G, Morgan JR, Mende U. "Functional scaffold-free 3-D cardiac microtissues: a novel model for the investigation of heart cells." AJP: Heart and Circulatory Physiology, vol. 302, no. 10, 2012, pp. H2031-H2042. |
| Park-Windhol C, Zhang P, Zhu M, Su J, Chaves L Jr, Maldonado AE, King ME, Rickey L, Cullen D, Mende U. "Gq/11-mediated signaling and hypertrophy in mice with cardiac-specific transgenic expression of regulator of G-protein signaling 2." PLoS ONE, vol. 7, no. 7, 2012, pp. e40048. |
| Zhang P, Su J, King ME, Maldonado AE, Park C, Mende U. "Regulator of G protein signaling 2 is a functionally important negative regulator of angiotensin II-induced cardiac fibroblast responses." AJP: Heart and Circulatory Physiology, vol. 301, no. 1, 2011, pp. H147-56. |
| Zhang P, Mende U. "Regulators of G-protein signaling in the heart and their potential as therapeutic targets." Circulation research, vol. 109, no. 3, 2011, pp. 320-33. |
| Zhang C, Wang YE, Zhang P, Liu F, Sung CJ, Steinhoff MM, Quddus MR, Lawrence WD. "Progressive loss of selenium-binding protein 1 expression correlates with increasing epithelial proliferation and papillary complexity in ovarian serous borderline tumor and low-grade serous carcinoma." Human Pathology, vol. 41, no. 2, 2010, pp. 255-61. |
| Zhang P, Zhang C, Wang X, Liu F, Sung CJ, Quddus MR, Lawrence WD. "The expression of selenium-binding protein 1 is decreased in uterine leiomyoma." Diagnostic Pathology, vol. 5, 2010, pp. 80. |
| Zhang P, Zhang C, Hao J, Sung CJ, Quddus MR, Steinhoff MM, Lawrence WD. "Use of X-chromosome inactivation pattern to determine the clonal origins of uterine leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma." Human Pathology, vol. 37, no. 10, 2006, pp. 1350-6. |
| Zhang C, Zhang P, Hao J, Quddus MR, Steinhoff MM, Sung CJ. "High nuclear grade, frequent mitotic activity, cyclin D1 and p53 overexpression are associated with stromal invasion in mammary intracystic papillary carcinoma." The Breast Journal, vol. 11, no. 1, 2005, pp. 2-8. |
| Zhang C, Zhang P, Sung CJ, Lawrence WD. "Overexpression of p53 is correlated with stromal invasion in extramammary Paget's disease of the vulva." Human Pathology, vol. 34, no. 9, 2003, pp. 880-5. |
The focus of Dr. Zhang's research is to delineate the mechanisms underlying cardiac remodeling in response to hemodynamic stress in cardiopulmonary diseases. Our goal is to devise new therapeutic strategies that ultimately should benefit patients with cardiovascular disease. Dr. Zhang utilizes both in vitro and in vivo models in his research along with gene manipulation approaches and analytical techniques. Dr. Zhang's laboratory has the expertise in:
Dr. Zhang's laboratory has the following research programs with the aims to identify novel therapeutic targets to improve lung and heart function.
Current Research Funding:
Title: Mitochondria-targeted gene therapy in right ventricle in pulmonary hypertension
Grant/Source: Rhode Island Foundation (14692_20231345)
Date: 04/06/2023 – 03/31/2025
Role: PI
Title: CPVB COBRE Team Science Supplement Project
Grant/Source: NIH/NIGMS, P30GM149398 (PI: Dr. Choudhary)
Date: 09/06/2023 – 05/31/2025
Role: Project PI
Title: Role of Mitochondrial c-Src in Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Pulmonary Hypertension
Grant/Source: R01, NIH/NIGMS
Date: 05/01/2024 – 02/29/2028
Role: PI (Contact); MPI with Dr. Choudhary
Title: Repurposing propranolol to treat sickle cardiomyopathy: Role of non-adrenergic signaling
Grant/Source: Department of Defense, US Army Research and Development (MPI: Dr. Choi & Desai)
Date: 04/01/2024 – 03/31/2028
Role: Site PI
Title: Endothelial Injury and Repair: CardioPulmonary Vascular Biology COBRE
Grant/Source: NIH/NIGMS, P30GM149398 (PI: Dr. Choudhary)
Date: 06/01/2023 – 05/31/2028
Role: Director, Mitochondrial Function & In Vivo Imaging (MF-II) Core
Co-Director, Cell Isolation & Organ Function (CIOF) Core
Title: Endothelial Injury and Repair: CardioPulmonary Vascular Biology COBRE
Grant/Source: NIH/NIGMS, P20GM103652 (MPI: Dr. Choudhary and Dr. Harrington)
Date: 06/01/2018 – 05/31/2025 (NCE)
Role: Director, Respiratory Core
Title: Role of Endothelial Anoctamin-1 in Pulmonary Artery Hypertension”
Grant/Source: R01, NIH/NHLBI (PI: Dr. Choudhary)
Date: 07/01/2019 – 06/30/2025 (NCE)
Role: Collaborator
Title: Role of HADHA in regulating right ventricular mitochondrial structure and energetic function in pulmonary hypertension
Grant/Source: Veterans Affairs Merit Review Award (PI: Dr. Choudhary)
Date: 10/01/2024 – 09/30/2028
Role: Co-Investigator
Title: Role of right ventricular passive remodeling in ventricular-arterial uncoupling in
pulmonary hypertension
Grant/Source: NIH (PI: Dr. Avazmohammadi)
Date: 09/20/2024 – 08/31/2025
Role: Co-Investigator
Past Research Funding:
Title: Effects of LCZ696 on cardiac function and remodeling response to chronic pressure overload
Grant/Source: Novartis/Preclinical Study
Date: 03/01/2016 – 1/31/2019
Role: PI
Title: Regulation of cardiac fibroblast function by microRNAs
Grant/Source: NIH, COBRE for CardioPulmonary Vascular Biology (PI: Dr. Rounds)
Date: 09/20/2013 – 05/31/2018
Role: Targeted Project PI
Title: Regulation of Cardiac Fibroblast Function by MicroRNAs
Grant/Source: American Heart Association, Scientist Development Grant (National Center)
Dates: 1/1/2013 - 12/31/2016
Role: PI
* This AHA grant was relinquished on 9/16/2013 to accept a Targeted Investigator Project in NIH “COBRE for CardioPulmonary Vascular Biology” (P20 GM103652, PI: Dr. Rounds).
| Year | Degree | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | MS | University of Rhode Island |
| 1999 | MD | Shanxi Medical Univeristy |
| Postdoc Fellow | Brown Unviersity, Rhode Island Hospital, Cardiology, Medicine | 2006-2008 | Providence, RI, United States |
| Postdoc Fellow | Brown Univeristy , Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | 2002-2005 | Providence, RI, United States |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Abid, Ruhul | Associate Professor of Surgery (Research) |
| Choi, Bum-Rak | Associate Professor of Medicine (Research) |
| Choudhary, Gaurav | Ruth and Paul Levinger Professor of Cardiology |
| Coulombe, Kareen | Associate Professor of Engineering |
| Radice, Glenn | Professor of Medicine |
| Completion of Advance-CTR Mentoring Training Program in RI (A 8.5-hour Program) | 2018-2018 | ||
| Completion of 9th MiPschool for Cellular Bioenergetics and Mitochondrial Physiology (Greenville, NC) | 2015-2015 | ||
| Medical License | China | 1999- |
| Research Biologist. VA Providence Healthcare System, 2023- |
| Research Biology. Ocean State Research Institute, 2020-2023 |
| Assistant Professor of Medicine. Brown University, 2018- |
| Assistant Professor of Medicine (Research). Brown University, 2010-2018 |
| Instructor of Medicine (Research). Brown Univeristy , 2008-2010 |
| Research Scientist. Rhode Island Hospital, 2008-2019 |
| Research Associate. Rhode Island Hospital, 2006-2008 |
| Research Associate. Roger Williams Medical Center, 2005-2006 |
| Research Associate. Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, 2002-2005 |
Teaching and mentoring undergraduates, graduates (PhD and Master), postdoctors, lab staffs since 2006.
Graduate Independent Study (Biology Course 2980), 2013-2017
