David Wong Zhang

David Wong Zhang is a PhD Candidate at La Trobe University's Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology. His research focuses on cerebrovascular disease mechanisms, particularly using human amniotic epithelial cells as stroke therapy. He employs techniques like neurobehavioral testing, immunohistochemistry, and single-cell transcriptomics. David is affiliated with the Centre of Cardiovascular Biology and Disease Research under Prof. Grant Drummond and Prof. Chris Sobey. He has received awards from the Australian & New Zealand Microcirculation Society (ANZMS) and the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists (ASCEPT).

Academically, he holds a Master of Science (2021) and Bachelor of Health Sciences from La Trobe University. He also serves as an anatomy and physiology demonstrator, emphasizing both research and education. His teaching roles include subject demonstrations from 2020-2022. David actively participates in professional activities like the 20PhDs20Mins broadcast interview (2022) and has presented at major conferences such as the World Stroke Congress and International Society of Hypertension meetings.

Research interests span cerebrovascular disease, inflammation, the gut-brain axis, and vascular dementia. Recent work explores hypertension's impact on stroke outcomes and cognitive impairment, with publications in Cerebrovascular and Brain Metabolism Reviews, Scientific Reports, and NeuroMolecular Medicine. He contributes to methodological advancements like the photothrombotic stroke model and investigates angiotensin peptide roles in brain health.