Lan Zhu

Dr. Lan Zhu is a Senior Lecturer in Neuroscience at De Montfort University (DMU), affiliated with the School of Allied Health Sciences and the Pharmacology and Neuroscience Research Group within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. She holds a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Turin, Italy, and a Bachelor of Medicine from Tongji Medical University, China. She completed postdoctoral training at the University of Turin, University of Leicester, and King's College London.

• Bachelor of Medicine, Tongji Medical University, China
• PhD in Neuroscience, University of Turin, Italy
• PGCert in Higher Education

Dr. Zhu's research focuses on cerebellar dysfunction in schizophrenia, particularly the role of voltage-gated potassium channels (e.g., Kv2.1, Kv3) and NMDA receptor mechanisms. She investigates how dysregulation of ion channels contributes to neuronal hyperexcitability and synaptic plasticity deficits in psychiatric and neuropathic conditions. Her work also explores synaptic transmission in learning and memory, especially within cerebellar circuits.

Her recent publications reveal a strong trend in ion channel physiology, neuropathic pain mechanisms, and cerebellar contributions to cognitive and psychiatric disorders. Using models of schizophrenia and spinal cord injury, her research spans molecular, cellular, and behavioral neuroscience, with a translational focus on bioengineering solutions such as neuroprosthetics for bladder control.

Dr. Zhu has been recognized with several honors, including the Aurora 2023 leadership award and nominations for DMU’s Distinguished Teaching Award. She received early career funding from the University of Turin, BBSRC, and EPSRC. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a member of the British Neuroscience Association, FENS, and IBRO.

She actively supervises PhD students and has led multiple internally funded projects at DMU, including grants for microscopy, electrophysiology, and animal behavior systems. She has served as an external examiner for PhD theses at the University of Leicester and as a peer reviewer for UKRI and Neuropharmacology. She is currently on research leave (2024–2025) and leads a project in collaboration with Autifony Therapeutics Ltd.

Dr. Zhu leads the Pharmacology and Neuroscience Research Group at DMU, where she mentors students and collaborates with researchers across DMU, the University of Leicester, and industry partners to advance translational neuroscience.