معرفی
Dawei Zhang is a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics within the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta. His laboratory focuses on metabolic pathways linked to human diseases, with particular emphasis on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and inflammatory arthritis. Current research centers on three primary areas: PCSK9-promoted LDLR degradation, membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) in metabolism, and Surf4 protein functions in lipid metabolism.
Dr. Zhang's research spans molecular mechanisms of lipid homeostasis and protein degradation pathways. His lab investigates how Surf4 regulates lipoprotein secretion and intestinal lipid absorption, how MT1-MMP influences extracellular matrix remodeling in arthritis, and how novel hormones like Cholesin bridge intestinal and hepatic cholesterol metabolism. Recent work demonstrates Surf4's critical role in VLDL secretion, LDLR degradation, and liver fibrosis pathways.
As an educator, Dr. Zhang teaches Physiology 455/555 (Physiology of Lipids and Lipoproteins) and leads PAED 600 - Critical Discussions of Biomedical and Clinical Research. This graduate course employs discovery learning to critically evaluate literature in maternal and child health research, restricted to Pediatrics graduate students.
Dr. Zhang maintains an active research program through the Zhang Lab (https://sites.google.com/ualberta.ca/zhang-lab/), with recent publications spanning molecular cardiology, hepatology, and matrix biology. His work demonstrates translational potential for novel therapeutics targeting metabolic disorders, with consistent high-impact publications in journals including Nature Communications, Journal of Lipid Research, and Matrix Biology.
