معرفی
Lan Zhu, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW). She is a member of the MCW Cancer Center and specializes in structural biology, with a focus on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and membrane transporters. Her research employs advanced techniques like cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM) and X-ray crystallography to elucidate molecular mechanisms underlying receptor signaling and drug interactions.
Dr. Zhu's academic background includes a PhD in Biochemistry from Arizona State University and postdoctoral training under Dr. Wei Liu. Her work bridges structural biology and drug discovery, targeting diseases such as cancer and neurological disorders.
Research Interests:
- Structural dynamics of GPCRs (e.g., GPER) and their interactions with ligands, G proteins, and accessory proteins.
- Mechanisms of dopamine transporter (hDAT) function in the dopaminergic pathway.
- Structure-based drug design for novel therapeutics.
Her lab investigates how structural insights can inform therapeutic strategies, particularly in oncology and neurobiology. Techniques include serial crystallography, cryo-EM, and biochemical assays to study protein dynamics at atomic resolution. Dr. Zhu is actively recruiting students and collaborators to advance these efforts.
