Ming-Ming Zhou

Ming-Ming Zhou, PhD, is the Dr. Harold and Golden Lamport Professor in Physiology and Biophysics and Chairman of the Department of Pharmacological Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He is also Professor of Oncological Sciences and Co-Director of the Drug Discovery Institute. His research focuses on epigenetic mechanisms of gene transcription, particularly the structural and functional roles of bromodomains and histone modifications in chromatin regulation.

Research Interests:
Dr. Zhou’s work lies at the intersection of structural biology, epigenetics, and drug discovery. His lab investigates how chemical modifications on histones—such as acetylation and crotonylation—are recognized by reader proteins to control gene expression. This includes understanding how these mechanisms contribute to cancer and other diseases, and how they can be targeted with small molecules. His research has been instrumental in advancing the 'histone code' hypothesis and developing bromodomain-targeted therapeutics.

Publication Trends:
His recent publications (2020–2025) continue to explore novel histone modifications, protein domain interactions, and chromatin dynamics, with a strong emphasis on structural insights and therapeutic applications. Themes include phase separation, transcriptional repression via novel acylations, and the mechanistic basis of oncogenic fusion proteins. The work spans fundamental biochemistry to translational cancer research.

Scientific Awards:

• Prostate Cancer Foundation Challenge Award (2023)
• Fellow, National Academy of Inventors (2021)
• The Jacobi Medallion, Mount Sinai Health System (2019)
• Fellow, AAAS (2012)
• GlaxoSmithKline Drug Discovery Award (2003)
• American Cancer Society Young Investigator Award (1999)

Advising and Grants:
While specific student names are not listed, Dr. Zhou leads a prominent research lab with extensive funding and collaborative networks. His work has been supported by major federal and private grants, enabling high-impact studies in epigenetics and drug development. He has trained numerous postdoctoral fellows and graduate students, contributing significantly to the next generation of scientists in molecular and cancer biology.

Labs and Teams:
The Zhou Lab is a leading group in chromatin and epigenetics research at Mount Sinai. As Co-Director of the Drug Discovery Institute, he plays a key role in translating basic discoveries into therapeutic strategies. The lab combines structural biology, biophysics, and cell-based assays to dissect gene regulatory mechanisms and develop chemical tools for disease intervention.