Qunzhou Zhang

Dr. Qunzhou Zhang, PhD, is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery / Pharmacology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Philadelphia, USA, where he has held successive appointments since 2012. He also maintains adjunct/visiting professor affiliations with Guangdong Medical University in China (2008–2016).

He earned his doctoral degree in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology from West China University of Medical Sciences (now Sichuan University) in 2000, preceded by an M.Sc. from Guangdong Medical University (1997) and a B.A. in Preventive Medical Sciences from Chongqing Medical College (1990).

Dr. Zhang’s research program sits at the intersection of regenerative medicine, stem cell biology, immunomodulation, and cancer. His laboratory focuses on:

• Immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory functions of gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs) in rodent models of colitis, skin/oral wounds, and allergic dermatitis.
• Non-genetic induction of neural crest stem-like cells (NCSC) from GMSCs for peripheral nerve regeneration, including 3D bioprinted, scaffold-free nerve grafts.
• Paracrine mechanisms involving extracellular vesicles (exosomes) secreted by GMSCs that modulate host tissue microenvironments and promote tongue muscle/taste-bud regeneration.
• Tumor microenvironment studies exploring how mesenchymal stromal cells influence the pathogenesis of ameloblastoma and head & neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Across 50+ peer-reviewed publications since 2004, his work demonstrates a consistent trajectory from basic mechanistic studies to translation-oriented tissue engineering, with particular emphasis on exosome-based therapies and 3D bioprinting technologies.

Scientific Awards & Honors

• Research Support Grant (RSG), Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Foundation (2008, 2011, 2014, 2017)
• Pilot Research Grant, University of Pennsylvania Diabetes Research Center
• Peter Geistlich Research Award, OsteoScience Foundation (2016)
• Honored/Adjunct Professor, Guangdong Medical University (2008–2016)

Dr. Zhang has served as ad-hoc peer reviewer for more than 25 high-impact journals, including J Invest Dermatol, Stem Cells & Development, Tissue Engineering, PLOS ONE, J Dental Res, Oncotarget and others. While the provided text does not list specific PhD or Master’s students, his role as senior investigator and lab manager implies active mentoring within the university’s research programs.

His laboratory is located within the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery & Pharmacology at Penn Dental Medicine, equipped for in vivo rodent surgery, stem cell culture, 3D bioprinting, and molecular profiling. Future directions include first-in-human trials of GMSC-derived exosome therapeutics and scale-up manufacturing of 3D bioprinted nerve constructs.