Ren Zhang

Ren Zhang, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Molecular Medicine and Genetics at Wayne State University School of Medicine. His research focuses on understanding metabolism in health and disease, particularly the molecular mechanisms underlying triglyceride partitioning and mitochondrial NADP(H) regulation. Zhang's lab discovered key metabolism regulators ANGPTL8 and NADK2, and proposed the influential ANGPTL3-4-8 model for lipid trafficking.

• PhD, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center (2005)

His work spans mitochondrial biology, metabolic syndrome, and genomic essentiality, with significant contributions to understanding how environmental stressors like airborne PM2.5 disrupt metabolic pathways. He also developed bioinformatics tools like DEG (Database of Essential Genes) and Z-curve methods for genome analysis.

Recent Trends: 2021-2024 publications emphasize CREBH signaling in energy homeostasis, NADK2 in mitochondrial disease, and TCA cycle gene expression during aging. His 2023-2024 articles on lipoprotein lipase regulation and PM2.5 effects highlight translational implications.

Scientific Recognition:

• Selected as Highly Cited Paper (Web of Science, Top 1% in Biology & Biochemistry)
• Best of 2024 (Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism)
• Featured in Medicine Innovates (2023)
• Top cited articles in Open Biology and Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

As an active mentor, Dr. Zhang is accepting new M.S. and Ph.D. students for 2024-2025. His lab investigates mitochondrial metabolism through a combination of molecular genetics, biochemical analysis, and computational modeling.