Zahra Zakeri

Dr. Zahra Zakeri is a Professor at Queens College, specializing in cellular response mechanisms, particularly focusing on programmed cell death (apoptosis), gender differences in cellular response, and viral pathogenesis. Her research integrates molecular, cellular, and whole-animal approaches, using model systems such as mouse embryos, Drosophila, and the tobacco hornworm. She leads a laboratory investigating cell death signaling in diseases like cancer, neurodegeneration, and viral infections (e.g., influenza, Dengue, and West Nile viruses).

Dr. Zakeri holds a Ph.D. from St. John’s University and has authored/co-authored over 20 peer-reviewed publications and two books on apoptosis and programmed cell death. Her work highlights the role of ceramide as a second messenger in apoptosis and the impact of cell cycle genes on tumor growth and chemotherapy efficacy. Recent studies explore how viral infections trigger autophagy and apoptosis, with implications for antiviral therapies.

Key findings include identifying Bax protein’s role in influenza virus replication, gender-specific cellular responses to stress, and viral genes inducing autophagy. Her lab’s discoveries bridge basic science and clinical applications, aiming to control diseases through cell death regulation.