Zhanxiang Zhou

Zhanxiang Zhou is a Professor and Co-Director of the Center for Translational Biomedical Research at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. His research focuses on metabolic liver diseases, particularly examining how imbalanced dietary consumption, such as alcohol abuse and other aspects of Western lifestyle, contributes to liver disease development. Approximately 1 in 10 Americans have some form of liver disease, and Dr. Zhou's work addresses this significant public health concern with NIH-funded research.

Dr. Zhou's research interests include metabolic liver diseases, alcohol metabolism, nutritional impacts on liver health, and mechanisms of liver disease pathogenesis. His laboratory investigates how dietary imbalances contribute to fatty liver disease progression, examining the biological causes, methods for early diagnosis, and potential dietary and pharmaceutical interventions. His work spans four major projects: Aldehyde Toxicity, Lipotoxicity, Organ Interactions, and Dietary Interventions, all aimed at understanding and combating alcohol-associated liver disease.

Analysis of Dr. Zhou's recent publications (2021-2024) reveals a consistent focus on molecular mechanisms underlying alcohol-induced liver injury, with particular emphasis on lipotoxicity, aldehyde metabolism, and the gut-liver axis. His research frequently examines NAD metabolism, redox balance, mitochondrial function, and autophagy in liver disease contexts. Many studies employ mouse models to investigate disease progression and potential therapeutic targets, demonstrating translational research approaches.

Dr. Zhou has received substantial research funding from the National Institutes of Health, including grants R01 AA018844, R01 AA020212, R01 DK116731, and R21 AA026062, supporting his investigations into alcohol metabolism and liver disease pathogenesis. His work has been published in high-impact journals such as Gut, Hepatology, and Autophagy.

His laboratory at the Center for Translational Biomedical Research employs a multidisciplinary approach to study liver disease, utilizing molecular biology techniques, metabolomics, proteomics, and animal models to investigate disease mechanisms and identify potential therapeutic targets for alcohol-associated liver diseases.