Zhekang Ying

Dr. Zhekang Ying serves as Associate Professor in the School of Medicine at the University of Maryland, Baltimore since October 2013, with primary appointment in Medicine. His research examines how ambient air pollution triggers cardiometabolic disorders through inflammatory pathways.

Education:

• Bachelor in Medicine, School of Medicine, Fudan University (1992-1997)
• Master in Molecular Virology, School of Medicine, Fudan University (1997-2000)
• Ph.D. in Physiology, Medical College of Georgia (2002-2006)

Specializing in environmental cardiology, Dr. Ying investigates mechanisms linking particulate matter exposure to hypertension, diabetes, and atherosclerosis using diabetic and hypertensive animal models. His NIH-funded research employs multimodal approaches to dissect how air pollution disrupts blood pressure regulation and insulin sensitivity through neuroinflammatory pathways and sympathetic nervous system activation.

His publication record demonstrates consistent focus on ozone and PM2.5 effects across environmental health, toxicology, and cardiovascular physiology domains, revealing causal relationships between pollution exposure and cardiac remodeling, systemic inflammation, and autonomic dysfunction.

Scientific Awards:

• American Heart Association postdoctoral fellow

Research is supported by National Institutes of Health grants. Postdoctoral training included University of Mississippi Medical Center (2006-2007) and Ohio State University's Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute (2011-2013). Collaborative work involves institutions including University of Michigan (S. Rajagopalan).

Laboratory work occurs at HSF II, S022, utilizing inhalation exposure systems to study cardiometabolic endpoints in rodent models under controlled air pollution conditions.