Zhenyu Cheng

Zhenyu Cheng is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at Dalhousie University, Faculty of Medicine. His research focuses on systems biology approaches to study pathogen-host interactions, particularly in infectious diseases and cancer biology. He holds a BSc from Wuhan University (China), MSc and PhD from the University of Waterloo (Canada), and completed postdoctoral training at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

Research interests include microbial pathogenesis, host defense mechanisms, and signaling pathways governing cellular responses. His lab investigates how bacterial pathogens evade immune systems and explores novel strategies to combat infections. Key areas include antibiotic persistence, actin cytoskeleton manipulation by pathogens, and the role of RACK1 in Shigella invasion.

• Awards: Tosteson Postdoctoral Fellowship (2015), Banting Fellowship (2012–2014), NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship (2010–2012), W.B. Pearson Medal (2010).
• Labs/Teams: Active in confocal microscopy studies (e.g., Shigella actin tail dynamics), yeast-two hybrid systems, and biofilm disruption strategies.
• Grants/Sponsorships: Not explicitly listed, but research involves collaborations on antibiotic resistance and pathogen models.

Publications span bacterial virulence mechanisms, host immune modulation, and translational strategies to mitigate infections. Ongoing work includes developing iron chelators (e.g., DIBI) for lung infections and exploring persister cell-targeting therapies.