Zhi Sheng

Zhi Sheng, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and the Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Virginia Tech. His research is dedicated to finding new therapies for glioblastoma multiforme, a lethal and incurable brain cancer.

Dr. Sheng's research interests lie at the intersection of molecular cancer biology and precision medicine. His laboratory investigates the molecular pathways governing cell survival and death in cancer, with a primary focus on overcoming drug resistance in glioblastoma. His work involves targeting specific genes like PIK3CB and exploring novel autophagy-regulating pathways, such as those involving long non-coding RNAs, to develop more effective treatments. A significant part of his research also involves the collaborative repurposing of the drug ACT1 to sensitize resistant glioblastoma cells to chemotherapy.

His recent publications reveal a strong trend in identifying and validating new therapeutic targets for treatment-resistant brain cancers, particularly through the lens of molecular pathway disruption and combinatorial therapy.

• 2018 VTCSOM Outstanding Research Mentor Award

Dr. Sheng is a highly regarded mentor, having advised several medical and graduate students, including multiple recipients of the prestigious St. Baldrick’s Foundation fellowship. His mentorship has been recognized with an official award, and he is praised for fostering a supportive environment that allows students to lead their research from grant writing to publication. Specific grants and funding sources are not mentioned in the text, but his active research program implies grant support.

Dr. Sheng leads the Sheng Lab at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, where his team conducts cutting-edge research on glioblastoma and pediatric brain tumors, utilizing cell lines and molecular screening techniques.