Y. Clare Zhang, Ph.D.
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology
Biographical Sketch | Interests | Current Research | Major Publications
Ph.D. University of Florida, 2000
Biographical Sketch
Positions and Employment
- 1992-1996 Research Assistant, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry, China
- 2000-2003 Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
- 2003- Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
- 2004- Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Other Experience and Professional Memberships
- 1999- Member, American Physiology Society
- 1999- Member, Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine
- 2000- Member, American Society of Hypertension
- 2002- Member, American Diabetes Association
Honors
- 1996 Council for International Cooperation Fellowship Award
- 1997 University of Florida Exceptional Honors-GPA 4.0
- 1999 First place winner in Medical Guild Graduate Student Research Competition, University of Florida
- 1999 International Graduate Student Academic Achievement Award, University of Florida
- 1998-2000 American Heart Association Graduate Student Fellowship Award
- 1999 Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine Travel Fellowship Grant
- 2000 American Society of Hypertension / Bristol Myers Squibb Recognition Award for Young Investigators in Training
- 2000 American Physiology Society / Caroline tum Suden/Frances A. Hellebrandt Professional Opportunity Award
- 2004 Scientist Development Award, American Heart Association
- 2005 Research Rising Stars Award, University of South Florida
Interests
Repair and regeneration of injured heart and diseased pancreas
Adult stem cells and regulated gene therapy adeno associated virus mediated gene delivery
Current Research
The goal of our research is to discover innovative means of diabetes reversal by regenerating functional insulin-producing cells. We aim to achieve this goal with the use of adult stem cells and gene transfer, and to define the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects.
Diabetes is among the most common endocrine disorders affecting about 20 million Americans (6.2% of the population) and 120 million people worldwide. Regardless of the forms of diabetes, hyperglycemia is accompanied by complete depletion (type 1) or significant loss (type 2) of functional pancreatic beta cells. Current therapies mainly rely on exogenous insulin administration or pancreas transplantation to normalize blood glucose, and no method is yet available to replace endogenous beta cells.
Recent investigations have uncovered tremendous potential of adult stem cells in tissue repair and regeneration. In particular, bone marrow stem cells possess pluripotency, are easy to procure from patients, and can be used for auto-transplantation without the need for immunosuppression. We believe the combination of adult stem cells and gene therapy will facilitate formation of new insulin-producing cells as a potential cure for diabetes.
We are currently using mouse models (chemical-induced diabetes or non-obese diabetic mice) to test the efficacy of this approach in type 1 diabetes. Integrative methodologies are applied to understand the cellular and physiological mechanisms, including molecular cloning, stem cell culture, gene transfer, immunohistochemistry, animal surgery and glucose monitoring.
Major Publications
YC Zhang, RD Molano, A Pileggi, M Powers, J Cross, C Wasserfall, M Jorgensen, M Campbell-Thompson, JM Crawford, T Flotte, TM Ellis, C Ricordi, MA Atkinson, L Inverardi. Interleukin-4 expressed from adeno-associated virus transduced islet grafts fails to enhance the reversal towards normoglycemia in a syngeneic marginal mass islet transplantation model. Transplantation, 2002, 74:1184-1186.
YC Zhang, A Pileggi, RD Molano, M Powers, C Wasserfall, T Brusko, T Flotte, TM Ellis, C Ricordi, MA Atkinson, L Inverardi. Adeno-associated virus mediated interleukin-10 gene therapy inhibits autoimmune diabetes recurrence in syngeneic islet cell transplantation of NOD mice. Diabetes, 2003, 52:708-16.
YC Zhang, M Powers, C Wasserfall, T Brusko, T Flotte, R Snyder, M Potter, M Jorgensen, M Campbell-Thompson, JM Crawford, TM Ellis, MA Atkinson. Immune responsiveness imparted by genetic predisposition to autoimmunity to AAV-delivered transgenes. Gene Therapy, 2004, 11:233-40. (accompanied by an editorial, Gene Therapy, 2004, 11:231-232)
YL Tang, Q Zhao, YC Zhang, MI Phillips. Autologous mesenchymal stem cell transplantation induces VEGF and neovascularization in ischemic myocardium. Regulatory Peptides, 2004, 117:3-10.
YL Tang, Y Tang, YC Zhang, K Qian, L Shen, MI Phillips. Preventing ischemic heart injury by vigilant plasmid mediated heme oxygenase-1 gene transfer. Hypertension. 2004, 43: 746-51 (accompanied by an editorial, Hypertension, 2004, 43:720-21).
YL Tang, K Qian, YC Zhang, L Shen, MI Phillips. Mobilizing of haematopoietic stem cells to ischemic myocardium by plasmid mediated stromal-cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1 ) treatment. Regulatory Peptides, 2005, 125:1-8.
YL Tang, Y Tang, YC Zhang, A Agarwal, H Kasahara, K Qian, L Shen, MI Phillips. A hypoxia-inducible vigilant vector system for activating therapeutic genes in ischemia. Gene Therapy, in press.
YC Zhang, A Pileggi, RD Molano, C Wasserfall, M Campbell-Thompson, C Ricordi, MA Atkinson, L Inverardi. Systemic overexpression of interleukin-10 fails to protect allogeneic islet transplants in non-obese diabetic mice. Transplantation, in press.