Fan Zhang | Proteomics | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Fan Zhang | Proteomics | Best Researcher Award

Fan Zhang, born on September 23, 1991, is a postdoctoral researcher specializing in cancer proteogenomics 🔬. He is currently with the Department of Pathology at Duke University 🏛️. His research leverages mass spectrometry and bioinformatics 🖥️ to investigate metabolic pathways in therapy-resistant prostate cancer and other malignancies. He has received the FY23 Prostate Cancer Research Program Early Investigator Research Award 🏆 for his work on glutamine metabolism in advanced prostate cancer. His contributions to proteogenomics have resulted in multiple high-impact publications 📄 in Nature Communications, Cell Research, and Molecular & Cellular Proteomics. Proficient in LC-MS/MS, bioinformatics analysis, and experimental techniques, his research bridges the gap between basic cancer biology and clinical applications 🏥, paving the way for novel therapeutic strategies in oncology.

Profile

Education 🎓

Fan Zhang holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Fudan University (2015-2020), where he focused on proteogenomic research. He further pursued postdoctoral training in Clinical Medicine at Fudan University (2020-2022) before joining Duke University as a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Pathology in 2023. His academic journey began with a B.S. in Applied Biological Science from Anhui Agricultural University (2011-2015). Throughout his education, he gained expertise in genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics, developing a strong foundation in bioinformatics and experimental methodologies. His interdisciplinary training has equipped him with skills in mass spectrometry-based proteomics, omics data analysis, and cancer metabolism research. His current research at Duke University focuses on metabolic vulnerabilities in prostate cancer, aiming to develop targeted therapies. His diverse academic background enables him to integrate various scientific disciplines, contributing significantly to cancer research and precision medicine.

Experience 👨‍🏫

Fan Zhang has extensive research experience in cancer proteogenomics. Currently a postdoctoral researcher at Duke University (2023-present), he investigates metabolic vulnerabilities in prostate cancer using advanced mass spectrometry and omics analysis. Previously, he was a postdoc in Clinical Medicine at Fudan University (2020-2022), where he contributed to proteogenomic studies on various cancers, including pituitary neuroendocrine tumors and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. His Ph.D. at Fudan University (2015-2020) focused on proteogenomic characterizations of cancer, leading to high-impact publications. He is proficient in LC-MS/MS, bioinformatics, and experimental methodologies such as Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and cell culture. His research integrates mass spectrometry with genomics and transcriptomics to uncover novel therapeutic targets. With expertise in multi-omics data analysis, he has significantly contributed to the field of cancer biology. His work is supported by prestigious grants, highlighting his role as a leading researcher in proteogenomics and precision oncology.

Research Interests 🔬

Fan Zhang’s research focuses on proteogenomics and cancer metabolism, particularly in therapy-resistant malignancies like prostate cancer, pituitary neuroendocrine tumors, and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. He specializes in mass spectrometry-based proteomics (DDA, DIA) and integrates multi-omics approaches, including genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics, to uncover novel cancer vulnerabilities. His current work at Duke University investigates glutamine metabolism in castration-resistant prostate cancer, aiming to develop targeted therapies. His expertise extends to bioinformatics analysis, large-cohort omics data interpretation, and advanced LC-MS/MS techniques for various biological samples. His research has led to multiple high-impact publications, highlighting his ability to translate complex molecular data into potential clinical applications. By combining experimental and computational approaches, he aims to identify biomarkers and therapeutic targets that can improve cancer treatment. His contributions to proteogenomics play a crucial role in advancing precision oncology and understanding the metabolic reprogramming of aggressive cancers.

 

Awards & Recognitions 🏅

Fan Zhang has received multiple awards and recognitions for his contributions to cancer proteogenomics. He was awarded the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) Early Investigator Research Award (2023-2025) for his project on targeting glutamine metabolism in advanced prostate cancer (Award Number HT9425-24-1-0237). His research has been recognized through multiple first-author and co-first-author publications in high-impact journals such as Nature Communications, Molecular & Cellular Proteomics, Cell Research, and The Prostate. His work has also been featured as a cover article in Cell Research (2022). His expertise in mass spectrometry, proteogenomics, and bioinformatics has positioned him as a leading young investigator in the field. In addition to research grants, he has received accolades for his innovative contributions to metabolic studies in oncology. His commitment to advancing cancer research has been instrumental in developing novel therapeutic strategies for therapy-resistant malignancies.

Publications 📚

Carmela Conte | Neurodegenerative diseases | Best Researcher Award

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Prof Dr. Carmela Conte | Neurodegenerative diseases | Best Researcher Award

 

Profile

Education

Carmela Conte obtained her Master’s degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Perugia on November 3, 1994. She then pursued a Ph.D. in Medical Embryology through a joint program between the Universities of Perugia and Ferrara, completing it between December 30, 1996, and January 19, 2000. Following this, she specialized in Chemistry and Food Technology at the University of Perugia, earning her specialization between November 1, 2000, and November 1, 2002. Most recently, on September 29, 2023, she received National Habilitation as an Associate Professor in Biochemistry. She currently serves as an Aggregate Professor in her field.

Work experience

Since September 7, 2007, Carmela Conte has been serving as an Aggregate Professor in Biochemistry at the University of Perugia, where she teaches courses in General and Systematic Biochemistry, Medical Applied Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she participated in a Teaching and Training Mobility Program at VUMC Medical University of Amsterdam from June 24 to July 5, 2019, where she worked on a research project investigating the role of Toll-like receptors in Parkinson’s disease. She has been a member of the European Society for Neurochemistry since 2007 and, since March 17, 2022, has also been affiliated with the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Research Activity

Carmela Conte’s research focuses on neurodegenerative diseases, with particular emphasis on animal models, signal transduction, molecular biology, and cell biology. Her specific research topics include the role of Toll-like receptors in Parkinson’s disease, neuroinflammation, synucleinopathies, oxidative stress, and Parkinson’s disease. Since September 7, 2007, she has been actively involved in editorial work, serving as a Reviewer Editor for Frontiers in Neuroscience (Neurodegeneration section) and as an ad hoc reviewer for several journals, including Amino Acids, The Cerebellum, Free Radical Research, Biomolecules, PLOS One, Experimental Gerontology, Molecules, Cells, Neurochemical Research, Neuroscience, Pharmacological Reports, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Viruses, and the Journal of Biotechnology. Additionally, she has been a Guest Editor for Molecules and Cells, overseeing special issues and topic collections on neurodegenerative diseases. She has presented her research at numerous scientific meetings and conferences, including the 2009 Meeting of the European Society for Neurochemistry in Leipzig, the 2019 European Biotechnology Congress in Valencia, the 2021 European Biotechnology Congress in Sofia, the 2022 National Meeting of the Sphingolipid Club, and the 2023 Meeting of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders, where she discussed findings related to Toll-like receptor 4, alpha-synuclein accumulation, and sphingomyelinase activity in Parkinson’s disease models.

Publication