Prof. Yi Zhang | Health Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Director/Academic Vice President at Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University/Zhengzhou University School of Medical Sciences🎓

Prof. Yi Zhang is an internationally acclaimed expert in cell and tumor immunotherapy. Serving as Director of the Biotherapy Center at The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, he also holds key leadership roles, including Academic Vice President of the Zhengzhou University School of Medical Sciences and Director of the Zhongyuan Cellular and Immunotherapy Laboratory. With 35 years of research experience across Belgium, the U.S., and China, Prof. Zhang has pioneered breakthrough therapies, such as genetically engineered CAR-T cells for solid tumors, and holds 16 patents. His work has made significant impacts in reducing immune suppression and improving cancer treatment efficacy worldwide.

Professional Profile

ORCID

Education 🎓:

Prof. Yi Zhang has a profound academic foundation in medical sciences, gained through decades of experience and study in Belgium, the United States, and China. His extensive education and training have built the groundwork for his pioneering research in cell and tumor therapy.

Work Experience 💼:

Prof. Zhang is the Director of the Biotherapy Center at The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, where he also serves as the Academic Vice President for Zhengzhou University’s School of Medical Sciences and Director of the Zhongyuan Cellular and Immunotherapy Laboratory. Over a 35-year career, he has developed innovative therapies and led cutting-edge research in cell therapy, accumulating extensive clinical and academic expertise.

Skills 🔍

Known for his skills in genetically engineered cell therapies, Prof. Zhang is a leader in cellular engineering, particularly CAR-T cell technology. His groundbreaking work includes discovering a therapeutic target for solid tumors and developing gene-editing techniques to improve immune responses. His practical expertise in cell culture, immune cell enhancement, and patent development make him a pioneer in clinical biotherapeutics.

Awards and Honors 🏆

Prof. Zhang has received acclaim globally, being listed among the world’s top 100,000 scientists and recognized by both domestic and international peers for his contributions to immunotherapy. He has successfully converted seven patents, raising over 80 million RMB in transfer amounts, and is frequently invited to international conferences as a distinguished chair or guest of honor.

🤝 Memberships:

Prof. Zhang holds numerous prominent roles, such as Chairman of the Committee on Tumor Immunity and Biotherapy, Chinese Society of Immunology, and Deputy Chairman of the Cancer Biological Therapy Committee under the China Anti-Cancer Association. He also plays leadership roles in the Henan Anticancer Association and Henan Immunological Society, reflecting his commitment to advancing cell therapy on a national and global scale.

Teaching Experience 👩‍🏫:

Prof. Zhang has contributed significantly to training the next generation of scientists, collaborating with international colleagues to co-train PhD students and mentor young researchers. His commitment to academic growth is evident through his regular academic exchanges and collaborative projects with institutions in Canada, the U.S., and Europe.

Research Focus 🔬:

Prof. Zhang’s research is concentrated on tumor immunotherapy and cellular therapy, focusing on advancing CAR-T cell therapies for cancer. His achievements include creating novel immune cell treatments, reducing PD-1 expression to combat immune suppression, and conducting over 52 clinical trials for new cancer therapies, with 29 specifically targeting solid tumors.

Conclusion

Prof. Yi Zhang stands as an exemplary candidate for the Best Researcher Award due to his substantial contributions to the field of cellular immunotherapy and cancer research. His achievements align closely with the award’s goals of recognizing innovation, impactful research, and contributions to society. With his strengths in pioneering therapy innovations and significant clinical applications, Prof. Zhang’s work exemplifies the award’s spirit, making him a distinguished candidate for the Best Researcher Award.

📚 Publilcation

“LFA-1 regulated by IL-2/STAT5 pathway boosts antitumor function of intratumoral CD8 + T cells for improving anti-PD-1 antibody therapy”
- Year: 2024-12-31
- Journal: OncoImmunology
“Characteristics and mechanisms of T‐cell senescence: A potential target for cancer immunotherapy”
- Year: 2024-11
- Journal: European Journal of Immunology
“CAR T Cells Engineered to Secrete IFNκ Induce Tumor Ferroptosis via an IFNAR/STAT1/ACSL4 Axis”
- Year: 2024-10-03
- Journal: Cancer Immunology Research
“A single-cell RNA-seq dataset describing macrophages in NSCLC tumor and peritumor tissues”
- Year: 2024-10-01
- Journal: Scientific Data
“Allogeneic CAR-T cells for cancer immunotherapy”
- Year: 2024-09-24
- Journal: Immunotherapy
“IL-24 improves efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy by targeting stemness of tumor cells”
- Year: 2024-05-03
- Journal: British Journal of Cancer
“Current advances in bacteria‐based cancer immunotherapy”
- Year: 2024-02
- Journal: European Journal of Immunology
“Emerging roles of plasmacytoid dendritic cell crosstalk in tumor immunity”
- Year: 2023-10-09
- Journal: Cancer Biology & Medicine
“Immunosenescence: molecular mechanisms and diseases”
- Year: 2023-05-13
- Journal: Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy
“Overcoming resistance to immunotherapy by targeting GPR84 in myeloid-derived suppressor cells”
- Year: 2023-04-28
- Journal: Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy

Yi Zhang | Health Sciences | Best Researcher Award