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 📚

Lekshmi K. Edison | Molecular Biology | Best Researcher Award

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Dr.Lekshmi K. Edison | Molecular Biology| Best Researcher Award

 

University of Florida, United States

Profile

Education

She earned her Ph.D. in Biotechnology from the University of Kerala, India, in 2019. Prior to that, she completed a Master’s in Biotechnology from Mahatma Gandhi University in 2006 and an undergraduate degree in Zoology from the same university in 2004. Additionally, she holds a Master’s Diploma in Bioinformatics from Bharathiyar University (2015) and a Diploma in Computer Application from C-Dit, India (2014).

Work experience

She is currently a Postdoctoral Associate at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States, a position she has held since 2022. Prior to this, she worked as a Postdoctoral Associate at the College of Medicine, University of Florida, from 2021 to 2022. From 2019 to 2021, she served as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Earlier in her career, she was a Research Fellow at KSCSTE-JNTBGRI, Palode, Kerala, from 2015 to 2019, and a Project Fellow at the Department of Plant Physiology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala, from 2011 to 2013.

Awards

She has received several prestigious honors and awards throughout her career. In 2024, she was awarded the UF Postdoctoral Affairs Spring 2024 Travel Award by the University of Florida and the American Society of Microbiology (ASM) Future Leaders Mentorship Fellowship (FLMF). In 2023, she received the American Society of Virology Postdoctoral Scholar Travel Award. Earlier, she was honored with the Department of Biotechnology-Research Associateship Program Fellowship from the Government of India in 2019. Additionally, she received the Women Scientist’s Back to Lab Research Fellowship from the State Government of Kerala, India, in 2015, and qualified for the National Eligibility Test for Lectureship conducted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Government of India, in 2014.

 OTHER PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS (LICENSURE, CERTIFICATION, ETC)

She has obtained multiple professional certifications and training credentials. In 2024, she completed the HiPerGator Account Training at the University of Florida, along with certifications in NIH Recombinant DNA (rDNA) and Nanoparticle Biosafety/Biosecurity through CITI. She also received training from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) in areas such as working safely with rabbits and ferrets in biocontainment and working with laboratory rats. In 2023, she completed the Life Sciences Responsible Conduct of Research Course, training on COVID-19 vaccine research, and multiple AALAS certifications, including working with the IACUC and poultry in laboratories. Earlier, in 2021, she acquired certifications in laboratory animal science, pain management in research animals, and post-procedure care for mice and rats.

Book Edited

  •  Pradeep NS, Edison LK (Editors). 2022. Microbial Beta Glucanases – Molecular
    Structure, Functions and Applications. In Book Series: Interdisciplinary
    Biotechnological Advances. Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd., Pages 206. DOI
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-6466-4, ISBNs 978-981-196465-7 (Hard cover),
    978-981-196466-4 (eBook).

Book chapters

  • Edison LK, Pradeep NS. Isolation of beta-glucanase encoding genes from actinobacterial
    genus Streptomyces spp. and its overexpression in Escherichia coli heterologous system. In:
    Karthik L, ed. Protocols of Actinomycetes: Microbiology to Gene Editing. 1st ed. Boca Raton,
    FL: CRC Press; 2024:Chapter 11. doi:10.1201/9781003398400-11
  • Nair S, Sahay B, Arukha AP, Edison LK, Crews CD, Morris JG Jr, Kariyawasam S,
    Yamamoto JK. Interferon-γ/IL-2 ELISpot and mRNA Responses to the SARS-CoV2, Feline
    Coronavirus Serotypes 1 (FCoV1), and FCoV2 Receptor Binding Domains by the T Cells
    from COVID-19-Vaccinated Humans and FCoV1-Infected Cats. Methods Mol Biol.
    2024;2768:135-151. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3690-9_9.
  • Ragitha VM, Edison LK. Safety issues, environmental impacts, and health effects of
    Biopolymers. In: Thomas S, Ar A, Jose Chirayil C, Thomas B, eds. Handbook of Biopolymers.
    Springer; 2022. doi:10.1007/978-981-16-6603-2_54-1.

Publication