Kang Zhang (Chinese: 张康[1]) is a Chinese-American ophthalmologist specializing in ophthalmic genetics and aging processes in the eye. He is currently a Professor of the Faculty of Medicine at Macau University of Science and Technology.[2] He was previously a Professor of Ophthalmology and the Founding Director of the Institute for Genomic Medicine at the University of California, San Diego. Zhang is particularly known for his work on lanosterol,[3] stem cell research (particularly limbal stem cells[4]), gene editing,[5] and artificial intelligence.[6]

Kang Zhang
Born
EducationM.D., Harvard University Medical School (1995)
Ph.D. (Genetics), Harvard University (1991)
Medical career
ProfessionOphthalmologist
InstitutionsMacau University of Science and Technology
Sub-specialtiesOphthalmic genetics
Stem cell research
Artificial intelligence
Websitekangzhangmd.com

Education

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Born in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, Zhang obtained his B.S. in Biochemistry from Sichuan University in Chengdu, China in 1984. In 1991, Zhang graduated with a Ph.D. in Genetics from Harvard University. Subsequently, Zhang obtained his M.D. from a Harvard University Medical School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology Joint M.D. Program with magna cum laude honors in 1995.[7]

Career

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After completing an ophthalmology residency at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University, Zhang became Assistant Staff at the Cole Eye Institute at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Zhang completed a retina fellowship at the University of Utah, and afterwards became Assistant Professor at the University of Utah from 2002 to 2006.

In 2013, Zhang, along with Trey Ideker, identified that the molecular aging clock could be measured by blood and tissues, and made use of epigenetic markers.[8]

In 2014, Zhang, along with Yizhi Liu and Xiangdong Fu, investigated mechanisms and developed a new method of limbal stem cell repair and regeneration.[4] Zhang has also pioneered the usage of artificial intelligence in diagnosing eye diseases.[9]

In 2015, Zhang discovered that lanosterol can be used in eyedrop form to help prevent cataracts.[3][10]

In 2019, Zhang took on a new position at the Faculty of Medicine of Macau University of Science and Technology.[11]

Awards

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Some of Kang Zhang's selected awards are listed below.[7]

Professional affiliations

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Kang Zhang's professional affiliations are listed below.[7]

Selected publications

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To date, Zhang has published more than 150 papers. Some selected publications are listed below.[12]

References

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  1. ^ Kang Zhang profile (jyyxylc.com)
  2. ^ "Macau University of Science and Technology Faculty of Medicine". Retrieved 2019-09-10.
  3. ^ a b Brown, Eryn (Jul 22, 2015). "Genetics study points toward eyedrop treatment for cataracts". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved Apr 23, 2019.
  4. ^ a b Ouyang H, Xue Y, Lin Y, Zhang X, Xi L, Patel S, Cai H, Luo J, Zhang M, Zhang M, Yang Y, Li G, Li H, Jiang W, Yeh E, Lin J, Pei M, Zhu J, Cao G, Zhang L, Yu B, Chen S, Fu XD, Liu Y, Zhang K (July 2014). "WNT7A and PAX6 define corneal epithelium homeostasis and pathogenesis". Nature. 511 (7509): 358–61. Bibcode:2014Natur.511..358O. doi:10.1038/nature13465. PMC 4610745. PMID 25030175.
  5. ^ Zhu J, Ming C, Fu X, Duan Y, Hoang DA, Rutgard J, Zhang R, Wang W, Hou R, Zhang D, Zhang E, Zhang C, Hao X, Xiong W, Zhang K (June 2017). "Gene and mutation independent therapy via CRISPR-Cas9 mediated cellular reprogramming in rod photoreceptors". Cell Res. 27 (6): 830–833. doi:10.1038/cr.2017.57. PMC 5518875. PMID 28429769.
  6. ^ Kermany DS, Goldbaum M, Cai W, Valentim C, Liang H, Baxter SL, McKeown A, Yang G, Wu X, Yan F, Dong J, Prasadha MK, Pei J, Ting M, Zhu J, Li C, Hewett S, Dong J, Ziyar I, Shi A, Zhang R, Zheng L, Hou R, Shi W, Fu X, Duan Y, Huu V, Wen C, Zhang ED, Zhang CL, Li O, Wang X, Singer MA, Sun X, Xu J, Tafreshi A, Lewis MA, Xia H, Zhang K (February 2018). "Identifying Medical Diagnoses and Treatable Diseases by Image-Based Deep Learning". Cell. 172 (5): 1122–1131.e9. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2018.02.010. PMID 29474911.
  7. ^ a b c Kang Zhang awards and publications
  8. ^ Stipp, David (Jul 22, 2013). "Searching for Meaningful Markers of Aging". New York Times. Retrieved Apr 23, 2019.
  9. ^ Fikes, Bradley J. (Feb 26, 2018). "Serious eye diseases accurately diagnosed through artificial intelligence". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved Apr 23, 2019.
  10. ^ Ling Zhao; Xiang-Jun Chen; Jie Zhu; Yi-Bo Xi; Xu Yang; Li-Dan Hu; Hong Ouyang; Sherrina H. Patel; Xin Jin; Danni Lin; Frances Wu; Ken Flagg; Huimin Cai; Gen Li; Guiqun Cao; Ying Lin; Daniel Chen; Cindy Wen; Christopher Chung; Yandong Wang; Austin Qiu; Emily Yeh; Wenqiu Wang; Xun Hu; Seanna Grob; et al. (July 2015). "Lanosterol reverses protein aggregation in cataracts". Nature. 523 (7562): 607–611. Bibcode:2015Natur.523..607Z. doi:10.1038/nature14650. PMID 26200341. S2CID 4469138.
  11. ^ "Kang Zhang curriculum vitae" (PDF). 2019. Retrieved 2019-09-10.
  12. ^ Kang Zhang publications on PubMed
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