Research Program and Theme
Cancer Engineering and Biological Systems | Anticancer Chemistry
Research Focus
Kai Zhang’s lab group studies how signal transduction regulates cell fate determination and how normal signaling processes are compromised in disease conditions. Using live cell imaging and optogenetic control of signal transduction, Zhang observes and perturbs signaling modules to define cellular responses. His lab’s major goal is to gain insight into signaling mechanisms that regulate critical cellular functions such as cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and apoptosis and to apply the insight to understanding and treating neurological disorders and diseases, such as cancer.
Education
- Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 2008
Campus Affiliations
- Associate Professor, Biochemistry
- Associate Professor, Neuroscience Program
- Associate Professor, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology
Select Honors and Recognitions
- Scialog Fellow, 2021