Biographical Info

Research Areas

The Zhou laboratory is interested in the mechanisms mediating cell-cell communication and their roles in normal development, physiology, and diseases. Specifically the Zhou laboratory is investigating the functions of a large family of tyrosine kinase receptors, the Ephs, and their ligands, the ephrins, in neural circuit formation, eye development, and behavior regulations including motor activity, circadian rhythm, and aggression. The Zhou laboratory employs both in vitro and in vivo techniques, including neuron cultures, transgenic and knockout mice, as well as behavior assays.

Research Highlights

Demonstration of a repulsive function of ephrins in axon guidance

Discovering signal transduction pathways mediating ephrin-induced growth cone guidance

Establishing a novel cataract mouse model

Elucidating regulation of cell-cell adhesion by ephrins

Scholarly Activities

Member of editorial board: Neuroscience Bulletin; Cell & Bioscience

Membership in: AAAS, Society of Neuroscice, ARVO

Recent Publications

1. Chen, Q, Li, X, Quan, L, Zhou, R, Liu, X, Cheng, L, Sarid, R, Kuang, E. FoxK1 and FoxK2 cooperate with ORF45 to promote late lytic replication of Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus. J Virol. 2024; :e0077924. doi: 10.1128/jvi.00779-24. PubMed PMID:39494902
2. Zhou, RZ, Duell, F, Axenhus, M, Jönsson, L, Winblad, B, Tjernberg, LO, Schedin-Weiss, S. A glycan biomarker predicts cognitive decline in amyloid- and tau-negative patients. Brain Commun. 2024;6 (6):fcae371. doi: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae371. PubMed PMID:39494362 PubMed Central PMC11528473
3. Zeng, L, Liang, Y, Zhou, R, Yang, W, Chen, K, He, B, Qiu, Y, Liu, L, Zhou, D, Xiao, Z et al.. PD-1/PD-L1 and coronary heart disease: a mendelian randomization study. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2024;11 :1424770. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1424770. PubMed PMID:39494235 PubMed Central PMC11527656
4. Kong, M, Zhou, R, Yang, M, Zhang, J, Ma, X, Gao, T, Zhang, Y, Li, B, Liu, M, Cui, X et al.. Mechanism and Performance Evaluation of a Strain Sensor Made from a Composite Hydrogel Containing Conductive Fibers of Thermoplastic Polyurethane and Polyvinyl Alcohol. ACS Omega. 2024;9 (43):43743-43755. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.4c06328. PubMed PMID:39494030 PubMed Central PMC11525740
5. Zhang, L, Chen, Q, Zeng, S, Deng, Z, Liu, Z, Li, X, Hou, Q, Zhou, R, Bao, S, Hou, D et al.. Succeed to culture a novel lineage symbiotic bacterium of Mollicutes which widely found in arthropods intestine uncovers the potential double-edged sword ecological function. Front Microbiol. 2024;15 :1458382. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1458382. PubMed PMID:39493855 PubMed Central PMC11527720
6. Wu, H, Zhou, R, Kong, H, Yang, J, Liu, S, Wei, X, Li, K, Zhang, Y. Exercise Attenuates Doxorubicin-Induced Myocardial Injury by Inhibiting TSHR and Regulating Macrophage Polarization Through miR-30d-5p/GALNT7. J Immunol Res. 2024;2024 :5562293. doi: 10.1155/2024/5562293. PubMed PMID:39493373 PubMed Central PMC11531364
7. Hu, H, Jing, ZY, Pan, Q, Sha, TT, Ji, HR, Cao, XX, Song, XJ, Feng, ZJ, Yao, J, Zhou, RJ et al.. Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Perovskite for Ferroelectric Catalysis. Adv Mater. 2024; :e2413547. doi: 10.1002/adma.202413547. PubMed PMID:39491796