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. Fu, XY, Huang, H, Zhu, L, Zhou, TH, Qi, XG, Xu, SS, Zhou, R, Jin, HM, Ni, ZK. Effects of combined transversus abdominis plane block under direct vision and acupoint injection on promoting rapid recovery after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Langenbecks Arch Surg. 2025;410 (1):42. doi: 10.1007/s00423-025-03608-9. PubMed PMID:39825913
2. Zhou, R, Zhang, W, Wu, J, Huang, J, Wang, W, Peng, W, Chen, J, Bo, R, Liu, M, Li, J et al.. Polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan hydrogel based on deep eutectic solvent for promoting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-infected wound healing. Int J Biol Macromol. 2025; :139916. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.139916. PubMed PMID:39824423
3. Wang, Y, Zhao, L, Chen, Y, Pan, L, Zhou, R, Li, L. Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 2 Variants in Schimmelpenning-Feuerstein-Mims Syndrome. Br J Dermatol. 2025; :. doi: 10.1093/bjd/ljaf025. PubMed PMID:39823306
4. Gu, Q, Xiao, W, Zhu, Y, Zhong, W, Sui, X, Liu, Y, Zhang, J, Wu, H, Zhou, R. Microfluidic Approach for Enhanced Paeoniflorin Transdermal Delivery: A Comparative Study on Different Chips and Mixing Dynamics. AAPS PharmSciTech. 2025;26 (1):39. doi: 10.1208/s12249-024-03033-z. PubMed PMID:39821760
5. Qi, X, Wang, X, Cheng, L, Li, Y, Dang, K, Yang, S, Wang, Y, Zhou, R, Zhang, C, Li, Y et al.. Dietary carotenoid intakes and biological aging among US adults, NHANES 1999-2018. Nutr J. 2025;24 (1):9. doi: 10.1186/s12937-025-01079-8. PubMed PMID:39819329
6. Wu, B, Wu, L, He, H, Ding, X, Bao, T, Zhou, R. Predicting Risk Factors Affecting the Efficacy of Flexible Ureteral Holmium Laser Lithotripsy and Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy for Ureteral Calculi Based on Decision Tree Model. Ann Ital Chir. 2025;96 (1):78-85. doi: 10.62713/aic.3702. PubMed PMID:39815840
7. Xue, C, Zhou, R, Xia, Y, Gao, W, Li, M, Gao, H, Wen, X, Lu, H, Chen, G, Chen, D et al.. Miniaturized fiber optic accelerometer incorporating liquid metal as the proof mass. Opt Lett. 2025;50 (2):241-244. doi: 10.1364/OL.536982. PubMed PMID:39815480