EOHSI

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. Zhou, R, Tian, G, Yu, J, Wang, R, Guo, X, Li, R. Drug Development. Alzheimers Dement. 2024;20 Suppl 6 :e085863. doi: 10.1002/alz.085863. PubMed PMID:39782511
2. Zhou, R. Drug Development. Alzheimers Dement. 2024;20 Suppl 6 :e090513. doi: 10.1002/alz.090513. PubMed PMID:39782459
3. Zhang, H, Wang, Q, Wang, S, Zhou, R, Cai, J, Hu, X. pH-sensitive Silk Fibroin Nanoparticles Encapsulating Β-Hydroxyisovalerylshikonin for Targeted Pancreatic Cancer Therapy. Curr Drug Deliv. 2025; :. doi: 10.2174/0115672018342718241030070142. PubMed PMID:39781716
4. Zhang, H, Ma, WX, Xie, Q, Bu, LF, Kong, LX, Yuan, PC, Zhou, RH, Wang, YH, Wu, L, Zhu, CY et al.. Compound 38, a novel potent and selective antagonist of adenosine A_2A receptor, enhances arousal in mice. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2025; :. doi: 10.1038/s41401-024-01443-0. PubMed PMID:39779967
5. Ren, J, Chen, X, Wang, HY, Yang, T, Zhang, KR, Lei, SY, Qi, LY, Feng, CL, Zhou, R, Zhou, H et al.. Gentiopicroside ameliorates psoriasis-like skin lesions in mice via regulating the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway and inhibiting keratinocyte activation. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2025; :. doi: 10.1038/s41401-024-01449-8. PubMed PMID:39779965
6. Zhang, X, Lun, S, Li, YX, Zhang, W, Zhou, RY, Liu, T, Yang, F, Tang, J, Bishai, WR, Yu, LF et al.. Corrigendum to "Structure-based development of N-Arylindole derivatives as Pks13 inhibitors against Mycobacterium tuberculosis" [Europ. J. Med. Chem. 283 (2025) 117148]. Eur J Med Chem. 2025; :117239. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2025.117239. PubMed PMID:39779391
7. Wang, Z, Jiang, L, Bai, X, Guo, M, Zhou, R, Zhou, Q, Yang, H, Qian, J. Vitamin D receptor regulates methyltransferase like 14 to mitigate colitis-associated colorectal cancer. J Genet Genomics. 2025; :. doi: 10.1016/j.jgg.2024.12.020. PubMed PMID:39778713