Wei Zhang, Ph.D.

Research Associate
Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology
Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC

2250 Alcazar St.
CSA 121E – HSC 9062
Los Angeles, CA 90033-9062
Phone: (323) 442-0282
Fax: (323) 442-2981
zhan763@usc.edu

Education
Experience
Publications

Anhui Agricultural University, China
B.S., 2011
Applied Biological Science & Technology

China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
Ph.D., 2016
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

  • 2023 – present – Research Associate – Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
  • 2017 – 2023 – Postdoctoral Scholar – Research Associate – Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
  • 2016 – 2017 – Postdoctoral Fellow – Dept. of Genetics, Dept. of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Georgia

  1. Zhang W, Zhang M, Ma L, Jariyasakulroj S, Chang Q, Lin Z, Lu Z, Chen JF. (2024) Recapitulating and reversing human brain ribosomopathy defects via the maladaptive integrated stress response. Science Advances. Accepted.

  2. Jariyasakulroj S, Zhang W, Bai J, Zhang M, Lu Z, Chen JF. (2023) Ribosome biogenesis controls cranial suture MSC fate via the complement pathway in mouse and human iPSC models. Stem Cell Reports. 2023 Dec 12;18(12):2370-2385. doi: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.10.015. Epub 2023 Nov 16. PMID: 37977145; PMCID: PMC10724072

  3. Ma, L., Chang, Q., Pei, F., Liu, M., Zhang, W., Hong, Y-K., Chai, Y., Chen, JF. Skull progenitor cell-driven meningeal lymphatic restoration improves neurocognitive functions in craniosynostosis, Cell Stem Cell (2023), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2023.09.012.

  4. Ma L, Liang C, Wang J, Chang Q, Wang Y, Zhang W, Du Y, Sadan J, Chen JF. (2022) Reversing lysosome-ribosome circuit dysregulation mitigates C9FTD/ALS neurodegeneration and behaviors. Human Molecular Genetics, accepted.

  5. Ma L, Wang J, Ge J, Wang Y, Zhang W, Du Y, Luo J, Li Y, Wang F, Fan G, Chen R, Yao B, Zhao Z, Guo ML, Kim WK, Chai Y, Chen JF. (2021) Reversing neural circuit and behavior deficit in mice exposed to maternal inflammation by Zika virus. EMBO Rep. 2021 Aug 4;22(8):e51978. doi: 10.15252/embr.202051978. Epub 2021 Jul 7. PMID: 34232545; PMCID: PMC8344882.

  6. Zhang W, Ma L, Yang M, Shao Q, Xu J, Lu Z, Zhao Z, Chen R, Chai Y, Chen JF. (2020) Cerebral organoid and mouse models reveal a RAB39b-PI3K-mTOR pathway-dependent dysregulation of cortical development leading to macrocephaly/autism phenotypes. Genes Dev. 2020 Apr 1;34(7-8):580-597. doi: 10.1101/gad.332494.119. Epub 2020 Feb 27. PubMed PMID: 32115408; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7111266.

  7. Shao Q, Yang M, Liang C, Ma L, Zhang W, Jiang Z, Luo J, Lee JK, Liang C, Chen JF. (2020) C9orf72 and smcr8 mutant mice reveal MTORC1 activation due to impaired lysosomal degradation and exocytosis. Autophagy. 2020 Sep;16(9):1635-1650. doi: 10.1080/15548627.2019.1703353. Epub 2019 Dec 26. PMID: 31847700; PMCID: PMC8386604.

  8. Shao Q, Liang C, Chang Q, Zhang W, Yang M, Chen JF. (2019) C9orf72 deficiency promotes motor deficitsof a C9ALS/FTD mouse model in a dose-dependent manner. Acta Neuropathol Commun. 2019 Mar 4;7(1):32. doi: 10.1186/s40478-019-0685-7. PubMed PMID: 30832726; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6398253.

  9. Zhang W, Yang SL, Yang M, Herrlinger S, Shao Q, Collar JL, Fierro E, Shi Y, Liu A, Lu H, Herring BE, Guo ML, Buch S, Zhao Z, Xu J, Lu Z, Chen JF. (2019) Modeling microcephaly with cerebral organoids reveals a WDR62-CEP170-KIF2A pathway promoting cilium disassembly in neural progenitors. Nat Commun. 2019 Jun 13;10(1):2612. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-10497-2. PubMed PMID: 31197141; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6565620.

  10. Liang C, Shao Q, Zhang W, Yang M, Chang Q, Chen R, Chen JF. (2019) Smcr8 deficiency disrupts axonal transport-dependent lysosomal function and promotes axonal swellings and gain of toxicity in C9ALS/FTD mouse models. Hum Mol Genet. 2019 Dec 1;28(23):3940-3953. PubMed PMID: 31625563; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7282195.

  11. Zhang W, Zhong L, Wang J, Han J. (2016) Distinct MicroRNA Expression Signatures of Porcine Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells under Mouse and Human ESC Culture Conditions. PLoS One. 2016 Jul 6;11(7):e0158655. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0158655. eCollection 2016. PubMed PMID: 27384321; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4934789.

  12. Wang H, Xiang J, Zhang W, Li J, Wei Q, Zhong L, Ouyang H, Han J. (2016) Induction of Germ Cell-like Cells from Porcine Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Sci Rep. 2016 Jun 6;6:27256. doi: 10.1038/srep27256. PubMed PMID: 27264660; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4893677.

  13. Wang Y, Li J, Xiang J, Wen B, Mu H, Zhang W, Han J. (2016) Highly efficient generation of biallelic reporter gene knock-in mice via CRISPR-mediated genome editing of ESCs. Protein Cell. 2016 Feb;7(2):152-6. doi:10.1007/s13238-015-0228-3. Erratum in: Protein Cell. 2017 Mar 10;:. Protein Cell. 2017 Jun;8(6):471. PubMed PMID: 26661644; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4742388.

  14. Pei Y, Yue L, Zhang W, Wang Y, Wen B, Zhong L, Xiang J, Li J, Zhang S, Wang H, Mu H, Wei Q, Han J. (2015) Improvement in Mouse iPSC Induction by Rab32 Reveals the Importance of Lipid Metabolism during Reprogramming. Sci Rep. 2015 Nov 12;5:16539. doi: 10.1038/srep16539. PubMed PMID: 26559473; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4642270.

  15. Zhang W, Pei Y, Zhong L, Wen B, Cao S, Han J. (2015) Pluripotent and Metabolic Features of Two Types of Porcine iPSCs Derived from Defined Mouse and Human ES Cell Culture Conditions. PLoS One. 2015 Apr 20;10(4):e0124562. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0124562. eCollection 2015. PubMed PMID: 25893435; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4404361.

  16. Cao S, Han J, Wu J, Li Q, Liu S, Zhang W, Pei Y, Ruan X, Liu Z, Wang X, Lim B, Li N. (2014) Specific gene-regulation networks during the pre-implantation development of the pig embryo as revealed by deep sequencing. BMC Genomics. 2014 Jan 3;15:4. doi: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-4. PubMed PMID: 24383959; PubMed Central PMCID:PMC3925986.

  17. Cao S, Loh K, Pei Y, Zhang W, Han J. (2012) Overcoming barriers to the clinical utilization of iPSCs: reprogramming efficiency, safety and quality. Protein Cell. 2012 Nov;3(11):834-45. doi: 10.1007/s13238-012-2078-6. Epub 2012 Oct 17. Review. PubMed PMID: 23073833; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4875458.

  18. Wang T, Sun Y, Shao W, Cheng G, Li L, Cao Z, Yang Z, Zou H, Zhang W, Han B, Hu Y, Ren L, Hu X, Guo Y, Fei J, Hammarström L, Li N, Zhao Y. (2012) Evidence of IgY subclass diversification in snakes: evolutionary implications. J Immunol. 2012 Oct 1;189(7):3557-65. Epub 2012 Aug 29. PubMed PMID: 22933626.