Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Welcome to The Zhang Lab

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Research

Our research has been focused on unraveling the molecular mechanisms underlying ovarian and breast cancers and developing innovative immunotherapies and targeted therapies for these diseases. Our early and ongoing research has focused on investigating the antitumor immune response and developing immunotherapy strategies specifically for ovarian cancer. We provided robust clinical evidence supporting the concept of immune surveillance in ovarian cancer. We demonstrated that the tumor microenvironment promotes immune tolerance and angiogenesis through chemokines and regulatory T cells. Currently, our research aims to unravel the contribution of recurrent genomic alterations in both protein-coding and non-coding regions to tumorigenesis, with a specific emphasis on identifying therapeutic targets and combination strategies for treating ovarian and breast cancer. To achieve this, we have developed a novel computational approach that integrates large-scale genomic, functionomic, and pharmcologomic profiles. Our efforts have resulted in the creation of the Functional Cancer Genome data portal (FCG portal), to functionally annotate cancer genomes. Our research has revealed that genes encoding histone modification enzymes exhibit high-frequency recurrent genomic alterations in cancers, highlighting their potential as clinically actionable drug targets. Most recently, we have demonstrated the efficacy and tolerability of a combination treatment strategy known as "treatment-induced BRCAness" in both primary and acquired HR-proficient tumors. This innovative combination approach is currently undergoing evaluation in a phase 2 clinical trial and has shown promising treatment responses.




Publications

Are you interested in our research in the field of cancer biology? We have curated a collection of our significant publications that highlight our contributions to the field. To explore our full list of publications, we invite you to visit PubMed or Google Scholar for comprehensive details.




Careers

Are you a passionate scientist specializing in cancer biology? We are currently seeking highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellows to join our dynamic lab and contribute to our exciting research projects. We are specifically looking for individuals who possess a goal-driven mindset, a curious nature, and the ability to collaborate effectively within a team while maintaining a critical mindset. In our lab, we highly value diverse perspectives and actively encourage team members to bring their unique skill sets to the table. Our primary objective is to provide you with a supportive environment that nurtures your growth and enables you to reach your full potential as an independent scientist, whether your career path leads you within academia or beyond. We firmly believe in fostering a positive and enjoyable atmosphere, ensuring that you find personal fulfillment and meaning in the work you undertake with us. If you are enthusiastic about joining our team and contributing to cutting-edge research, please reach out to us. We eagerly await your contact and are excited to learn more about your scientific journey and aspirations!