The Zhang Lab officially opened in Sep 2024 @ MUSC, looking forward to seeing you here!

(Sep 2024)

The Zhang Lab is excited to share that we have been awarded a 2025–2026 Pilot & Feasibility grant from the MUSC Digestive Disease Research Core Center (DDRCC). (Jun 2025)

Welcome to Dr. Mengmeng Cui, our first postdoc from Shanghai!

(Aug 2025)

The Zhang Lab is proud to announce that we have been awarded a multi-year COBRE grant (2026–2029) supported by the NIH/NIGMS program in Digestive and Liver Disease at MUSC. This award provides critical support to advance our research on enteric neuro–epithelial and neuro–immune interactions and reflects national recognition of our innovative research program. (April 2026)

Welcome to Rachel Xu, our first visiting scholar from Hongkong!

(April 2026)

Our first Nature publication is now online. As a co-author, Dr. Zhang collaborated with Dr. Sears at Johns Hopkins University to conduct a genome-wide CRISPR screen that identified a pro-carcinogenic bacterial toxin targeting Claudin-4. (April 2026)

Welcome Isabelle Hwang and Heemin Lee from the MUSC SURP 2026 program, and Hudson Stewart from the Governor’s School, as they join the lab this summer! 

(June 2026)

Our Nature Microbiology publication is now online. Dr. Zhang contributed to this study from Dr. Matthew Waldor’s group, which identified IL-22–mediated secretory cell and mucus responses that protect the infant small intestine against Vibrio cholerae. (April 2026)