Zhang Zhi
Professor
School of Life Sciences
University of Science and Technology of China
China
Biography
Zhi Zhang is the Professor in the School of Life Sciences of University of Science & Technology of China.
Research Interest
Our research is focused on understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of chronic pain and depression, with an emphasis on the epigenetic modulation in development of depressive disordersin chronic pain states. Additionally, we are also interested in how pain affects drug abuse liability because abuse of prescription opioids has risen to an alarming level in recent years. We are currently using a multidisciplinary approach that includeselectrophysiological recording, molecular biological and optogenetic techniques and complex behavioral paradigms, with the goal of elucidating how chronic pain modifies synaptic and circuit function through brain gene activity changes, in turn influences depression- and addition-like behaviors.
Publications
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Zhang Z*,Tao W, Hou Y, Wang W, Kenny PJ, Pan ZZ*. MeCP2 repression of G9a in regulation of pain and morphine reward, The Journal of Neuroscience, 2014 Jul 2;34(27):9076-87.
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Zhang Z*, Tao W, Hou Y, Wang W, Lu LY, Pan ZZ*. Persistent pain facilitates response to morphine reward bydownregulation of central amygdala GABAergic function. Neuropsychopharmacology, 2014 Apr 1
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Tao W, Chen Q, Zhou W, Wang Y, Wang L, Zhang Z*. Persistent inflammation-induced upregulation of BDNF promotes synaptic delivery of AMPA receptor GluA1 subunits in descending pain modulatory circuits, J Biol Chem. 2014 Jun 25. pii: jbc.M114.580381.
