Additional Roles
Associate Director of Population Science and Translational Science
Education
Ph.D. – Molecular Biology, Department of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas
M.A. – Molecular Systematics, Rice University, Houston, Texas
M.S. – Molecular Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
B.S. – Cell Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
Area of Expertise
Translational and Molecular Epidemiology
Cancer Biomarkers
Genomics, Epigenomics, and Small Non-coding RNAs in Tumorigenesis
Circadian Factors and Health
Introduction
Dr. Zhu is a Professor of Epidemiology at the College of Public Health and serve as Associate Director for Population and Translational Science at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute.
Credentials, Accreditations and Awards
2010 Top 10 featured Research Highlights, NCI EGRP
2002 Bristol-Myers Squibb Award in Clinic/Translational Research
2002 Scholar-in Trainee Award, AACR
2000-2002 Cancer Prevention Post-Doctoral Fellowship, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer
Teaching Focus
As a laboratory-based molecular epidemiologist, Dr. Zhu’s teaching focuses on the interplay of genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors in disease. He covers human genetics and recent epigenetic discoveries, exploring genetic variations, epigenetic alterations, and their roles in gene-environment interactions. He gives lectures, discusses articles, and encourages hands-on lab experiences.
Research Overview
Dr. Zhu’s research identifies and characterizes biomarkers for cancer prevention, risk prediction, early detection, survival assessment, and treatment. He develops phenotypic and genotypic assays, focusing on genetic and epigenetic biomarkers and small non-coding RNAs, such as miRNAs and piRNAs. Additionally, he investigates circadian biomarkers associated with cancer risk, progression, and survival.
Recent Books or Publications
- Uzamere I, Wang Y, Zheng T, Zhu Y. Genetic Determinants for the Racial Disparities in the Risk of Prostate and Testicular Cancers. Commun Med (Lond). 2022 Nov 2; 2(1):138. PMCID: PMC9630379.
- Liu J, Wang X, Chen AT, Gao X, Himes BT, Zhang H, Chen Z, Wang J, Sheu WC, Deng G, Xiao Y, Zou P, Zhang S, Liu F, Zhu Y, Fan R, Patel TR, Saltzman WM, Zhou J. ZNF117 Regulates Glioblastoma Stem Cell Differentiation Towards Oligodendroglial Lineage. Nat Commun. 2022 Apr 22 ;13(1):2196. PMCID: PMC9033827.
- Girardi KG, Zheng T, Zhu Y. Can Muscle Building Supplements Increase Testicular Cancer Risk? Front Nutr. 2022 Jan 28; 9:778426. PMCID: PMC8834066.
- Shi FQ, Li Y, Han R, Fu A, Wang RH, Nusbaum O, Qin Q, Chen X, Hou L, Zhu Y. Valerian and valeric acid inhibit growth of breast cancer cells possibly by mediating epigenetic modifications. Sci Rep. 2021 Jan 28; 11(1):2519. PMCID: PMC7844014.
- Ward EM, Germolec D, Kogevinas M, McCormick D, Vermeulen R, Anisimov VN, Aronson KJ, Bhatti P, Cocco P, Costa G, Dorman DC, Fu L, Garde AH, Guénel P, Hansen J, Härmä MI, Kawai K, Khizkhin EA, Knutsson A, Lévi F, Moreno CR, Pukkala E, Schernhammer E, Travis R, Waters M, Yakubovskaya M, Zeeb H, Zhu Y, Zienolddiny S, Grosse Y, Hall AL, Benbrahim-Tallaa L, Girschik J, Bouvard V, El Ghissassi F, Turner MC, Diver WR, Herceg Z, Olson N, Rowan EG, Rumgay H, Guyton KZ, Schubauer-Berigan MK. Carcinogenicity of Night Shift Work. Lancet Oncology. 2019 Aug; 20(8):1058-1059. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(19)30455-3. PMID: 31281097.