Xianjun Zhu, Ph.D.
I received my B.Sc. degree in Plant Molecular and Developmental Biology from Peking University, Beijing. Next, I studied in the Institute of Microbiology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing and received my master degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. In 2000, I entered the program of Cell and Molecular Biology of the University of Texas at Austin and worked in Dr. David Stein's lab for my Ph.D. dissertation. A major component of my project was to determine the molecular mechanism that controls Drosophila dorsal-ventral polarity formation. I used genetic methods, combined with genomic, molecular/ cell biology and comparative biology approaches, to investigate the role of glycosaminoglycans in Drosophila pipe-mediated dorsal-ventral patterning. To assess the function of those candidate genes for which there are no classic genetic mutants available, I developed a highly efficient transgenic RNAi system to knock down gene expression in vivo. The RNAi-mediated gene function inhibition provides a useful means to study novel gene function.
Upon finishing my training in Drosophila genetics and developmental biology, I received my Ph.D. degree in Cell and Molecular Biology in 2006. Impressed by the research work of Dr. Simon John's laboratory, I moved to Bar Harbor, Maine. I joined the John lab. to pursue my postdoctoral training using mammalian genetics and neurobiologic methods to study glaucoma. I am gaining expertise in mouse models of human disease, ocular evaluation, ocular anatomy and pathology, and am gaining exposure to all areas of mouse genetics. I am using genetic, genomic, cell biological and pharmacological methods to investigate the possible role of glial cells in the initiation and/or propagation of neurodegeneration during glaucoma. My goal is to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying glaucomatous neurodegeneration and to identify therapeutic means for preventing disease progression. In a second project, I am studying the molecular mechanism of a neurodegeneration in Wabbler lethal mice. I am trying to characterize the axon dystrophy in this mouse model and define the function of the gene involved in this disease using various approaches. This mutant might be a useful animal model for providing insight into axonopathies.
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