Background

Dr. Zhang is an enthusiastic data analyst and technical leader, with over 20 years of experience in biomedical research and data analysis. His graduate work in Fudan University involves designing and testing of genetic engineered peptide and nucleotide vaccines against animal viruses. His Ph.D. study in the University of Texas used fruitflies to investigate the role of alternative splicing in embryonic development. During his research of fruitfly genetics, he found his love of data analysis and pursued a M.S. degree in Statistics. He then joined the University of Chicago for postdoctoral studies in human genetics and cancer biology, focusing on transcriptome in engineered cell fusions and cancer pharmacogenomics. Dr. Zhang joined CTDS in 2013, and was one of the founding members in designing and implementing the NCI Genomics Data Commons (GDC). He is currently the Director of Bioinformatics in CTDS. He also serves as the Co-Principal Investigator of the GDC, responsible for defining and driving strategic directions of the cloud-based data sharing and analysis platforms. 

Research Interests

• Cancer genomics and multi-omics integration

• Data sharing and big data computing

• Human genetics and pharmacogenomics

• AI/ML biomedical applications

• Statistical modeling and applications

Education

• Postdoctoral Scholar - Human Genetics & Cancer Biology - University of Chicago

• Ph.D. -  Cell & Molecular Biology - University of Texas at Austin 

• M.S. - Statistics - University of Texas at Austin 

• M.S. - Genetics - Fudan University, Shanghai, China

• B.S. - Biochemistry - Fudan University, Shanghai, China

Positions

• 2020-present Director of Bioinformatics, Center for Translational Data Science, University of Chicago

• 2017-2020 Bioinformatics Manager, Center for Translational Data Science, University of Chicago

• 2013-2017 Lead Bioinformatician, Center for Translational Data Science, University of Chicago

• 2012-2013 Postdoctoral Scholar, Ben May Department for Cancer Research, University of Chicago

• 2010-2012 Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago

• 2008-2010 Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin

• 2001-2008 Research Assistant, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin

• 2007 Research Assistant, Department of Mathematics, University of Texas at Austin

• 1998-2001 Research Assistant, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Fudan University

Other sites

• https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&authuser=1&user=1RdyTkUAAAAJ

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/zhenyu-zhang-4921675/

• https://github.com/NCI-GDC

PUblications

1. Mutation of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor gene sensitizes cancers to mitotic inhibitor induced cell death. Zhao J*, Zhang Z*, Liao Y, Du W. Am J Cancer Res. 2014 Jan 15;4(1):42-52.

2. Systematic mapping of occluded genes by cell fusion reveals prevalence and stability of cis-mediated silencing in somatic cells. Looney TJ1, Zhang L, Chen CH, Lee JH, Chari S, Mao FF, Pelizzola M, Zhang L, Lister R, Baker SW, Fernandes CJ, Gaetz J, Foshay KM, Clift KL, Zhang Z, and et al. Genome Res. 2014 Feb;24(2):267-80.

3. Localization and activation of the Drosophila protease easter require the ER-resident saposin-like protein seele. Stein D, Charatsi I*, Cho YS*, Zhang Z*, Nguyen J, DeLotto R, Luschnig S, Moussian B. Curr Biol. 2010 Nov 9;20(21):1953-8.

4. Distinct functional specificities are associated with protein isoforms encoded by the Drosophila Dorsal-Ventral patterning gene pipe. Zhang Z, Zhu X, Stevens LM, Stein D. Development. 2009 Aug;136(16):2779-89.

5. Sulfation of Eggshell Components by Pipe Defines Dorsal-Ventral Polarity in the Drosophila Embryo. Zhang Z, Stevens LM, Stein D. Currt Biol. 2009 Jul 28;19(14):1200-5.

6. No requirement for localized Nudel protein expression in Drosophila embryonic axis determination. Stein D, Suk Cho Y, Zhang Z, Stevens LM. Fly. 2008 Jul 15; 2(4).

7. Functional characterization and expression analysis of members of the UDP-GalNAc:polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase family from Drosophila melanogaster. Ten Hagen KG, Tran DT, Gerken TA, Stein DS, Zhang Z. J Biol Chem. 2003 Sep 12; 278(37): 35039-48.

8. A recombinant fusion protein and DNA vaccines against foot-and-mouth disease virus type Asia 1 infection in guinea pigs. Zhang Q, Zhu M, Yang Y, Shao M, Zhang Z, Lan H, Yan W, Wu J, Zheng Z. Acta Virol. 2003; 47(4): 237-43.

9. Immunogenicity of a recombinant fusion protein of tandem repeat epitopes of foot-and-mouth disease virus type Asia 1 for guinea pigs. Zhang Q, Yang Y, Zhang Z, Li L, Yan W, Jiang W, Xin A, Lei C, Zheng Z. Acta Virol. 2002; 46(1): 1-9.