Biography

Qi Zhang, Ph.D., is a research fellow in the Therapeutic Development Branch within NCATS’ Division of Preclinical Innovation, where he studies COVID-19 viral infection and neurodegenerative diseases for therapeutics development.

Prior to joining NCATS in 2021, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, where he developed research expertise in the cellular pathology of neurodegenerative and infectious diseases.

Zhang holds a doctorate in molecular biology and biochemistry from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, where he studied toxin transport across membranes, focusing on membrane channels and motor proteins. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biotechnology from the Beijing University of Technology in Beijing, China.

Research Topics

Zhang’s research interests are focused on the cellular pathology of neurodegenerative and infectious diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and COVID-19 viral infection. He collaborates with researchers from NIH and academic institutes on drug screens to accelerate drug development for emerging infectious and rare diseases.