Yongjie Zhang

I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Neuroscience Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. My research program focuses on the molecular mechanisms, toxicity, and cellular consequences of abnormal protein aggregation in neurodegenerative diseases, including frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and Parkinson’s disease (PD).

I completed my undergraduate and graduate training in China and earned my Ph.D. from Tongji Medical College in 2006. My doctoral research investigated post-translational modifications, including phosphorylation and nitration, in regulating tau oligomerization and function, contributing to our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease-related tau pathology. Following my Ph.D., I joined Dr. Leonard Petrucelli’s laboratory at Mayo Clinic Florida as a postdoctoral fellow, where I investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying TDP-43 aggregation and toxicity in FTD and ALS. This work established the foundation for my independent research program focused on protein misfolding and neurodegeneration.

Prior to joining the University of Miami, I was an Associate Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at Mayo Clinic Florida, where I developed a nationally recognized research program examining how pathological proteins drive neuronal dysfunction, copathology development, and neuroimmune responses. My laboratory integrates complementary approaches, including mouse models, human postmortem brain tissue, and human iNeuron models, to define disease-relevant molecular and cellular mechanisms and identify potential therapeutic targets.

I have maintained continuous extramural research support, including NIH R01, P01, and R21 awards, as well as state and foundation funding. I have authored 76 peer-reviewed publications in leading journals, including Science, Nature Medicine, Nature Neuroscience, Neuron, Science Translational Medicine, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. My work has been widely recognized through national and international invitations for scientific presentations, grant review, and editorial service.
Beyond research, I am committed to education and mentorship, having trained students and researchers at multiple levels. At the University of Miami, I aim to expand my research program, build interdisciplinary collaborations, and contribute to the training of the next generation of biomedical scientists.

My teaching interests include molecular neuroscience, neurodegenerative disease mechanisms, cellular and molecular biology, protein biochemistry, and translational neuroscience. I am particularly interested in teaching how molecular abnormalities, including protein misfolding, aggregation, and neuroimmune dysregulation, contribute to neuronal dysfunction and neurological disease.

My educational goal is to help students develop a strong foundation in biomedical principles while learning how fundamental discoveries can be translated into improved disease understanding and therapeutic strategies. Through teaching and mentoring, I emphasize critical thinking, experimental design, data interpretation, and the integration of molecular mechanisms with human disease biology.

I have extensive experience mentoring trainees at multiple levels, including high school students, undergraduate students, research technicians, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. I have supervised laboratory rotations, co-mentored doctoral trainees, served on thesis advisory committees, and guided researchers in developing scientific independence and professional skills. Trainees from my laboratory have successfully progressed to graduate and medical programs, and postdoctoral researchers have achieved significant scientific accomplishments.

At the University of Miami, I look forward to contributing to graduate and medical education through formal teaching, research mentorship, and interdisciplinary training. I aim to inspire students to explore neuroscience and biomedical research while preparing them to address complex challenges in neurodegenerative disease. By connecting emerging discoveries in protein aggregation, spatial neuropathology, and neuroimmune biology with foundational concepts, I hope to foster curiosity, innovation, and lifelong scientific engagement.

My research program investigates the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases, with a focus on abnormal protein aggregation, spatial neuropathology, and neuroimmune responses in frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and Parkinson’s disease (PD).

A central goal of my research is to understand how pathological proteins, particularly TDP-43 and C9orf72-derived dipeptide repeat proteins, contribute to neuronal dysfunction, selective vulnerability, copathology development, and immune dysregulation. My laboratory integrates mouse models, human postmortem brain tissue, and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neuronal (iNeuron) models to investigate disease mechanisms across experimental systems and human neuropathology.
My previous studies have advanced understanding of TDP-43 aggregation, toxicity, and downstream cellular pathways in FTD and ALS. Moving forward, my research aims to define how protein aggregation interacts with cellular stress pathways, environmental factors, and adaptive immune responses to influence disease progression. I am particularly interested in understanding how TDP-43 pathology contributes to mixed proteinopathies and modifies immune responses in vulnerable brain regions affected by AD and PD.

The ultimate goal of my research is to identify disease-relevant molecular and cellular mechanisms that can guide biomarker discovery and the development of targeted therapeutic strategies. At the University of Miami, I plan to build interdisciplinary collaborations that combine expertise in neuroscience, molecular biology, immunology, and translational medicine. These efforts will accelerate discoveries that improve our understanding of neurodegenerative disease and contribute to the development of effective interventions for patients.

Through integrated mechanistic and translational approaches, my laboratory seeks to bridge basic science discoveries with clinical applications and advance precision approaches for diagnosing, monitoring, and treating neurodegenerative disorders.