Department of Medicine
Faculty Profiles by Division

Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine

Faculty Profiles
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photo Yingze Zhang, PhD

Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine

Professor of Medicine

Professor of Human Genetics

Director, Translational Research Core Laboratory

Director, Cardiology Biobank

Email: zhanyx@upmc.edu

Phone: 412-624-7225
Contact
Office: UPMC Montefiore Hospital, NW628
3459 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
 
Phone: 412-624-7225
Fax: 412-624-1670
E-mail: zhanyx@upmc.edu
Administrative Assistant:
Stacie Truszkowski
Email: truszkowskisl@upmc.edu
Phone: 412-624-7225
Fax: 412-624-1670
Education and Training
Education
BS-Biological Science, Liaoning Normal University, China, 1982
MS - Biochemistry, Duquesne University, 1987
MS - Infectious Disease & Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh, 1993
PhD - Molecular and Cellular Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, 1997
Training
Human Genetics Fellowship, Allegheny University of the Health Sciences, 1998
Rheum & Cellular Immunology Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh, 1999
Research Interest
Dr. Zhang’s current research is focused on the molecular and genetic basis of pulmonary and vascular diseases including COPD, ILD, sleep apnea and sickle cell and systemic complications associated with these diseases. She is also actively working on the discovery and validation of prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers related to lung and vascular diseases. In addition, her laboratory is actively investigating the functional significance of disease associated genetic variants and their roles in disease pathogenesis. Dr. Zhang also directs the translational core lab for the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine and the Biobank for Cardiology and Vascular Medicine Institute. She has been PI or co-I on multiple grants funded by NIH and other agencies. She has published over 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts.
Educational Interest
Dr. Zhang is actively involved in the training of clinical and basic scientists. She co-directs and teaches a summer course that is designed to provide fundamentals of translational research for clinical fellows. The course includes both structured lectures as well as hands-on laboratory classes covering molecular and cellular biology, immunology, omics and other cutting-edge technologies important in translational research. She is also a faculty facilitator for the Evidence-Based Medicine class for medical students. During her tenure at the University of Pittsburgh, she has mentored 18 clinical fellows, clinicians and post-doctoral trainees for their translational research. Dr. Zhang is also the mentor or co-mentor for 12 undergraduate and 13 graduate/medical students on their molecular, genetic and translational research. Dr. Zhang has been invited to present more than 30 seminars and lectures on her research locally and at international institutes.
Publications
For my complete bibliography, Click Here.
Selected Publications:
Zhang Y, Tedrow J, Nouraie M, Li X, Chandra D, Bon J, Kass DJ, Fuhrman CR, Leader JK, Duncan SR, Kaminski N, Sciurba FC. Elevated plasma level of Pentraxin 3 is associated with emphysema and mortality in smokers. Thorax. 2021; Jan 21; doi:10.1136/thoraxjnl-2020-215356.: [Epubaheadofprint].
Li X, Kim SE, Chen T, Wang J, Yang X, Tabib T, Tan J, Guo B, Fung S, Zhao J, Sembrat J, Rojas M, Shiva S, Lafyatis R, St Croix C, Alder JK, Di YP, Kass DJ, Zhang Y. Toll Interacting Protein Protects Bronchial Epithelial Cells From Bleomycin-Induced Apoptosis. FASEB J. 2020; Aug;34(8): 9884-9898.
Zhang Y, Jiang M, Nouraie M, Roth MG, Tabib T, Winters S, Chen X, Sembrat J, Chu Y, Cardenes N, Tuder RM, Herzog EL, Ryu C, Rojas M, Lafyatis R, Gibson KF, McDyer JF, Kass DJ, Alder JK. GDF15 is an epithelial-derived biomarker of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2019; Oct 1;317(4): L510-L521.
Radder JE, Zhang Y, Gregory AD, Yu S, Kelly NJ, Leader JK, Kaminski N, Sciurba FC, Shapiro SD. Extreme Trait Whole Genome Sequencing Identifies PTPRO as a Novel Candidate Gene in Emphysema with Severe Airflow Obstruction. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2017; 196(2): 159-71.
Zhang Y. MUC5B and short telomere length in hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Lancet Respir Med. 2017; 5(8): 603-4.
Noth, I, Zhang, Y, Ma, S-F, Flores, C, Barber, M, Huang, Y, Broderick, SM, Wade, MS, Hysi, P, Sciurba, J, Richards, TJ, Juan-Guardela, BM, Vij, R, han, MK, Martinez, FJ, Kossen, K, Seiwert, SD, Christie, JD, Nicolae, D, ...et all. Genetic variants associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis susceptibility and mortality: a genome-wide association study. LANCET Respiratory Medicine. 2013; Jun;1(4): 309-17.
Peljto, AL, Zhang, Y, Fingerlin, TE, Ma, SF, Garcia, JG, Richards, TJ, Silveira, LJ, Lindell, KO, Steele, MP, Loyd, JE, Gibson, KF, Seibold, MA, Brown, KK, Talbert, JL, Markin, C, Kossen, K, Seiwert SD, Murphy, E, Noth, I, ...et all. Association Between the MUC5B Promoter Polymorphism and Survival in Patients With Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. JAMA. 2013; Jun 5;309(21): 2232-9.
Yu, S, Yerges-Armstrong, LM, Chu, Y, Zmuda, JM, Zhang, Y. E2F1 Effects on Osteoblast Differentiation and Mineralization are Mediated through Up-regulation of Frizzled-1. Bone. 2013; Jun 24.
Richards, T, Park, C, Chen, Y, Gibson, KF, Di, YP, Pardo, A, Watkins, SC, Choi, AMK, Selman, M, Pilewski, J, Kaminski, N, Zhang, Y. Allele Specific Transactivation of Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 by FOXA2 and Correlation with Plasma Levels in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. AJP Lung. 2012; Jan 20 (Epub ahead of print).
Zhang, Y, Noth, I, Garcia, JGN, Kaminski, N. A variant in the promoter of MUC5B and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. N Engl J Med. 2011; 364: 1576-7.
Sponsored Research/Activities
Title: Evaluation of Tumor Marker CA15-3 as a Prognostic Biomarker for IPF
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Roche Diagnostics
Start Year: 2013
End Year: 2019
Title: N-Terminal-pro-BNP in a Large COPD Cohort: A Potential Biomarker for Pulmonary Artery Hypertension Sub-Phenotype
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: Roche Pharmaceuticals
Start Year: 2010
End Year: 2017
Title: CFF Lung Transplant Consortium
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics, Inc.
Grant Number: RES
Start Year: 2020
End Year: 2022
Title: Evaluate Plasma Metabolites in Samples from Pulmonary Hypertension and Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF) Patient Cohorts
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: Pfizer Inc.
Grant Number: RES
Start Year: 2020
End Year: 2021
Title: Core B-Immunosuppression in acute lung injury
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: Ohio State University/ National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute
Grant Number: P01 HL114453
Start Year: 2019
End Year: 2024
Title: 1/2 Sickle Cell Disease and CardiovAscular Risk - Red cell Exchange Trial (SCD-CARRE Trial)
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute
Grant Number: UG3 HL143192
Start Year: 2019
End Year: 2020
Title: A Phase II Trial of Metformin for Pulmonary Hypertension in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: National Institute of Aging
Grant Number: R01 AG058659
Start Year: 2018
End Year: 2023
Title: Standard vs UltrasouNd-assiSted CathEter Thrombolysis for Submassive Pulmonary Embolism (SUNSET sPE)
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: American Venous Forum Foundation
Start Year: 2018
End Year: 2020
Title: Systems Level Causal Discovery in Heterogeneous TOPMed Data
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute
Grant Number: U01 HL137159
Start Year: 2017
End Year: 2020
Title: Evaluation of Factors Influencing Dosing and Clinical Response to Oral and Inhaled Treprostinil
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: United Therapeutics Corp.
Start Year: 2017
End Year: 2019
Title: Characterizing Mechanisms of Sickle Cell Crisis via Dynamic Optical Assay
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Grant Number: R01 HL121386
Start Year: 2017
End Year: 2018
Title: Collection of Plasma Samples from Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) Patients
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: Pfizer Inc.
Start Year: 2017
End Year: 2018
Title: Autoimmunity and Emphysema and Risk of Osteoporosis in Smokers
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute
Grant Number: R01 HL128289
Start Year: 2016
End Year: 2021
Title: Neuro-Vascular Determinants of Cognition in Adults with Sickle Cell Disease
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute
Grant Number: R01 HL127107
Start Year: 2016
End Year: 2021
Title: Vascular Subphenotypes of Lung Disease (Core D)
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute
Grant Number: P01 HL103455
Start Year: 2016
End Year: 2021
Title: Multicenter Prospective Core Valve Study Using Cardiac MRI for Assessment of Paravalvular Aortic Regurgitation and its Impact on LV Reverse Remodeling and Cardiovascular Outcomes
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: Medtronic
Start Year: 2016
End Year: 2019
Title: Twist1 Subphenotypes and Pulmonary Fibrosis
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute
Grant Number: R01 HL126990
Start Year: 2015
End Year: 2020
Title: Network Management Core (NEMO) for the Pulmonary Trials Cooperative (PTC)
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute
Grant Number: U01 HL128954
Start Year: 2015
End Year: 2020
Title: Biomarkers Predictive of Lung Function in Decline in Physiologically Normal Smokers
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute
Grant Number: R21 HL129917
Start Year: 2015
End Year: 2017
Title: Cardiolipin as a Novel Mediator of Acute Lung Injury - Core C
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute
Grant Number: P01 HL114453
Start Year: 2014
End Year: 2018
Title: Characterizing Mechanisms of Sickle Cell Crisis via Dynamic Optical Assay
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: Massachusetts Institute of Technology/National Institute of Health
Grant Number: R01 HL121386
Start Year: 2014
End Year: 2017
Title: A New Genus of Ubiquitin-Based Anti-Inflammatories for COPD
Role: Co-Investigator
Funding Agency: National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute
Grant Number: UH2 HL123520
Start Year: 2014
End Year: 2017
Notable Achievements
Top10 cited article in LANCET Respiratory Medince, 2016
Study section member, FAMRI, 2014-present
Grant reviewer for the Imperial College Peer Review Office Grant Program, Imperial College London, UK., 2015
Member of the Steering Committee of the NHLBI TopMed study, 2015-present
Member of the World Chinese Respiratory Federation (WCRF), 2016
Member of the advisory committee, Respiratory Society of Cross-Straits Medicine Exchange Association, 2015-present
Member of the Steering Committee of the NHLBI GRADS study, 2012-present
Section Chair, Pittsburgh International Lung Conference: Personalized Medicine of Lung Diseases., 2012
Repository director for the Walk-PHaSST study, 2009-present
Repository director for the GRADS study, 2012-2015

Division Websites

Cardiology

Endocrinology and Metabolism

Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

General Internal Medicine

Geriatric Medicine
Hematology/Oncology

Infectious Diseases

Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine

Renal-Electrolyte

Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology

Contact

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Phone:  412-648-9636
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