Faculty Profile

Chengji Zhou
Assistant Professor
Cell Biology and Human Anatomy (School of Medicine)
Principal Investigator, Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine (IPRM), Shriners Hospitals for Children-Northern California
2425 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento, CA95817
Office
Lab
cjzhou (AT) ucdavis.edu
[Picture of Chengji Zhou]
We study Wnt signaling in birth defects/developmental disorders, tissue/organ-specific stem cells, and regeneration in mammals

Degrees:
2005 - - (Postdoc), University of California, San Francisco - Developmental Neurobiology
2001 - PhD - Waseda University - Biophysics (Neuroscience/Developmental Biology)
1998 - BS - Waseda University - Biology

Awards:
Japanese Government Monbusho Scholarship, 1999-2001
UC Davis Health System Research Award, 2008-2010

Department and Center Affiliations:
Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, School of Medicine
Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California
Cancer Center
Center for Neuroscience

Professional Societies:
Society for Neuroscience
Society for Developmental Biology
American Society for Cell Biology

Grad Group Affiliations and Specialties:
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Cell and Developmental Biology
Genetics
Neuroscience
Non-DBS Grad Group(s) - Comparative Pathology

Publications:
2009. Wang YZ, Lott P, Schwob J, Zhou CJ. The role of Wnt signaling in olfactory stem cells. (Resubmission)

2009. Song L, Li Y, Wang K, Wang YZ, Molotkov A, Gao L, Zhao T, Yamagami T, Wang Y, Gan Q, Pleasure DE, Zhou CJ. Lrp6-mediated canonical Wnt signaling is required for lip formation and fusion. Development 136:3161-3171. (Featured Article)

2009. Song L, Li Y, Wang K, Zhou CJ. Cardiac neural crest and outflow tract defects in Lrp6 mutant mice. Developmental Dynamics (Epub ahead of print)

2009. Zhou CJ, Wang YZ, Yamagami T, Zhao T, Song L, Wang K. Generation of Lrp6 conditional gene-targeting mouse line for modeling and dissecting multiple birth defects/congenital diseases. Developmental Dynamics (Epub ahead of print)

2008. Wang YZ, Molotkov A, Song L, Li Y, Pleasure DE, Zhou CJ. Activation of the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling reporter in developing mouse olfactory nerve layer marks a specialized subgroup of olfactory ensheathing cells. Developmental Dynamics 237:3157-3168.

2008. Zhou CJ, Molotkov A, Song L, Li Y, Pleasure DE, Pleasure SJ, Wang YZ. Ocular coloboma and dorsoventral neuroretinal patterning defects in Lrp6 mutant eyes. Developmental Dynamics 237:3681-3689.

2006. Zhou CJ, Borello U, Rubenstein JLR, Pleasure SJ. Neuronal production and precursor proliferation defects in mice with loss of function in the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. Neuroscience 142:1119-1131.

2004. Zhou CJ, Pinson KI, Pleasure SJ. Severe defects of dorsal thalamus in low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-6 mutants. Journal of Neuroscience 24:7632-7639. (Featured Article)

2004. Zhou CJ, Zhao C, Pleasure SJ. Wnt signaling mutants have decreased dentate granule cell production and radial glial scaffolding abnormalities. Journal of Neuroscience 24:121-126.

Research Interests:
We study morphogenetic signaling regulation in mammalian development and regeneration. We are primarily interested in tissue/organ morphogenesis that is regulated by several inductive factors such as Wnts. Incorrect activity and timing of morphogenetic signaling during development frequently result in embryonic death or severe birth defects. Currently we are investigating the molecular and cellular mechanisms of several developmental disorders and their prevention strategies using Wnt signaling mutants as the research model. We are also investigating the role of Wnt signaling in tissue/organ-specific stem cells and related regeneration processes to enhance their therapeutic potential.

Laboratory Personnel:
Andrew Wong (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major, UC Davis) - Undergraduate Research (2008~)

Ben Palmer (Exercise Biology major, UC Davis) - Undergraduate research/summer intern (2009~)

Cassandra Morales-De Silvestore (Genetics major, UC Davis) - Undergraduate Research (2009~)

Denys Rybka (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major, UC Davis) - Undergraduate research/summer intern (2009~)

Jason Chan, BS (UC Davis) - Jr. Specialist (2009~)

Jassica Chow (Genetics major, UC Davis) - Undergraduate Research (2008~)

Kai Wang (Biomedical Engineering major, UC Davis) - Undergraduate Research (2007~)

Lanying Song, Bachelor of Medicine, PhD (Southern Medical University) - Shriners Postdoctoral Fellow (2007~)

Naficeh Dastgheyb (Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior major, UC Davis) - Undergraduate Research (2009~)

Qini Gan, Bachelor of Medicine, PhD (Beijing University) - Postdoctoral Fellow (2009~) (UC Davis CIRM Stem Cell Training Program)

Salaheddin Hamad, B.S.V.M. (AL-Fateh University) - Graduate Student Researcher (2009~) (UC Davis Graduate Program in Comparative Pathology)

Takashi Yamagami, PhD (University of Nevada, Reno) - Postdoctoral Researcher (2009~)

Tianyu Zhao, PhD (Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry) - Postdoctoral Researcher (2009~)

Yazhou Wang, Bachelor of Medicine, PhD (Fourth Military Medical University) - Shriners Postdoctoral Fellow (2008~)

Yongping Wang, Bachelor of Medicine, PhD (Tongji Medical University) - Postdoctoral Researcher (2009~)

Zhou lab former members (including rotation graduate students and undergraduate students) - C Jung (GGG, 2006 Jan ~ Jun); T Wu, PhD (2006 Jan ~ May); L Gao, MB/PhD (2006 Feb ~ 2007 Jan); I Atkinson (Post-BS, 2006 Mar ~ Aug); R Wang (Undergraduate, 2006 Apr ~ 2007 Aug); L Hong, BS (RA, 2006 Apr ~ 2007 Jun); E McCauley, BS (RA, 2006 Apr ~ 2007 Jul); N Trinh, BS (Post-BS, 2006 Apr ~ 2007 Feb); B Syed (CHA199, 2006 Oct ~ Dec); A Molotkov, MB/PhD (2006 Oct ~ 2007 Dec); J Heidmann (GGG, 2006 Oct ~ Dec); B Steelman, MD (GGG, 2006 Oct ~ 2007 Feb); P Lott (GGG, 2007 Jan ~ Mar); M Hunsaker (NGP, 2007 Sep ~ Dec); M Yan (GGG, 2008 Jan ~ Feb); A Laskowski (CDB, 2008 Feb ~ Mar); Y Li, MS (SRA, 2007 Jul ~ 2008 Nov); M Tu (CDB, 2009 Feb ~ Mar)

Teaching Interests:


Developmental Neurobiology, Neuroanatomy

Courses Taught:
CHA 199 (undergraduate research/internship)
CHA 299 (graduate research/lab rotation)
CHA 403 Neuroanatomy (medical students)