Haining Zhu

The Zhu laboratory studies RNA binding proteins and RNA metabolism including protein translation and stress granules under physiological and pathological conditions. We are also interested in protein phase separation and aggregation in vitro and in vivo and their relevance in human diseases. We strive to better understand the molecular mechanisms for neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and other diseases such as cancer. In addition, we are interested in therapeutic development targeting the molecules identified in the mechanistic studies.

Education & Post Graduate Training: 

Postdoctoral Training, Proteomics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, 2002
Ph.D., Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 2000
B.S., Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, 1994

Areas of Research: 

• Neurodegenerative diseases
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Frontotemporal dementia (FTD)
• RNA binding proteins in neurodegenerative diseases
• Regulation of RNA metabolism and protein translation in neurodegenerative diseases
• Stress granules in neurodegenerative diseases and other human health conditions
• Protein homeostasis, misfolding, aggregation and turnover
• Mass spectrometry, proteomics and functional genomics
• Protein chemistry, biophysics, structure and function relationship