Die Zhang, Ph.D.
Department of Radiation Oncology, Division of Radiation Oncology
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology - Research, Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2007 | Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, CHN, PHD, Neuropharmacology |
| 2002 | Nanjing University, Nanjing, CHN, BS, Biopharmaceuticals |
Postgraduate Training
| 2008-2010 | Postdoctoral, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Instructor, Department of Radiation Oncology - Research, Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2019 - 2023
Research Investigator, Department of Radiation Oncology - Research, Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2015 - 2019
Research and instructional Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 2014 - 2015
Research Associate, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 2010 - 2014
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Zhang D, Zhou W, Lam TT, Li Y, Duman JG, Dougherty PM, Grosshans DR.. Cranial irradiation induces axon initial segment dysfunction and neuronal injury in the prefrontal cortex and impairs hippocampal coupling. Neuro-Oncol Adv 2(1), 2020.
- Zhang D, Zhou W, Lam TT, Weng C, Bronk L, Ma D, Wang Q, Duman JG, Dougherty PM, Grosshans DR. Radiation induces age-dependent deficits in cortical synaptic plasticity. Neuro Oncol 20(9):1207-1214, 2018. PMID: 29660023.
- Dragomir A, Akay YM, Zhang D, Akay M. Ventral Tegmental Area Dopamine Neurons Firing Model Reveals Prenatal Nicotine Induced Alterations. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 25(9):1387-1396, 2017. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 28114025.
- Kanlikilicer P, Zhang D, Dragomir A, Akay YM, Akay M. Gene expression profiling of midbrain dopamine neurons upon gestational nicotine exposure. Med Biol Eng Comput 55(3):467-482, 2017. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27255453.
- Zhang D, Dragomir A, Akay YM, Akay M. Nicotine exposure increases the complexity of dopamine neurons in the parainterfascicular nucleus (PIF) sub-region of VTA. J Neuroeng Rehabil 11:103, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24920473.
- Zhang D, Gao M, Xu D, Shi WX, Gutkin BS, Steffensen SC, Lukas RJ, Wu J. Impact of prefrontal cortex in nicotine-induced excitation of ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons in anesthetized rats. J Neurosci 32(36):12366-75, 2012. PMID: 22956827.
- Chen T, Zhang D, Dragomir A, Kobayashi K, Akay Y, Akay M. Investigating the influence of PFC transection and nicotine on dynamics of AMPA and NMDA receptors of VTA dopaminergic neurons. J Neuroeng Rehabil 8:58, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 22018308.
- Chen TY, Zhang D, Dragomir A, Akay Y, Akay M. The effects of nicotine exposure and PFC transection on the time-frequency distribution of VTA DA neurons' firing activities. Med Biol Eng Comput 49(5):605-12, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21448694.
- Chen TY, Zhang D, Dragomir A, Akay YM, Akay M. Complexity of VTA DA neural activities in response to PFC transection in nicotine treated rats. J Neuroeng Rehabil 8:13, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21352584.
- Gao M, Jin Y, Yang K, Zhang D, Lukas RJ, Wu J. Mechanisms involved in systemic nicotine-induced glutamatergic synaptic plasticity on dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area. J Neurosci 30(41):13814-25, 2010. PMID: 20943922.
- Chen TY, Dragomir A, Zhang D, Akay Y, Akay M. Prefrontal cortex deletion affects the dopaminergic neural firing complexity in nicotine-treated ventral tegmental area. Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2010:4526-9, 2010. PMID: 21095787.
- Zhang D, Zhang H, Jin GZ, Zhang K, Zhen X. Single dose of morphine produced a prolonged effect on dopamine neuron activities. Mol Pain 4:57, 2008. e-Pub 2008. PMID: 19014677.
- Zhang D, Yang S, Yang C, Jin G, Zhen X. Estrogen regulates responses of dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area to cocaine. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 199(4):625-35, 2008. e-Pub 2008. PMID: 18516717.
- Zhang D, Yang S, Jin GZ, Bunney BS, Shi WX. Oscillatory firing of dopamine neurons: differences between cells in the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area. Synapse 62(3):169-75, 2008. PMID: 18081182.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified September 05, 2023