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Introduction of the Zhang Laboratory

We are part of the Department of Systems Biology, the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, and the Motor Neuron Center at Columbia University Medical Center. The three key words that best describe our research are protein-RNA interactions, neuronal alternative splicing-regulation and RNA-based precision genetic medicine. We are fascinated by the complexity of the mammalian nervous system and its underlying molecular mechanisms. While mammals have a similar number of genes compared to phenotypically simpler organisms (such as worms), one apparent feature of mammalian genes is their more complicated gene structures, providing an opportunity for sophisticated regulation at the RNA level. The focus of the Zhang lab is to dissect RNA regulatory networks in the nervous system as a way to understand the mammalian complexity manifested in evolutionary-developmental (evo-devo) processes and in several neuronal disorders. The lab has a mixed dry and wet setup, and takes a multidisciplinary approach that tightly integrates high-throughput biochemistry, genomics and computational approaches applied to mouse models and in vitro neuronal differentiation systems from pluripotent stem cells. On the mechanistic side, the Zhang lab focuses on fundamental understanding of the targeting specificity of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), how they regulate alternative splicing in various cellular contexts, especially in the nervous system, and how such regulation can be disrupted by mutations and genetic variations. On the functional side, the lab aims to uncover the roles of RBPs in determining the neuronal cell fate, morphological and functional properties during neural differentiation and maturation. The lab has also been working on translating fundamental knowledge on RNA regulation to precision genetic medicine, with a particular focus on multiple devastating monogenic diseases affecting the central nervous system. 2025 Lab Photo - Celebrating another fruitable year!

Lab News

Lab retreat 2025 - Bear mountain hiking to see splendid fall foliage (Nov, 2025)

02/14/2025. Our AnkG microexon paper, 8 years in the making, is now online in Nature Communications. 11/10/2025. Two recent papers from our collaborations with colleagues: TDP-43 dependent mis-splicing of KCNQ2 in ALS published in Nature Neuroscience and Alpha-synuclein mRNA regulation by PUMILIO published in Cell Reports. 08/23/2025. (belated) Dan Moakley's PhD thesis work is now officially out in Cell Reports. 05/15/2025. Our paper in collaboration with Shan Zha lab on Ku' role in innate immunity through suppression of Alu element is out in Nature. 04/05/2025. Welcome Jimin Yoon to join the Zhang lab as a postdoc (jointly mentored by Prof. Shan Zha). 09/25/2024. Congrats Ruchika for winning the best poster award during the annual department retreat! 09/16/2024. Welcome Cynthia to rotate in the Zhang lab. Cynthia will join an exciting project to develop tools for programmable RNA targeting! 08/09/2024. Our DeltaSplice paper is officially out in Genome Research. 07/08/2024. Welcome Amanda Lopez-Ramirez (SRP program), Camari Abercrombie (CADRE program), and Bryan Shi for joining us in the summer. Camari will actually work with us as a post-bac in the next two years! 07/08/2024. Welcome Tianji Yu, who officially joined the Zhang lab - Tianji is our 5th graduate student! 06/27/2024. Chaolin joined Harris Wang, interim department chair, to attend the "Meet the Faculty" panel discussion with DSB trainees. 06/26/2024. We are one of the four teams winning the 2024 Columbia Precision Medicine Joint Pilot grant. Thank Roy and Diana Vagelos for the generous support! >>> all lab news

Where We Are

Columbia University Irving Medical Center (image credit: internet)	Washington Height, NYC (image credit: @KellyrKopp/twitter)