Dr. Zhe Lu

Biography

Zhe Lu, MD, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Physiology at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. His research focuses on the mechanisms of ion channels and their roles in the pathogenesis of genetic diseases, particularly cystic fibrosis and diabetes. His laboratory investigates the fundamental mechanisms of ion channels, which are specialized membrane proteins that facilitate the selective flow of ions across cell membranes. The group explores the regulation of ion channel openings and closings, the electrical currents generated by these channels, and their implications for nerve, muscle, and endocrine cell function. Current studies include potassium channels, cGMP-gated cation channels, and the cystic fibrosis conductance regulator chloride channel. Lu's work also extends to the development of novel pharmacological agents targeting specific ion channels. His laboratory employs a combination of structural and functional techniques, including single-channel patch-clamping, fluorescence imaging, and protein crystallography, to understand the molecular mechanisms of channel inhibition and specificity.

Research Interests