Dr. Zhong Yin Zhang

Biography

Zhong-Yin Zhang is a professor in the Department of Chemistry at Purdue University, focusing on Chemical Biology, Organic Chemistry, and Medicinal Chemistry. His research emphasizes the structure and function of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) and their role in cellular signaling. His laboratory employs biochemical, cellular, genetic, and proteomic approaches to investigate PTPs, aiming to understand their mechanisms and develop therapeutic interventions for cancer, diabetes, obesity, and autoimmune disorders. Zhang's work involves high-throughput screening, structure-based design, and medicinal chemistry to create small molecule probes for functional interrogation of PTPs, targeting unique active site pockets for high efficacy. He has developed a PTP-based drug discovery platform and has been involved in pioneering the acquisition of potent selective PTP inhibitors. Throughout his career, Zhang has fostered a collaborative environment for students and postdoctoral fellows, enhancing their interaction with experts in various fields including biochemistry, cell biology, and structural biology.

Research Interests