Dr. Shun Zhang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology (HUST). He graduated with a major in Preventive Medicine in 2009 and received his Ph.D. in 2014 from School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, HUST. As a Principal Investigator (PI), he is conducting several programs supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, China Postdoctoral Science Foundation and Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province of China. He has published over 15 original SCI papers and participated in compiling 1 monograph.

Research interests

Dr. Zhang’s research activities focus on the toxic effects of xenobiotics and their underlying molecular mechanisms. He is currently conducting several studies on the effects of chemicals classified as essential trace elements and endocrine disruptors on reproductive and neuronal health. Specific chemicals of interest include fluoride and persistent organic pollutants (i.e., brominated flame retardants). His work aims to elucidate the potential mechanisms of toxic action of these environmental pollutants by using animal and neuronal culture models, along with combined pharmacological and genetic approaches. The results of his study will help to provide novel ideas for prevention and control of the health hazards caused by these targeted environmental pollutants.

Education

2009/09-2014/06 Ph.D. of Medicine in Occupational and Environmental Health
Ministry of Education Key Lab for Environment and Health
School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, HUST
Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China

2004/09-2009/06 Bachelor of Medicine in Preventive Medicine

School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, HUST
Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China

Languages

Chinese, English

Work Experience

2017/11-present  Associate Professor

Department of Occupational and Environmental Health

School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, HUST
Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China

2014/07-2017/10  Lecturer

Department of Occupational and Environmental Health

School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, HUST
Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China

Present Active Research Funding

1. The role of imbalance of mitochondrial fusion/fission in PBDE-47-induced neurotoxicity. Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China. CNY 216,000. 2016-2018. PI.

2. Role of mitophagy in PBDE-47-induced neurotoxicity and resveratrol intervention. Supported by Special Financial Grant from the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation. CNY 150,000. 2016-2017. PI.

3. The role of SIRT1-regulated mitophagy in PBDE-47-induced neurotoxicity. Supported by General Financial Grant from the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation. CNY 80,000. 2015-2016. PI.

4. Role of mitochondrial fusion/fission disequilibrium in fluoride-elicited neurotoxicity. Supported by Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province of China. CNY 50,000. 2015-2016. PI.

5. Role of mitochondrial fusion and fission unbalance in PBDE-47-elicited neurotoxicity. CNY 50,000. 2015-2016. PI.

Publications in peer-reviewed journals (in English)

^# First author, *Corresponding author

1. Zhao Q, Niu Q, Chen J, Xia T, Zhou G, Li P, Dong L, Xu C, Tian Z, Luo C, Liu L, Zhang S*, Wang A*. Roles of mitochondrial fission inhibition in developmental fluoride neurotoxicity: mechanisms of action in vitro and associations with cognition in rats and children. Archives of Toxicology, 2019 Jan 18. doi: 10.1007/s00204-019-02390-0. [Epub ahead of print]

2. Zhou G, Yang L, Luo C, Liu H, Li P, Cui Y, Liu L, Yu X, Zeng Q, Chen J, Zhao Q, Dong L, Niu Q, Zhang S*, Wang A*. Low-to-moderate fluoride exposure, relative mitochondrial DNA levels, and dental fluorosis in Chinese children. Environment International, 2019, 127: 70-77.

3. Niu Q, Chen J, Xia T, Li P, Zhou G, Xu C, Zhao Q, Dong L, Zhang S*, Wang A*. Excessive ER stress and the resulting autophagic flux dysfunction contribute to fluoride-induced neurotoxicity. Environmental Pollution, 2018, 233: 889-899.

4. Yu X, Chen J, Li Y, Liu H, Hou C, Zeng Q, Cui Y, Zhao L, Li P, Zhou Z, Pang S, Tang S, Tian K, Zhao Q, Dong L, Xu C, Zhang X, Zhang S*, Liu L*, Wang A*. Threshold effects of moderately excessive fluoride exposure on children's health: A potential association between dental fluorosis and loss of excellent intelligence. Environment International, 2018, 118: 116-124.

5. Li P, Liu L, Zhou G, Tian Z, Luo C, Xia T, Chen J, Niu Q, Dong L, Zhao Q, Wang A*, Zhang S*. Perigestational exposure to low doses of PBDE-47 induces excessive ER stress, defective autophagy and the resultant apoptosis contributing to maternal thyroid toxicity. Science of the Total Environment, 2018, 645(15): 363-371.

6. Chen J, Niu Q, Xia T, Zhou G, Li P, Zhao Q, Xu C, Dong L, Zhang S*, Wang A*. ERK1/2-mediated disruption of BDNF–TrkB signaling causes synaptic impairment contributing to fluoride–induced developmental neurotoxicity. Toxicology, 2018, 410: 222-230.

7. Zhang S, Chen Y, Wu X, Gao H, Ma R, Jiang C, Kuang G, Zhao G, Xia T, Zhang X, Lei R, Zhang C, Li P, Xu C, Wang A*. The Pivotal Role of Ca²⁺ Homeostasis in PBDE-47-Induced Neuronal Apoptosis. Molecular Neurobiology, 2016, 53(10): 7078-7088.

8. Zhang S, Niu Q, Gao H, Ma R, Lei R, Zhang C, Xia T, Li P, Xu C, Wang C, Chen J, Dong L, Zhao Q, Wang A*. Excessive apoptosis and defective autophagy contribute to developmental testicular toxicity induced by fluoride. Environmental Pollution, 2016, 212: 97-104.

9. Zhang S^#, Zhang X^#, Liu H, Qu W, Guan Z, Zeng Q, Jiang C, Gao H, Zhang C, Lei R, Xia T, Wang Z, Yang L, Chen Y, Wu X, Cui Y, Yu L, Wang A*. Modifying Effect of COMT Gene Polymorphism and a Predictive Role for Proteomics Analysis in Children's Intelligence in Endemic Fluorosis Area in Tianjin, China. Toxicological Sciences, 2015, 144(2): 238-245.

10. Jiang C^#, Zhang S^#, Liu H, Guan Z, Zeng Q, Zhang C, Lei R, Xia T, Wang Z, Yang L, Chen Y, Wu X, Zhang X, Cui Y, Yu L, Wang A*. Low Glucose Utilization and Neurodegenerative Changes Caused by Sodium Fluoride Exposure in Rat’s Developmental Brain. Neuromolecular Medicine, 2014, 16(1): 94-105.

11. Zhang S^#, Jiang C^#, Liu H, Guan Z, Zeng Q, Zhang C, Lei R, Xia T, Gao H, Yang L, Chen Y, Wu X, Zhang X, Cui Y, Yu L, Wang Z, Wang A*. Fluoride-elicited developmental testicular toxicity in rats: Roles of endoplasmic reticulum stress and inflammatory response. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 2013, 271(2): 206-215.

12. Zhang S^#, Kuang G^#, Zhao G, Wu X, Zhang C, Lei R, Xia T, Chen J, Wang Z, Ma R, Li B, Yang L, Wang A*. Involvement of the mitochondrial p53 pathway in PBDE-47-induced SH-SY5Y cells apoptosis and its underlying activation mechanism. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2013, 62: 699-706.

13. Jiang C^#, Zhang S^#, Liu H, Zeng Q, Xia T, Chen Y, Kuang G, Zhao G, Wu X, Zhang X, Wang A*. The role of the IRE1 pathway in PBDE-47-induced toxicity in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells in vitro. Toxicology Letters, 2012, 211(3): 325-333.