Haining Zhu

The Zhu laboratory studies RNA binding proteins and RNA metabolism including protein translation and stress granules under physiological and pathological conditions. We are also interested in protein phase separation and aggregation in vitro and in vivo and their relevance in human diseases. We strive to better understand the molecular mechanisms for neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and other diseases such as cancer. In addition, we are interested in therapeutic development targeting the molecules identified in the mechanistic studies.

Areas of Research:

Neurodegenerative diseases
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD)
RNA binding proteins in neurodegenerative diseases
Regulation of RNA metabolism and protein translation in neurodegenerative diseases
Stress granules in neurodegenerative diseases and other human health conditions
Protein homeostasis, misfolding, aggregation and turnover
Mass spectrometry, proteomics and functional genomics
Protein chemistry, biophysics, structure and function relationship

Other Affiliations:

Member, University of Arizona Cancer Center
Member, Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center
Member, Neuroscience GIDP
Member, Cancer Biology GIDP

Post Graduate Training:

Postdoctoral Training, Proteomics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, 2002