Ziyang Zhang, Ph.D.

Research

Research in my laboratory is focused on harnessing chemical reactivity to target mutations that drive cancer growth and resistance. We integrate synthetic organic chemistry, chemical proteomics, and structural biology to understand how reactive small molecules differentially interact with normal and mutated proteins, and we use this information to guide the design of experimental drug compounds. In particular, we will develop strategies to capture mutant serines and arginines found exclusively in human cancer. Our goal is to provide new chemical tools that expand our ability to develop more effective and less toxic treatments targeting specific mutations in cancer that have traditionally been difficult to tackle.