Research Areas
Area 1: Drug ADME studies and PBPK modeling
Translational research by utilizing in vitro, in vivo and in silico approaches to evaluate drug safety and efficacy and support drug development in the human. His laboratory conducts preclinical drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) studies and utilizes pharmacokinetic (PK) modeling tools to build PK, pharmacokinetic /pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) and physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models to optimize drug dosage regimen and assess drug safety.
Project 1:
Develop in vitro assays and PBPK models to predict drug transfer into human milk during breastfeeding to assess drug safety and minimize risk to infants during lactation
Project 2:
Assess the e-cigarette smoke exposure to lung and establish dose-response relationship.
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Area 2: Gut microbiome, inflammation and colorectal cancer
Study the interaction of broccoli sprout glucosinolates and isothiocyanates with gut microbiota to treat gastrointestinal tract inflammation and colorectal cancer.
Grants:
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In Vitro Assessment of Chemical Mixture-induced Airway Inflammation in Healthy and Diseased Lungs. Zhang, T (Co-I). 09/28/2022-09/30/2025
NIH-NIDDK R15. Harnessing gut microbiota to reduce inflammation using broccoli-sprout diets in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) mouse models. Zhang (Co-I), 9/1/2022 – 8/31/2025.
NIH-NIGMS 1R16GM146679. Quantifying effects of comorbidities and genetics on cannabinoid exposure in the elderly. Zhang (Consultant). 8/1/2022 – 6/30/2026
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant R41. Targeted delivery of novel miRNA-based therapeutics for pneumonia-induced acute lung injury. Zhang (Consultant). 09/08/2022-08/31/2024
NIH R35. Novel Formulation Technology to Enhance Oral Absorption of Water-insoluble Drugs. Zhang (Co-I). 07/01/2022-06/30/2025).
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Predicting the Transfer of Breast Cancer Resistant Protein (BCRP) Substrates into Human Milk Using In Vitro to In Vivo Extrapolation (IVIVE). Zhang (PI), 09/28/2020-09/27/2023.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In Vitro Cell Permeation Model and Drug Classification for the Prediction of Drug Transfer into Human Milk. Zhang (PI), 08/16/2019-03/31/2022.
USDA/NIFA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Foundational Program Award 2018-67017-27520. Understanding the role of broccoli sprout bioactives and the gut microbiome in the suppression of colon tumorigenesis. Zhang (Co-I). 03/01/2018 – 02/28/2022.
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) New Investigator Award (NIA). Combination of Sulforaphane and Paclitaxel to Treat Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Zhang (PI), 2015-2016.
ZHANG LAB 