Jiangbing Zhou, a pioneer in the development of the stimuli responsive traceless engineering
platform (STEP) technology which has the potential to revolutionize genome editing, was recently appointed the Nixdorff-German Professor of Neurosurgery, effective immediately. The appointment is for a term of 10 years, renewable by the dean of the Yale School of Medicine (YSM).
Zhou, who joined the Yale faculty in 2011 after completing his postdoctoral training in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science, also has a secondary appointment in biomedical engineering.
The STEP technology, a first-of-its-kind nonviral platform that enables brain wide genome editing through both intracerebroventricular and intravenous administration, has the potential to treat a variety of neurodevelopment developmental disorders. Its potential been recognized through the awarding of a $40 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support its clinical translation.
In addition to STEP, Zhou has developed a suite of other innovative technologies that further his contributions to gene therapy and drug delivery. His work on poly(amine-co-ester) terpolymers for nucleic acid delivery, autoantibody platforms for cancer treatment and gene therapy, and large amino acid-mimicking carbon quantum dots for targeted cancer drug delivery, exemplifies his translational approach. Many of these technologies have been licensed by industry partners.
A prolific researcher, his papers have been published in high impact journals such as Nature. Zhou also currently holds leadership positions as PI or MPI on projects totaling several million dollars in research funding, including substantial support from the NIH, and has secured 18 active grants.
An active and respected leader in the scientific community, Zhou has received frequent invitations to speak at prestigious institutions and international conferences. He regularly serves on review panels for funding agencies and scientific journals. His many awards, including consecutive Yale Faculty Innovation Awards, reflect his dedication to innovation and excellence in academia. He has also been elected to numerous respected organizations in the scientific community, including American Institute for Medical Biological Engineering, the American Heart Association, and the Royal Society of Chemistry.
He earned his B.E. in chemical engineering from East China University of Science and Technology in Shanghai, his M.S. in biochemistry and molecular biology from Tsinghua University in Beijing, and his Ph.D. in molecular microbiology and immunology from Johns Hopkins University.
