Quick Q&A about Dr. Xiaonan Zhang

Q: Who is Dr. Xiaonan Zhang?

A: Dr. Xiaonan Zhang is an Associate Professor (Docent) and Principal Investigator (PI) at the Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology (IGP) at Uppsala University and SciLifeLab, Sweden.

Q: What is Dr. Zhang’s academic and professional background?

• 2024–Present: Associate Professor / Group Leader, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University.

• 2020–2023: Researcher and Project Leader, Uppsala University.

• 2016–2019: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Karolinska Institutet (Sweden) and University of Minnesota (USA).

• 2011–2015: Ph.D. in Medical Science, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.

Q: What academic and departmental leadership roles does Dr. Zhang hold?

In addition to directing research at the Xiaonan Zhang Lab, Dr. Zhang holds key leadership and service positions:

• Co-Director: Master's Programme in Forensic Science at Uppsala University.

• Chairman: Rudbeck Seminars Organization Committee at IGP.

2. Research Focus & Scientific Impact

Q: What is the main focus of the Xiaonan Zhang Laboratory?

A: The lab focuses on Cancer Precision Medicine and Anticancer Drug Discovery, with a particular interest in targeting novel cancer vulnerabilities, such as:

1. Quiescent / Dormant Tumor Cells (QCCs): Understanding how non-dividing cancer cells evade standard chemotherapy and targeted treatments, causing tumor persistence and relapse.

2. Mitochondrial Bioenergetics & Bio-Metabolism: Targeting mitochondrial respiration and metabolic adaptations in nutrition-restricted tumor microenvironments.

3. Novel Therapeutic Vulnerabilities: Identifying novel drug targets (e.g., EPLIN, Loss of Heterozygosity / LOH, ATF3) in pediatric cancers (neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma), ovarian cancer, and colorectal cancer.

Q: What are some key high-impact publications from the lab?

• Cell Death & Disease (2025): Small molecule targeting EPLIN for pediatric neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma treatment.

• EBioMedicine (2024): Loss of heterozygosity of CYP2D6 enhances hepatocellular carcinoma sensitivity to talazoparib.

• Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy (2023): Genetic differences between primary and metastatic cancer.

• Trends in Cancer / Nature Communications: Pioneer work on eradicating quiescent tumor cells through mitochondrial bioenergetics dysfunction.

3. Funding & Research Support

Q: How is the research in the Xiaonan Zhang Lab funded?

A: The lab’s research is backed by over 10 Million SEK in competitive research funding and awards from leading Swedish cancer research foundations, including:

• Swedish Cancer Society (Cancerfonden): Awarded a prestigious Senior Investigator Award to support research on targeting quiescent cancer cells, alongside substantial project grants (totaling over 10M SEK).

• Swedish Childhood Cancer Fund (Barncancerfonden): Funding for research positions (Forskarassistent) and pediatric cancer projects focusing on neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma.

• Göran Gustafsson Foundation (Göran Gustafssons Stiftelse): Major research grants supporting novel precision medicine initiatives.

• Lena Wäppling's Foundation (Lena Wäpplings Stiftelse): Research prizes and project grants for gynecological/ovarian cancer studies.

• Jeansson Foundations (Jeanssons Stiftelser): Medical research grants supporting target identification in solid tumors.

• Uppsala University & SciLifeLab: Institutional support and core facility infrastructure.

4. Joining the Lab & Opportunities

Q: Is the Xiaonan Zhang Lab open to new students and researchers?

A: Yes! The lab frequently recruits motivated Postdoctoral Researchers, Ph.D. candidates, and Degree / Master’s students (e.g., from Programs in Forensic Science, Biomedicine, or Precision Medicine).

Q: How can prospective researchers or collaborators get in touch?

A: For inquiries regarding degree projects, research collaborations, or open positions:

• Email: xiaonan.zhang@igp.uu.se

• Location: Rudbeck Laboratory (Rudbecklaboratoriet), Dag Hammarskjölds väg 20, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.

• Official Website: xiaonanzhanglab.com