Hongyan Zou

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR Neurosurgery
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR Neuroscience

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hongyan.zou@mountsinai.org

Specialty

Certifications

Neurological Surgery

Clinical Focus

Research Topics

Training Areas

Education

MD, Stanford University School of Medicine
PhD, Cornell University and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Institute
Neurobiology
Internship, General Surgery
Stanford University Hospital
Residency, Neurosurgery
Stanford University Hospital

Biography

Laboratory of Axon Growth and Neuronal Regeneration

Read Dr. Zou's profile in Chinese

Awards

2011 -
Craig H. Neilsen Foundation Award
2010 -
Young Clinician Investigator Award for Young Faculty
NREF (Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation) of the AANS (American Association of Neurological Surgeons)
2010 - 2013
Transcriptional regulation of the intrinsic axon growth capacity during development
Whitehall Foundation
2010 -
Dr. Harold and Golden Lamport Research Award
2007 -
Congress of Neurological Surgeons Resident Award
2006 -
NRSA/NINDS Postdoctoral Fellowship
2000 -
Baxter Foundation Grant
1996 -
Frank Lappin Horsfall Jr. Fellowship
1996 -
Julian R. Rachele Prize

Research

Specific Research Interests:
-Molecular mechanisms of axonal growth;
-Transcription factors regulating axonal regeneration;
-Neural stem cell proliferation, differentiation and implication in CNS tumorigenesis.

Our lab is interested in understanding how neurons are born, how they extend axons, and how they regenerate or fail to regenerate after injury. Brain and spinal cord injuries account for billions of dollars each year in medical costs. Understanding classic and identifying novel signaling pathways that promote neurogenesis and axonogenesis will provide new molecular targets towards effective CNS regeneration. Similar mechanisms that regulate the neural stem cell (NSC) niche also regulate tumor stem cells (TSCs). Developing strategies to shrink the TSC pool by inhibiting proliferation, inducing apoptosis or promoting differentiation will have great impact on treating primary brain tumor, which is one of the leading causes of death in children and young adults.

Publications

Zou H, Ho C, Wong K, Tessier-Lavigne M. Axotomy-induced Smad1 Activation Promotes Axonal Growth in Adult Sensory Neurons. Journal of Neuroscience 2009; 29(22): 7116-7123.

Varley JE, McPherson CE, Zou H, Niswander L, Maxwell GD. Expression of a constitutively active type I BMP receptor using a retroviral vector promotes the development of adrenergic cells in neural crest cultures. Developmental Biology 1998 Apr 1; 196(1): 107-118.

Zou H, Wieser R, Massague J, Niswander L. Distinct roles of type I bone morphogenetic protein receptors in the formation and differentiation of cartilage. Genes & Development 1997 Sep 1; 11(17): 2191-2203.

Zou H, Choe KM, Lu Y, Massague J, Niswander L. BMP signaling and vertebrate limb development. Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology 1997; 62: 269-272.

Zou H, Niswander L. Requirement for BMP signaling in interdigital apoptosis and scale formation. Science 1996 May 3; 272: 738-741.

Parikh P, Hao Y, Hosseinkhani M, Patil SB, Huntley GW, Tessier-Lavigne M, Zou H. PNAS Plus: Regeneration of axons in injured spinal cord by activation of bone morphogenetic protein/Smad1 signaling pathway in adult neurons. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2011 Apr;.

Industry Relationships

Physicians and scientists on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai often interact with pharmaceutical, device and biotechnology companies to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their relationships with such companies.

Dr. Zou did not report having any of the following types of financial relationships with industry during 2012 and/or 2013: consulting, scientific advisory board, industry-sponsored lectures, service on Board of Directors, participation on industry-sponsored committees, equity ownership valued at greater than 5% of a publicly traded company or any value in a privately held company. Please note that this information may differ from information posted on corporate sites due to timing or classification differences.

Mount Sinai's faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website at http://icahn.mssm.edu/about-us/services-and-resources/faculty-resources/handbooks-and-policies/faculty-handbook. Patients may wish to ask their physician about the activities they perform for companies.

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