Dr. Yong Zhang graduated from Tsinghua University in 2003 with PhD degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology. He completed his postdoctoral training in the Pharmacology Department of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in 2008 and worked as a research scientist in the same department until 2013. His research was focused on the drug development for cancer and metabolic diseases. He has published more than 20 peer reviewed scientific articles, including articles published in PNAS (first author) and Nature Medicine (second author).

Dr. Zhang is currently a patent agent registered to practice before the USPTO. His practice focuses on patentability evaluation, patent application, infringement analysis, and market development. He often assists clients in developing the strategies of internal patent portfolios and assessing third-party IP collaborations. He has extensive experience in IP protection and technology transfer for biomedical inventions including new drugs, diagnostic methods, therapeutic approaches, medical devices, biotechnology innovation, biomedical research tools, and treatment planning methods, etc.

Certificate
Patent Agent registered to practice before the USPTO

Memberships
American Intellectual Property Law Association
New York Academy of Science

Professional Experience
2008~ 2013  University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Research Specialist
2004~ 2008 University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Postdoctoral Fellow
2000~ 2003 Tsinghua University, Beijing, P.R. China Doctoral student

Awards
Award for Outstanding Research, 2010
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey,
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Department of Pharmacology
Gallo Award for Outstanding Cancer Research, 2009
Cancer Institute of New Jersey and New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research
N. Ronald Morris Award for Excellent Research, 2008
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey,
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Department of Pharmacology
Young Investigator Award, 2006
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey,
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Department of Pharmacology
Young Investigator Award, 2005
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey,
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Department of Pharmacology

Publications
1. Hanlin Tao, Yong Zhang, et al. Niclosamide ethanolamine improves blood glycemic control and reduces hepatic steatosis in mice Pharmacological Research (2014) Nature Medicine. 20(11): 1263–1269
2. Yong Zhang et al. Autophagy and adipose tissue biology. Pharmacological Research (2012) 66: 505-512 (Invited review)
3. Scott Goldman, Yong Zhang, et al. Autophagic degradation of mitochondria in white adipose tissue differentiation. Antioxidants & Redox Signaling (2011) 14(10): 1971- 1978 (Invited review)
4. Yong Zhang, et al. Autophagy and adipogenesis: implications in obesity and type II diabetes. Autophagy (2010) 6(1): 179-181. (Co- first author)
5. Scott Goldman, Robert Taylor R, Yong Zhang, et al. Autophagy and the degradation of mitochondria. Mitochondrion (2010) 10(4): 309-315
6. Yong Zhang et al. Adipose-specific deletion of autophagy-related gene 7 (atg7) in mice reveals a role in adipogenesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. (2009) 106(47):19860- 1986. (Cover story)
7. Yong Zhang et al. Targeted deletion of autophagy-related 5 (atg5) impairs adipogenesis in a cellular model and in mice. Autophagy (2009) 5(8): 1118-1130. (Co-first author)
8. Yong Zhang, et al. The role of autophagy in mitochondria maintenance: characterization of mitochondrial functions in autophagy- deficient S. cerevisiae strains. Autophagy (2007) 3(4): 337-346
9. Haiyan Zhang, Claude E. Monken, Yong Zhang, et al. Cellular autophagy machinery is not required for vaccinia virus replication and maturation. Autophagy (2006) 2(2): 91-95.
10. Li Ling, Liping Xie, Yong Zhang, et al. Cloning and analysis of the gene fragment of β-actin from Pinctada fucata. Marine Science (2006) 30(8): 64-70
11. Yong Zhang, et al. Molecular cloning and expression of a pearl oyster (Pinctada fucata) homologue of mammalian putative tumor suppressor QM. Marine Biotechnology (2004) 6 (1): 8-16
12. Suo Li, Liping Xie, Cen Zhang, Yong Zhang, et al. Cloning and expression of a pivotal calcium metabolism regulator: calmodulin involved in shell formation from pearl oyster (Pinctada fucata). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2004) 138: 235-243.
13. Yong Zhang, et al. Extraction and purification of water soluble matrix protein from nacre and its effect on CaCO3 crystallization. Marine Science (2004) 28(1): 33-42
14. Yong Zhang, et al. A novel matrix protein participating in the nacre framework formation of pearl oyster, Pinctada fucata. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2003) 135: 565-573.
15. Yong Zhang, et al. A novel ferritin subunit from pearl oyster (Pinctada fucata) that is involved in shell formation. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2003) 135: 43-54.
16. Tiemin Jiang, Yong Zhang, et al. Isolating and analyzing the gene fragments of 26S proteasome from Pinctada f ucata. Marine Science (2003) 27(4) 28-34
17. Lei Chen, Qiaoli Feng, Huiling Ji, Yong Zhang, et al. Immunohistochemical studies of GnRH and its receptor in gonad and digestive tract in Pinctada f ucata. J Fourth Mil Med Univ. (2003) 24: 2081-2083
18. Hongzhong Wang, Yong Zhang et al. Effects of genistein and daidzein on the cell growth, cell cycle, and differentiation of human and murine melanoma cells. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, (2002) 13: 421-426.
19. Yong Zhang, et al. Effects of genistein and daidzein on the proliferation, invasion, and migration and adhesion of melanoma cells. Tsinghua Science and Technology (2002) 7(4): 398-403.
20. Xuya Yu, Liping Xie, Yong Zhang, et al. Multiple suppressive effects of a protein from Caesalpinia minax on murine melanoma cells. Tsinghua Science and Technology (2002) 7(6): 641- 644.
21. Yong Zhang, Qiang Liu. The progress in artificial control system for gene expression. Chinese Science Bulletin (2000) 45(10): 865-870.

Conference Publications
1. Yong Zhang, et al. The role of autophagy in adipogenesis. The 2nd National Postdoc Appreciation Day Symposium (New Jersey, 2010)
2. Yong Zhang, et al. Targeted deletion of atg7 reveals a role of autophagy in adipogenesis and leads to resistance to obesity and diabetes. The 2010 Keystone Symposia Meeting - Adipose Tissue Biology (Keystone, Colorado, 2010) p83
3. Yong Zhang, et al. Autophagy defect impairs white adipogenesis in a cellular model and in mice. The 2009 Annual Retreat on Cancer Research in New Jersey (Piscataway, New Jersey, 2009) p40
4. Haiyan Zhang, Yong Zhang, et al. Autophagy defect increases chromosome instability under metabolic stress. The 2007 Annual Retreat on Cancer Research in New Jersey (Piscataway, New Jersey, 2007) p41
5. Yong Zhang, et al. Autophagy is required for mitochondria degradation and optimal mitochondrial function in S. cerevisiae. The 2006 Annual Retreat on Cancer Research in New Jersey (Princeton, New Jersey, 2006) p43
6. Yong Zhang, et al. Autophagy is required for normal mitochondrial turnover and Functions. 2005 Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research (Anaheim, California, 2005) p2699