Associate Professor from Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
Dr. Yana Zhang is an accomplished academic and researcher in the field of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, currently serving as an Associate Professor at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. She holds a Ph.D. from Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China, and has completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Northwestern University, USA. With over a decade of research and clinical experience, Dr. Zhang has established herself as a leading figure in allergy and airway inflammation research. Since joining Sun Yat-sen University through the prestigious “Hundred Talents Program” in 2020, she has been spearheading multiple high-impact research projects. She has published more than 40 peer-reviewed articles in journals such as Nature Immunology, J Allergy Clin Immunol, J Exp Med, and Am J Respir Crit Care Med, many as first or corresponding author. Her research focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying allergic inflammation and chronic rhinosinusitis. Dr. Zhang plays influential roles in several national academic and medical committees and is a regular reviewer for high-impact journals and research foundations. Her work is recognized for its translational value, aiming to improve treatment outcomes for patients with allergic diseases and ENT disorders.
Professional Profile
Education
Dr. Yana Zhang pursued her higher education in medicine and specialized in Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. She earned her Ph.D. from Tongji Medical College at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in 2014, one of China’s most respected institutions in medical research. Her doctoral work focused on immunological mechanisms and inflammatory processes in chronic rhinosinusitis and other airway-related disorders, laying the groundwork for her later research. She subsequently enhanced her academic portfolio by undertaking postdoctoral training at Northwestern University in the United States from 2016 to 2020. This international experience enabled her to refine her research methods and establish collaborations with world-renowned immunologists and clinical scientists. Her training at Northwestern offered her exposure to advanced biomedical research techniques and allowed her to integrate global best practices into her work. This comprehensive academic background has provided her with a solid foundation to pursue advanced research in translational medicine, particularly in immune-mediated diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Her education reflects a blend of rigorous Chinese medical training and cutting-edge international research exposure, positioning her as a global scholar with a deep understanding of both clinical and experimental approaches.
Professional Experience
Dr. Zhang began her professional academic career after completing her Ph.D. in 2014. Following this, she undertook a postdoctoral fellowship at Northwestern University in the United States from 2016 to 2020, where she worked on translational research projects focused on immunoregulation and inflammatory diseases. This experience significantly expanded her research expertise and network. In 2020, she returned to China to join the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University as an Associate Professor through the university’s highly competitive “Hundred Talents Program.” In this role, she leads a dynamic research team working on inflammatory mechanisms in chronic rhinosinusitis and allergy-related comorbidities. Dr. Zhang also holds several influential academic appointments, including expert reviewer roles for the Ministry of Education and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. She serves on various national committees under the Chinese Medical Association and other professional bodies, contributing to policy, research direction, and academic evaluations. She also plays a key role in mentoring graduate students and guiding young researchers. Her multidisciplinary experience bridges clinical practice and molecular science, allowing her to translate laboratory findings into potential therapies for ENT and allergic conditions.
Research Interests
Dr. Yana Zhang’s research centers on immunological mechanisms and therapeutic strategies targeting eosinophilic inflammation and allergic airway diseases. Her work addresses chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), a debilitating and recurring inflammatory disorder, and aims to unravel the molecular underpinnings of steroid resistance and epithelial barrier dysfunction. She has explored novel pathways involving fatty acids, IL-17A, vitamin D, and extracellular vesicles in allergic disease models. Her recent studies investigate the roles of epithelium-derived chemokines, Charcot-Leyden crystals, and immune checkpoints in modulating inflammation and tissue remodeling. Another central focus of her research is the interaction between environmental factors, such as air pollution, and the immunopathology of rhinitis and asthma. Dr. Zhang’s goal is to translate her laboratory findings into effective therapeutic strategies that can be applied in clinical settings. Her research also spans the field of immune metabolism, including succinate signaling and its effect on regulatory T cells, with implications for systemic autoimmune and allergic diseases. Her interdisciplinary work combines molecular biology, clinical otorhinolaryngology, and immunotherapy to address urgent healthcare challenges in allergy and airway inflammation.
Research Skills
Dr. Zhang is equipped with a comprehensive skill set in both clinical and molecular research. Her expertise includes cellular immunology, molecular biology, transcriptomics, histopathology, and translational medicine. She is proficient in designing and conducting in vivo and in vitro models of airway inflammation, including murine models of eosinophilic rhinosinusitis. She has extensive experience in flow cytometry, ELISA, immunohistochemistry, RNA sequencing, confocal microscopy, and CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technologies. Her postdoctoral training at Northwestern University further enhanced her proficiency in advanced immunological assays, including Treg stability assays, metabolite analysis, and cell differentiation studies. Dr. Zhang is skilled in developing predictive models and statistical algorithms to interpret clinical outcomes and endotypes in allergic patients. Additionally, she collaborates with bioinformatics experts to analyze large datasets, facilitating biomarker discovery and patient stratification. Her capacity to bridge bench-side experimentation with clinical relevance makes her a leader in translational allergy research. Dr. Zhang’s multidisciplinary research environment allows her to apply both clinical acumen and lab-based expertise to uncover new therapeutic avenues in chronic inflammatory diseases.
Awards and Honors
Dr. Yana Zhang has received multiple accolades that reflect her scholarly excellence and leadership in biomedical research. Most notably, she was selected as a Young Top Talent under the Guangdong “Pearl River Talent Program” in 2022, a prestigious recognition for emerging scientific leaders in China. In 2020, she was recruited through the “Hundred Talents Program” at Sun Yat-sen University, a national initiative to attract top researchers to Chinese academic institutions. These honors underscore her scientific impact and potential to contribute to national innovation goals. In addition to these major recognitions, Dr. Zhang has been invited to serve as a grant reviewer for the National Natural Science Foundation of China, a testament to her credibility and leadership in the scientific community. She is also an expert evaluator for doctoral dissertations under the Ministry of Education. Her editorial and peer-review responsibilities for internationally reputed journals further reflect her standing in the academic field. Collectively, these awards and responsibilities highlight her commitment to advancing research, mentoring junior scientists, and shaping the future of otorhinolaryngology and immunology in China and beyond.
Conclusion
Dr. Yana Zhang stands out as an exceptional researcher and academic whose work has had a profound impact on the field of immunology and otorhinolaryngology. Her career reflects a harmonious blend of rigorous academic training, international experience, and a deep commitment to translational medicine. Through cutting-edge research on eosinophilic inflammation and allergic diseases, she has significantly advanced our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying chronic airway disorders. Her contributions are well-documented through a robust portfolio of publications in top-tier scientific journals and her leadership in multiple national research projects. Furthermore, her active involvement in academic societies and committees showcases her dedication to the scientific community. Dr. Zhang’s efforts not only enhance clinical outcomes for patients but also influence national policy and research directions. Her vision of integrating basic research with clinical application makes her a key figure in developing personalized treatments for allergy and ENT disorders. With continued support and collaboration, Dr. Zhang is poised to make even greater strides in medical science and to serve as a role model for future researchers in China and globally.
Publications Top Notes
- Vitamin D impedes eosinophil chemotaxis via inhibiting glycolysis‑induced CCL26 expression in eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps
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Year: 2025
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Authors: Weiqiang Huang, Yana Zhang, Yue Li, Junming Ma, Xia Li, Yanjie Jiang, Jianqi Wang, Haotian Wu, Xiaohong Chen, Zizhen Huang, Xifu Wu, Xiaoping Lai, Donglin Li, Lihong Chang, Gehua Zhang
2. Succinate drives gut inflammation by promoting FOXP3 degradation through a molecular switch
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Year: 2025
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Authors: Hai Wang, Danqing Hu, Yang Cheng, Qiong Gao, Kun Liu, Nikita L. Mani, Amy Y. Tang, Radhika Iyer, Beixue Gao, Leyu Sun, Qi Zhou, Qin Yu, Samuel E. Weinberg, Xiaoyu Zhang, Yingzi Cong, Parambir S. Dulai, Yana Zhang, Zheng Liu, Deyu Fang