Zhu Lab

Shouan Zhu

Assistant Professor

Investigator of the Ohio Musculoskeletal & Neurological Institute

Dr. Zhu did his 1st phase of PhD training at Zhejiang University in China. His research was focused on studying how small GTPase Rac1 activation contributes to chondrocyte hypertrophy changes and OA development. He then moved to Johns Hopkin University to complete his 2nd phase of PhD training and a short-term postdoc training. There he discovered that at the early stages of OA development, osteoclasts in subchondral bone secreted axonal guidance cues to promote sensory innervation and OA pain. He then did his formal postdoc training in the Aging and Metabolism program at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. His research was focused on studying Sirt3 and its regulation of protein acetylation on metabolism and OA development. In his free time, he likes to play tennis and badminton with friends and read stories to his two kids.

Phone: 740-593-2406

Email: zhus1@ohio.edu

Address: Life Science Building 133, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio USA 45701

Huanhuan Liu

Research Assistant Professor

Dr. Liu completed her PhD in the Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine at Zhejiang University in China. Her research was to investigate the role of the transcription factor Mohawk (Mkx) in tendon development and the application of Mkx for tendon regeneration. Then she did her postdoc training at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. She primarily worked on a project to engineer a synthetic nanofiber-reinforced amniotic membrane for soft tissue repair. Then her family relocated to Oklahoma and she worked as the Research Assistant in the Department of Physiology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. She is now leading a project in the Zhu lab studying protein malonylation and chondrocyte metabolism in OA development.

Trent Davis

Medical Student

Trent is a second-year medical student at the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. He attended Baldwin Wallace University where he graduated with Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Chemistry. He was drawn to join the Zhu lab due to an interest in the relationship between chondrocyte metabolism and extracellular matrix composition. He currently is investigating the role of Growth-Hormone antagonists, such as the drug Pegvisomant, and Growth-Hormone receptor downregulation on the development of osteoarthritis. In his free time, he enjoys training and competing in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Anna Miller

HTC Scholar

Anna is a first-year undergraduate student at Ohio University. She is studying biological sciences in the Honors Tutorial College and aspires of attending medical school to work as a family medicine doctor with a focus on treatment using osteopathic manipulative medicine. She currently assists in Dr. Zhu’s study to determine how the loss of ACC1 in cartilage affects obesity induced cartilage degeneration and Osteoarthritis development. She is involved in Tri-Beta, AMSA, H.I.K.E. and Pre-SOMA. She also loves to watch soccer, exercise, and spend time with her cat and two dogs.