Education:
1997 B.S. University of Science and Technology of China
2000 M.S. University of Science and Technology of China
2005 PhD Wayne State University
Clinical/Research Interests:
Mass spectrometry (MS) is a powerful analysis technique for sensitive detection and accurate identification of a broad range of molecules. With a rapid development in instrumentation and data analysis, MS has been used for currenting-edge studies of fundamental biological sciences and human diseases. We have developed novel MS techniques for microscale MS bioanalysis in multiple different major areas. (1) Single cell MS (SCMS): qualitative and quantitative analysis (e.g., lipids, antitumor drugs and their metabolites) inside of living single cells. (2) MS imaging (MSI): map the spatial distribution of compounds along with their relative abundances on biological tissue samples. (3) MS proteomics: label-free bottom-up proteomics studies of cells, tissues, and biofluids (e.g., blood, serum, and ascites). (4) 3D tumor models: use multicellular tumor spheroids for metabolomics, drug penetration, and drug uptake studies. (5) Advanced data analysis: using multivariate analysis, machine learning, and image fusion to analyze MS results.
Funding:
(1) DOD, CDMRP Ovarian Cancer Research, 4/2023 – 3/2027 (PI: Doris Benbrook, Partnering PI: Anthony Burgett, Co-I: Zhibo Yang; total award: $1,093,200 ($166,680 to Yang))
(2) NSF, 7/2023 – 6/2026 (PI: Zhibo Yang, Co-PI: Linda Atkinson; total award: $410,000 ($365,210 to Yang))
(3) NIH, 7/2023 – 6/2028 (Multiple PIs: Laura-Isobel & Zhibo Yang; Co-Is: Carolyn Ibberson & James Papin; total award: $2,607,600 ($1,447,000 to Yang))
(4) Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Award, 12/2023 – 11/2025 (Co-PIs: Laura-Isobel & Zhibo Yang; total award: $500,000 ($240,000 to Yang))
Select Honors and Accomplishments:
2025 Neal Lane Award for Excellence in Research in the Natural Sciences, University of Oklahoma
2023 Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Award
2017 Faculty Tribute Award, University of Oklahoma
2015 Outstanding Member of Chinese American Society for Mass Spectrometry
2014 ASMS (American Society for Mass Spectrometry) Research Award
Select Publications:
(1) Z. Peng, Y. Lan, S. L. Nimmo, R. Bui, D. M. Benbrook*, A. W. G. Burgett*, Z. Yang*, “Mass Spectrometry Quantification of Anticancer Drug Uptake in Single Multicellular Tumor Spheroids”, ACS Pharmacol. Transl. Sci., 2024, 7, 3011−3016.
(2) Z. Peng, N. Ahsan*, and Z. Yang*, “Proteomics Analysis of Interactions Between Drug-Resistant and Drug-Sensitive Cancer Cells: Comparative Studies of Monoculture and Coculture Cell Systems”, J. Proteome Res., 2024, 23, 2608-2618.
(3) X. Chen, Z. Peng, Z. Yang*, “Metabolomics Studies of Cell-Cell Interactions using Single Cell Mass Spectrometry Combined with Fluorescence Microscopy”, Chem. Sci., 2022, 13, 6687–6695.
(4) X. Tian, B. Xie, Z. Zou, Y. Jiao, L. Lin, C. Chen, C. Hsu, J. Peng*, Z. Yang*, “Multimodal Imaging of Amyloid Plaques: Fusion of the Single-probe Mass Spectrometry Image and Fluorescence Microscopy Image”, Anal. Chem. 2019, 91, 12882-12889.
(5) N. Pan, W. Rao, N. Kothapalli, R. Liu, A. Burgett*, Z. Yang*, “The Single-probe: A Miniaturized Multifunctional Device for Single Cell Mass Spectrometry Analysis”, Anal. Chem. 2014, 86, 9376–9380.
Link to full publication list:
Zhibo Yang - Google Scholar