Lufang Zhou

Dr. Zhou earned his Ph.D. degree in Biomedical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University, followed by a post-doctoral training in Dr. Brian O’Rourke's laboratory at the Johns Hopkins University. His research lies at the intersection of bioengineering, biology, and medicine, with a primary focus on developing novel mitochondrial-targeted therapies. Specifically, his laboratory utilizes genetic animal models and advanced techniques to explore the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathophysiology of human diseases, translating these findings into innovative therapeutic strategies aiming at restoring mitochondrial function.

Recently, he has developed exciting new optogenetic technologies that, for the first time, allow for dynamic, cell-type-specific control of mitochondrial function both in vitro and in live animals. His laboratory is leveraging this cutting-edge technology to investigate how mitochondrial dysfunction drives the progression of heart failure and to develop novel mitochondrial-targeted gene therapies for treating triple-negative breast cancer.