John Zhang, Ph.D.

Dr. John Zhang received his Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from the University of Missouri-Columbia and his Master of Science degree in Exercise Physiology from Springfield College, MA. He completed his post-doctoral training in the Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, at the School of Medicine at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

RESEARCH

My primary research interest is focused on myocardial remodeling following infarction. After myocardium infarction (MI), the heart undergoes extensive myocardial remodeling by accumulating fibrous tissue in both infarcted and noninfarcted myocardium, which distorts tissue structure, increases tissue stiffness, and accounts for cardiac dysfunction. I have been investigating factors (such as renin, angiotensin II, angiotensin converting enzyme, transforming growth factor ?1, and matrix metalloproteinase and its inhibitors) involved in post-MI myocardial remodeling. We have successfully established a post-MI exercise training animal model to investigate the effect of post-MI exercise training on myocardial remodeling. The ultimate goal of my research is to provide clinically relevant information regarding the pathophysiology of post-MI recovery through exercise training and the combination of pharmaceutical treatment and exercise training. My second area of research is studying the effect of exercise on lipid metabolism. It has been hypothesized that postprandial hypertriglyceridemic (PHTG) response plays an essential role in cardiovascular disease. We established a fat loading and exercise model to study the effect of exercise on PHTG and blood lipoprotein metabolism. We successfully investigated the effect of exercise timing, intensity, and duration on a fat-diet induced hyperlipidemia, lipoprotein activity, insulin resistance, and other variables related to blood lipids metabolism. My research is funded by the National Institute of Health, the American Heart Association, and the American College of Sports Medicine.