Joanne Zhongyan Zhang M.D., PhD

Position: Director of Micro and Biology

Joanne Zhongyan Zhang is the Director of Micro and Biology at Clene. Dr. Zhang has spent more than 20 years in medical research and is an experienced leader in quality control microbiology laboratory and scientific research in biology. Dr. Zhang helped design, and personally executed the initial and validated Cuprizone Studies of Clene’s asset, CNM Au8, suggesting that Au8 may enhance remyelination in MS. Dr. Zhang designed and directed the ALS pilot study proving that Au8 improved the motor coordination in congenic ALS SOD1 G93A mouse model. Both MS and ALS are now in Clinical Trial Phase II. Dr. Zhang brings to Clene both clinical experience and a successful medical research background. She spent over six years working as an attending physician and chief physician at Tianjin First Central Hospital. Dr. Zhang was a postdoctoral fellow in Cell Biology at Johns Hopkins University; she worked as research associate in the Cardiology Department at Duke University; and prior to Duke was awarded Special Fellow status by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science while working at Osaka University. Dr. Zhang was awarded her medical degree from Tianjin Medical University and received her PhD from the Cardiology Division of Internal Medicine and Molecular Science at Osaka University.