Chunbo Zhang Assistant Professor of Biology
	B.S.:	Ningbo University
	Ph.D.:	University of Manitoba
	Office:	392 Life Sciences Building
	Phone:	312.567.3575
	e-mail:	zhangc@iit.edu

Professional Interests

We are neurobiology research lab. In our lab, we use animal models (transgenic mice and zebrafish) to study the development of the olfactory system and the structural and molecular mechanisms of olfactory sensation. Recent discoveries in the genetics and functions of the olfactory system show that sense of smell is extremely important for survival of a species. The olfactory system is also a good model system to study neural specification, patterning and regeneration. Our current research focus is to understand how gap junctions are involved in neural specification and organization throughout development and what is the molecular mechanisms of gap junctions in modulating olfactory sensitivity. A side project we are developing is to study the connection between gap junction expression and cancer causation to explore possible cancer prevention pathways. We utilize a variety of research approaches including molecular biology, electrophysiology, optical imaging, immunohistochemistry and biochemistry to address these questions.

Representative Publications

• Salcedo E, Zhang C, Kronberg E and Restrepo D. 2005. Analysis of training-induced changes in ethyl acetate odor maps using a new computational tool to map the glomerular layer of the olfactory bulb. Chem. Senses 30: 615-626
  
  
• Zhang C and Restrepo D. 2003. Heterogeneous expression of connexin 36 in the olfactory epithelium and glomerular layer of the olfactory bulb. J. Comp. Neurol. 459:426-439.
  
  
• Zhang C and Restrepo D. 2002. Expression of connexin 45 in the olfactory system. Brain Res. 929:37-47.
  
  
• Zhang C, Brown SB and Hara TJ. 2001. Biochemical and physiological evidence that bile acids produced and released by lake char (Salvelinus namaycush) function as chemical signals. J. Comp. Physiol. B 171:161-171
  
  
• Zhang C, Finger TE and Restrepo D. 2000. Mature olfactory receptor neurons express connexin 43. J. Comp. Neurol. 426:1-12.
  
  

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