Qiaojuan Zhang, Ph.D.

Professional Background

Dr. Qiaojuan Zhang is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She earned her bachelor's degree in clinical medicine in China and her PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

Before joining KUMC, Dr. Zhang completed her postdoctoral training in the Department of Neurology at Duke University, where she investigated the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying chronic pain and itch, with a particular focus on ion channels and sensory neuron signaling. She subsequently served as a Senior Research Scientist at Dignify Therapeutics, where she was the Principal Investigator of an NIH/NIA-funded SBIR Phase I project developing novel therapeutic approaches for urinary incontinence and overactive bladder in older adults.

Her research experience spans basic neuroscience, pharmacology, drug discovery, and translational research. She has extensive expertise in molecular and cellular biology, electrophysiology, calcium imaging, preclinical animal models, and behavioral assessments. Her work has contributed to multiple peer-reviewed publications and federally funded research projects. Her overarching research goal is to bridge fundamental discoveries in ion channel biology and cellular signaling with the development of innovative therapeutic strategies for chronic and age-related diseases.

• PhD, Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Maryland
• BS, Clinical Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei
• Other, Bladder and bowel function, Dignify Therapeutics, Durham, NC
• Post Doctoral Fellowship, Pain and Itch , Duke University, Durham, NC

• Zhang Qiaojuan, Su Shanchun, Liang Pengfei, Chen Yun, Kim Minseok, Baldi Robert, Wang Peng, Dias FabianaC., Jang Minji, Gonzalez Torres MariaA., Lim Peifeng, Moreira RogerW.F., Chun Jerold, Guilak Farshid, Yang Huanghe, Liedtke Wolfgang, Nackley Andrea, Chen Yong. 2026. LPA/LPAR signaling drives temporomandibular disorders–like pain through regulating the expression and sensitization of PIEZO2. Science Advances, 12 (30). https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aed1854
• Du Kuo, Umbaugh DavidS., Wang Liuyang, Jun JiHye, Dutta RajeshK., Oh SehHoon, Ren Niansheng, Zhang Qiaojuan, Ko DennisC., Ferreira Ana, Hill Jon, Gao Guannan, Pullen StevenS., Jain Vaibhav, Gregory Simon, Abdelmalek ManalF., Diehl AnnaMae. 2025. Author Correction: Targeting senescent hepatocytes for treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and multi-organ dysfunction. Nature Communications, 16 (1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59084-8
• Zhang Qiaojuan, Jang Minji, Dias FabianaC., Zeng Qian, Wang Peng, Tai Heiley, Chattha Eman, Zhang JenniferY., Lim ReginaS.P., Liedtke Wolfgang, Chen Yong. 2025. Neuronal Mechanisms of Psoriatic Itch: Role of IL-17R/ERK/TRPV4 Signaling Pathway. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 145 (11), 2753-2762.e3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2025.03.037
• Wang Peng, Zhang Qiaojuan, Dias FabianaC., Suttle Abbie, Dong Xinzhong, Chen Yong. 2023. TMEM100, a regulator of TRPV1-TRPA1 interaction, contributes to temporomandibular disorder pain. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2023.1160206
• Zhang Qiaojuan, Dias Fabiana, Fang Quan, Henry Gwendolyn, Wang Zilong, Suttle Abbie, Chen Yong. 2022. Involvement of Sensory Neurone-TRPV4 in Acute and Chronic Itch Behaviours. Acta Dermato-Venereologica, 102, adv00651. https://doi.org/10.2340/actadv.v102.1621
• Suttle Abbie, Wang Peng, Dias FabianaC., Zhang Qiaojuan, Luo Yuhui, Simmons Lauren, Bortsov Andrey, Tchivileva InnaE., Nackley AndreaG., Chen Yong. 2023. Sensory Neuron-TRPV4 Modulates Temporomandibular Disorder Pain Via CGRP in Mice. The Journal of Pain, 24 (5), 782-795. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2022.12.001
• Zhang Qiaojuan, Henry Gwendolyn, Chen Yong. 2021. Emerging Role of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) Ion Channel in Acute and Chronic Itch. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22 (14), 7591. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22147591
• Lee Whasil, Nims RobertJ., Savadipour Alireza, Zhang Qiaojuan, Leddy HollyA., Liu Fang, McNulty AmyL., Chen Yong, Guilak Farshid, Liedtke WolfgangB.. 2021. Inflammatory signaling sensitizes Piezo1 mechanotransduction in articular chondrocytes as a pathogenic feed-forward mechanism in osteoarthritis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118 (13). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2001611118
• Luo Yuhui, Suttle Abbie, Zhang Qiaojuan, Wang Peng, Chen Yong. 2021. Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) Ion Channels in Orofacial Pain. Molecular Neurobiology, 58 (6), 2836-2850. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-021-02284-2
• Zhang Qiaojuan, Martin-Caraballo Miguel, Hsia S.Victor, Sandri-Goldin RozanneM.. 2020. Modulation of Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Activity in Human Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons by Herpesvirus Quiescent Infection. Journal of Virology, 94 (3). https://doi.org/10.1128/jvi.01823-19