Current member
Principal Investigator
Tianpeng Zhang, PhD
Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor
Department of Radiation Oncology
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics
University of Virginia School of Medicine
Member of UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center
Phone: 434-243-1398
Email: zjv8au@virginia.edu
Twitter/X: @zhtianp2
Tianpeng was born and raised in Hubei Province, China. Dr. Zhang received his B.A. (2012) and Ph.D. (2017) from the Sun Yat-Sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, China. In Dr. Yong Zhao's lab, he developed his interest in aging and carcinogenesis. He established novel methodologies to study telomere maintenance mechanisms, including resolution of telomere replication stress, regulation of telomere damage responses, and driving forces of Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) mechanisms. In 2017, Tianpeng joined Dr. Roger Greenberg's lab at the School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania as a Postdoctoral Researcher. He continued his research interest in understanding the fundamental question of how ALT is initiated and maintained. In 2024, after the PhD and Postdoctoral training, Tianpeng established his independent research group at the Department of Radiation Oncology and Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia School of Medicine. Tianpeng is dedicated to studying genome integrity maintenance within repetitive sequences, and revealing their associated etiology and therapeutic vulnerabilities. Tianpeng received the Forbeck Scholar for William Guy Forbeck Research Foundation in 2019; AFCRI Funded Postdoctoral Fellowship from the University of Pennsylvania in 2022; and Trailblazers of Tomorrow National Postdoctoral Scholars from the University of Texas at Austin in 2024.
Postdoctoral Researcher
Dr. Chan is from Hong Kong. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Forensic Science from Guangdong Medical University. In June 2024, he received his M.D. from Sun Yat-Sen University. His doctoral research focused on Oxaliplatin resistance in colorectal cancer (CRCs) when he was working in Dr. Xingding Zhang's lab. Dr. Chan demonstrated that the post-translational modification of proteins influenced CRC cell responsiveness to Oxaliplatin, particularly affecting the transcription factors involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and glutamine-metabolizing enzymes. In October 2024, Dr. Chan joins Dr. Tianpeng Zhang’s lab at the Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, and focuses on epigenetic regulation of Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres.
Research Specialist
Brian is from Compton, California. He graduated from California State University, Long Beach in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry, working under the supervision of Dr. Paul Buonora. His study was focused on reducing the competition between hydroacylation and hydroalkylation in the organo-initiated photo-hydroacylation of alkenes. Later that year, he joined the Department of Chemistry at the University of Virginia, where he worked under the supervision of Dr. Marcos Pires. He studied the impact of post-translational modification on MHC peptide binding and TCR engagement. In May 2024, he received his master’s degree in Chemistry. Afterward, he joined Dr. Zhang's research group at the Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine. He is now working on the ALT mechanism.
Undergraduate Students
Maya is from Ashburn, Virginia, and is a current undergraduate student at the University of Virginia. She wants to obtain a B.S. In Chemistry with a specialization in Biochemistry, as well as a minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality. She is looking forward to learning new lab techniques, as well as learning about the relationship between repetitive sequences and diseases. In her free time, Maya enjoys knitting, crocheting, and playing video games.
Alex is a biochemistry major in the College of Arts & Sciences, class of 2026. She has a keen interest in disease pathology and the underlying cell mechanisms that contribute to human health. In her role as a research assistant, she hopes to expand her knowledge of biochemical processes and apply her practical medical experience as an EMT and hospital volunteer to further the lab’s work. Outside of her studies and research activities, Alex enjoys naps and spending time with her cats.