Wei Zheng, PhD, Purdue University, USA
Editorial Board Member
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Dr Wei Zheng is a Professor of Toxicology and University Faculty Scholar at Purdue University. Dr Zheng is a recognized scholar in the fields of metal-induced neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and essential tremors. Dr Zheng received his B.S. and M.S. from Zhejiang University and his Ph.D. from University of Arizona. He held a joint appointment as an Assistant Professor (1993-2000) and later Associate Professor (2000-2003) in School of Public Health and College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University in New York City. He came to Purdue in 2003 and became a Full Professor in 2006. On Sept 1, 2008, Dr Zheng assumed the leadership as the Head of the School of Health Sciences, a unit that comprises more than 50 faculty and staff, 600 undergraduate majors and 40 graduate students, at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
During his tenure at Columbia and now at Purdue, his research team has conducted a pioneer investigation exploring contributions of the brain barrier system, especially the blood-CSF barrier, in chemical-induced neurodegenerative disorders. He is specialized in manganese-induced parkinsonism, lead-induced learning defects, brain clearance of beta-amyloids in Alzheimer’s disease, and chelating therapy of metal toxicities. His research discovers the molecular mechanism by which iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) are transported by the blood-CSF barrier and environmental exposure to toxic metal managnese may alter these processes and lead to neurodegenerative injury. Recently, Dr Zheng has translated his research to human population aiming at discovery of biomarkers for manganese-induced parkinsonism by MRI/MRS and therapeutic treatment for manganism parkinsonian patients. He has authored one book, 125 original research papers, book chapters, and review articles, with more than 155 research abstracts and meeting proceedings. His research has been supported by National Institute of Health grants, U.S. Dept of Defense contracts, and other awards from pharmaceutical companies such as Johnson & Johnson and Eli Lilly.
Dr Zheng has been serving as the member of the Editorial Board of Experimental Biology and Medicine, Journal of Toxicology, Fluids and Barriers of CNS (Cerebrospinal Fluid Research), and Toxicology Letters (2004-2008). He was a standing member of NIH/Environmental Health Sciences Review Committee (2003-2007) and currently is a standing member of NIH/Neurotoxicology and Alcohol study section (2008-2012), two expert panels that evaluate and recommend federal research funds. He also serves as a neurotoxicology consultant to both pharmaceutical industry and law firms for brain bioavailability of neurotoxicants or drugs. He is active in the Society for Neurosciences, the Society of Toxicology (SOT) and the International Association of Neurotoxicology. He has organized, as the chairman or chairperson, 14 international symposia, workshops, and conferences since 1999. Most recently, he served as the President of SOT Metals Specialty Section (2009-2010) and received a Distinguished Chinese Toxicologist Award by American Association of Chinese Toxicologists.