Dr. Lei Zhang’s research program is dedicated to advancing the molecular understanding of stress-related disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), depression, cancer and suicide risk. The ultimate goal of her work is to acquire and disseminate knowledge essential for developing novel, effective molecular tools for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment in these areas.

Her laboratory focuses on elucidating the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the actions of key genes such as p11 (S100A10), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), FKBP5, and mitochondria-associated genes in the context of stress and PTSD. Long-term, Dr. Zhang aims to establish a molecular foundation for identifying therapeutic targets and biomarkers that can transform clinical approaches to stress-related disorders.

Dr. Zhang’s team has made several notable contributions to the field, including:

• Demonstrating that p11 is downregulated in the blood of individuals who died by suicide or attempted suicide.
• Identifying an association between FKBP5 and current suicidal ideation in U.S. service members.
• Profiling 1,170 mitochondria-focused genes in postmortem brains of patients with PTSD.
• Establishing links between BDNF and PTSD risk, as well as heightened startle responses—a hallmark arousal symptom—in U.S. military personnel deployed during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Currently, Dr. Zhang’s research is centered on two primary objectives:

1. Biomarker identification – Defining the roles of p11, BDNF, and related molecules in suicide risk, depression, sleep disorders, and PTSD.
2. Mechanistic studies – Investigating the molecular regulatory pathways through which stress alters biomarkers, including p11, BDNF, and FKBP5, as well as mitochondrial function, using both in vivo and in vitro models.

Through these efforts, Dr. Zhang seeks to bridge molecular neuroscience with clinical psychiatry, paving the way for precision medicine approaches to some of the most challenging mental health conditions.