Ming-Zhi Zhang

Raymond Harris, MD, left, and Ming-Zhi Zhang, MD, MSc, in the lab. (photo by John Russell)
May 20, 2025

VUMC discovery one step closer to treatment for kidney fibrosis

Study shows that deletion of EGFR from myeloid cells accelerated recovery from acute kidney injury and reduced subsequent fibrosis.

By Bill Snyder
November 21, 2023

VUMC scientists discover key step to kidney fibrosis

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center for the first time have shown that activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is essential for the development of kidney fibrosis, tissue scarring following injury that can lead to kidney failure.

By Bill Snyder
August 25, 2022

Inflammatory driver of obesity

Blocking the EGF receptor signaling pathway in immune system macrophages represents a new target for improving insulin resistance in people with obesity.

By Sarah E. Glass
From left, Raymond C. Harris, MD, Shirong Cao, MD, PhD, Ming-Zhi Zhang, MD, MSc, and colleagues are studying the role of inflammation in obesity.
May 12, 2022

Study sheds light on the dark side of obesity

Vanderbilt research that promotes the anti-inflammatory pathway in macrophages could also reduce some of the bad side effects of obesity.

By Bill Snyder
August 5, 2021

Gene expression in diabetic nephropathy

Vanderbilt researchers are looking to mRNA populations in podocytes — kidney cells that help filter blood — to help identify potential targets for treating diabetic kidney disease.

By Shivani Sharma
July 25, 2019

Sex differences in kidney injury

Men are more susceptible to progressive kidney disease than women; new VUMC studies point to differences in the expression and activation of the EGF receptor.

By Kelsey Herbers
November 12, 2015

Immune system a must for kidney repair

A signaling protein that is essential for recovery from acute kidney injury works by increasing the population of tissue-repairing immune cells.
By Lorena Infante
October 22, 2015

Study sheds light on side effects of COX-2 drugs

A team of Vanderbilt University Medical Center scientists are closer to understanding why COX-2 inhibitors — drugs that relieve arthritis pain and inflammation without the gastrointestinal side effects of other painkillers — cause heart problems in some patients. Now
By Bill Snyder
January 31, 2013

Do-it-yourself repair in the kidney

The kidney can mediate its own repair through proliferation of resident immune system cells.
By Leigh MacMillan