Tao Zhang

Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences

School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background

Tao Zhang received his bachelor's degree in biotechnology from Zhejiang University, PR China, in 2003; his master's degree in environmental science from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, PR China, in 2005; and his PhD in pharmaceutical sciences from the University of Michigan in 2010. He then worked in the Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK) Department at Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation in New Jersey from 2010 to 2014, before joining Husson University School of Pharmacy as an assistant professor. He was promoted to associate professor there in 2020, and joined the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Binghamton University in 2022.

Zhang’s primary research focuses on translational research by utilizing in vitro, in vivo and in silico approaches to evaluate drug safety and efficacy and support drug development in humans. His laboratory conducts preclinical drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) studies and utilizes pharmacokinetic (PK) modeling tools to build PK, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) and physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models to optimize drug dosage regimens and assess drug safety. His current project is to develop approaches to predict drug transfer into human milk during breastfeeding to assess drug safety and minimize risk to infants during lactation.

He also studies molecular mechanisms and therapeutic uses of naturally derived bioactive compounds and their interaction with gut microbiomes for cancer/inflammation drug discovery. His early work explored the molecular mechanism and efficacy of many natural bioactives (polyphenolic catechin, isothiocyanates, tripterine) against breast cancer and pancreatic cancer. Recently, he has collaborated with several investigators to study the interaction of broccoli sprout glucosinolates and isothiocyanates with gut microbiota to treat gastrointestinal tract inflammation and colorectal cancer.

His research has been supported by the FDA, USDA and other foundations. He has published over 40 research articles in peer-reviewed journals with more than 3,000 citations. He has years of experience in teaching courses covering topics of basic and clinical pharmacokinetics, pharmaceutics, pharmacogenomics and clinical research design.

Education

PhD, University of Michigan
MPhil, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
BS, Zhejiang University

Research Interests

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modeling
In vitro and in vivo correlation
Drug transfer into milk, drug safety during breastfeeding
Gut microbiome, inflammation and colorectal cancer

Awards

Husson University Distinguished Research Award (2020)
The Women’s Philanthropy Council/Husson University Faculty Excellence Award (2016)
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) New Investigator Award (NIA) (2015)