I started my career in clinical medicine in Beijing. After I obtained my PhD from Oxford University, I researched at the University of Toronto and Oxford University. I was a lecturer in Molecular Genetics at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London before I joined Oxford Brookes University in 2012.

Our current research focuses on functions and pathways of novel genes in complicated diseases. In particular, we are interested in genetic influence on autophagy, an important cellular regulation in human health. So far, abnormal autophagy has been reported to have association with the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease, neurodegenerative diseases, Type II diabetes, cancer and ageing.

Zhang YM, Zhang Y. Functional dissection of novel genes in complicated diseases. J Genet Syndr & Gene Ther 2015, 6:e128. Couto AR, Zhang Y, Timms A, Sims A, Santos M, Martins L, Soares M, Bruges AJ, Sequeiros J, Brown M. Investigating ANKH and ENPP1 in Slovakian families with chondrocalcinosis. Rheumatol Int 2012, 32:2745-2751. Johnson T, Gaunt TR, Newhouse SJ et al. Blood pressure loci identified with a gene-centric array. Am J Hum Genet 2011, 89:688-700. Zhang Y, Castori M, Ferranti G, Paradisi M, Wordsworth BP. Novel and recurrent LEMD3 mutations causing Buschke-Ollendorff syndrome and osteopoikilosis but not isolated melorheostosis. Clinical Genet 2009, 75:556-561. Couto A, Armas JB, Brown MA, Peach CA, Smith R, Wordsworth BP, Zhang Y. New mutations in the gene LEMD3 in patients with osteopoikilosis and melorheostosis – evidence for genetic heterogeneity. Calcif Tissue Int 2007, 81:81-84. Peach CA, Zhang Y, Dunford J, Brown MA, Carr A. Cuff tear arthropathy: evidence of functional variation in phrophosphate metabolism genes. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2007, 462:67-72. Peach CA, Zhang Y, Wordsworth BP. Mutations of the tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase gene (TANP) causing a non-lethal case of perinatal hypophosphatasia. Rheumat 2007; 46:1037-1040. Zhang Y, Brown MA, Peach CA, Russell RG, Wordsworth BP. Investigation of the role of ENPP1 and TNAP genes in chondrocalcinosis. Rheumatol 2007, 46:586-589. Zhang Y, Brown MA. Genetic studies of chondrocalcinosis. Curr Opin Rheum 2005, 173:330-335.