Zengtao Wang is the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Highlighted Trainee Author July 2023. Currently, he is a pre-doctoral trainee working on his PhD in pharmaceutics at the University of Minnesota. His mentor is Dr. Karunya K. Kandimalla. The JPET article that earned his selection as a Highlighted Trainee Author is titled "Deconvolution of Plasma Pharmacokinetics from Dynamic Heart Imaging Data Obtained by SPECT/CT Imaging" and is available at https://doi.org/10.1124/jpet.122.001545.

Mr. Wang’s research areas are Alzheimer’s disease (AD), blood-brain barrier (BBB), pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics. AD is characterized by abnormal accumulation of toxic amyloid-beta peptides (Aβ) in plasma and the brain. Both cerebrovascular dysfunction and brain insulin resistance are prevalent in AD patients, but their mechanistic connection and role in disease pathogenesis are incompletely understood. Mr. Wang’s PhD dissertation aims to determine Aβ protein trafficking and accumulation kinetics at the BBB and identify underlying biological mechanisms in AD. In addition, he is also investigating the presence of potential synergism between Aβ exposure and insulin signaling disruption and its impact on BBB function.

The anticipated impact of Mr. Wang’s research is that by understanding the mechanistic connections among Aβ accumulation, BBB dysfunction, and insulin resistance, novel therapeutic targets for diagnosing and treating BBB dysfunction in AD may be identified.

Outside the lab, Zengtao enjoys cooking and traveling with his friends. He also enjoys playing table tennis and watching sci-fi television series.