Maternal & Child Health Research Institute (MCHRI)


Showing 1-25 of 25 Results

  • Marwa Zafarullah

    Marwa Zafarullah

    Postdoctoral Scholar, Neurology and Neurological Sciences

    BioDr. Marwa Zafarullah is a dedicated neuroscientist with extensive interdisciplinary experience spanning over 8 years in clinical and pre-clinical research. She holds a Ph.D. in Integrative Genetics and Genomics (IGG) from the University of California Davis, focusing on neuroscience, human genetics, and functional genomics. Before joining Stanford, Dr. Zafarullah harnessed the power of molecular biology with advanced technologies to delve into biomarkers related to the prediction, development, progression, and severity of Fragile X Syndrome and associated disorders.

    Dr. Zafarullah's career journey reflects her commitment to advancing scientific knowledge, improving patient care, and positively impacting society through her research and contributions. She thrives in multi-disciplinary teams, aiming to enhance the quality of life for all individuals affected by various neurological conditions. Beyond her professional endeavors, she enjoys communicating complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences. Her continuous pursuit of excellence and her drive to bridge clinical practice and scientific innovation make her a true trailblazer in the field.

  • Astrid Nicole Zamora

    Astrid Nicole Zamora

    Postdoctoral Scholar, Epidemiology

    BioDr. Zamora's work examines how social and environmental contexts shape the three pillars of health, diet, sleep, and physical activity, and influence chronic disease risk. Her research integrates epidemiologic methods with community-based participatory approaches to translate findings into evidence-based public health strategies. Her goal is to advance chronic disease prevention and promote heart-healthy aging among Latino/a communities and underserved populations.

  • James L. Zehnder, M.D.

    James L. Zehnder, M.D.

    Professor of Pathology (Research) and of Medicine (Hematology)

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMy main research and clinical interests include molecular pathogenesis of acquired cytopenias, genetic testing for inherited non-malignant hematologic disorders, next-generation sequencing approaches to T and B cell clonality testing, somatic mutations in cancer and assessment of minimal residual disease in cancer patients.

  • Jamie Zeitzer

    Jamie Zeitzer

    Professor (Research) of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Sleep Medicine)

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsDr. Zeitzer is a circadian physiologist specializing in the understanding of the impact of light on circadian rhythms and other aspects of non-image forming light perception.
    He examines the manner in which humans respond to light and ways to manipulate this responsiveness, with direct application to jet lag, shift work, and altered sleep timing in teens. Dr. Zeitzer has also pioneered the use of actigraphy in the determination of epiphenomenal markers of psychiatric disorders.

  • Bing Melody Zhang

    Bing Melody Zhang

    Clinical Associate Professor, Pathology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMy main research interests lie in the following areas:
    1) HLA testing for BMT/solid organ transplantation
    2) NGS-based TCR/Ig clonality/MRD testing
    3) HLA testing in cellular therapy and oncology
    4) Genetic/genomic testing for malignant and non-malignant hematologic disorders
    5) HLA-related disease association/drug hypersensitivity testing.

  • Chongyang Zhang

    Chongyang Zhang

    Postdoctoral Scholar, Cardiology

    BioDr. Zhang is a Postdoctoral Scholar at RabLab in the cardiopulmonary division. She has a PhD in Pharmacology from University of Rochester, NY. She has research in cardiovascular research and chronobiology published in high impact peer-reviewed journals. She is recipient of honors including predoctoral fellowship from AHA, Travel Grant for Early Career Investigators from Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. She has served as ad hoc reviewer for more than 40 manuscripts for reputed journals.

  • Yu Zhang

    Yu Zhang

    Assistant Professor (Research) of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Public Mental Health and Population Sciences)

    BioDr. Yu Zhang's research operates at the intersection of AI, translational neuroscience, and precision medicine. His work focuses on unraveling the complex neurobiological mechanisms underlying cognitive deficits, behavioral dysfunctions, and therapeutic responses in mental health disorders. By integrating advanced machine learning techniques with multimodal brain imaging modalities (e.g., fMRI, DTI, EEG), Dr. Zhang aims to identify neural signatures that reveal the heterogeneity of mental disorders across individuals. A central goal of his research is the development and validation of robust neurobiomarkers to improve diagnostic accuracy, refine prognostic assessments, and guide personalized treatment strategies. His work systematically characterizes brain function and dysfunction to optimize therapeutic interventions, including pharmacological treatments, psychotherapy, and neurostimulation. He is particularly focused on conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and related dimentia, mood disorders, and neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., ADHD, ASD), where individualized approaches are essential for improving patient outcomes.

    Dr. Zhang has received multiple grants including the NIH R01, R21, Eagles Autism Foundation Translational Grant, Alzheimer's Association Research Grant (AARG), and the Knight Initiative for Brain Resilience and the Rosenkranz Foundation Grants. Beyond foundational research, Dr. Zhang is committed to bridging the gap between computational innovation and clinical application. By collaborating with clinicians, neuroscientists, and engineers, he strives to translate data-driven insights into actionable tools for real-world healthcare settings. His long-term vision is to enable mental health diagnostics and treatment to be guided by objective, biologically grounded biomarkers, thereby enhancing quality of life and long-term outcomes for individuals with psychiatric and neurological conditions.

    The Stanford Precision NeuroIntelligence (SPNI) Lab, led by Dr. Zhang, is dedicated to advancing research in AI-driven neuroimaging and precision psychiatry. The lab develops and applies cutting-edge machine learning and deep learning methods to uncover neurobiological mechanisms associated with cognitive and behavioral dysfunctions, as well as treatment responses in mental health conditions. Its mission is to identify translational biomarkers that support precision diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted interventions for mood disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases.

  • Zeyuan Zhang

    Zeyuan Zhang

    Postdoctoral Scholar, Hematology-Oncology

    BioZeyuan Zhang, Ph.D., is a Postdoctoral Scholar at Stanford University in the laboratory of Glaivy Batusli, where he is conducting research on the evolution of antibody development against the coagulation protein factor IX in hemophilia B disease models. He earned his Ph.D. in Biomedical Science from the University of Iowa, focusing on cell and developmental biology.

    Dr. Zhang’s research centers on the molecular mechanisms underlying metabolic disease, with particular emphasis on organelle dysfunction in obesity. His work has provided insights into GSNOR enzymatic activity, lysosomal dysfunction, and inflammatory stress in metabolic regulation. He has also investigated transcriptional mechanisms contributing to obesity-associated hepatic dysfunction and adipose tissue homeostasis. Prior to joining Stanford, he worked as a Scientist I at Altos Labs, where he studied hepatocyte-specific rejuvenation reprogramming in fatty liver disease.

    His technical expertise includes multi-omics approaches, RNA sequencing, chromatin immunoprecipitation, high-resolution respirometry, advanced imaging techniques, and in vivo mouse models. He also has extensive experience in primary cell isolation and histological analysis.

    Dr. Zhang is interested in translational research that connects molecular mechanisms to therapeutic strategies, with the goal of developing innovative treatments for metabolic diseases.

  • Man Zhao

    Man Zhao

    Postdoctoral Scholar, Radiation Biology

    BioMy research primarily focuses on the molecular mechanisms, signaling pathways, and therapeutic targets underlying cancer metabolism, particularly the m6A demethylase FTO. I am also actively exploring the interplay between tumor metabolism and tumor immunity, with the goal of identifying novel metabolic vulnerabilities for cancer treatment.

  • Moss Zhao

    Moss Zhao

    Instructor, Neurosurgery

    BioDr. Moss Zhao is an Instructor at Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University. He develops cutting-edge and clinically viable imaging technologies to improve the diagnosis and treatment of cerebrovascular diseases across the lifespan. His specific areas of expertise include physiological modeling, arterial spin labeling, Bayesian inference, PET/MRI, and artificial intelligence. His scientific contributions could significantly improve the early detection of strokes and dementia as well as enrich the knowledge of brain development in the first two decades of life.

    Dr. Zhao received his DPhil at St Cross College of University of Oxford under the supervision of Prof. Michael Chappell. As an alumni mentor, he supports the career development of students of his alma mater. Since 2016, he has presented his work to more than 3000 delegates at international conferences and held leadership positions in professional societies. His research and teaching are supported by the American Heart Association, the National Institutes of Health, and the European Cooperation in Science and Technology.

  • J. Bradley Zuchero

    J. Bradley Zuchero

    Associate Professor of Neurosurgery

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsWe are primarily focused on understanding myelinating glia (oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells). How is myelin formed, dynamically remodeled to support learning, and why does regeneration of myelin fail in disease? We are also interested in understanding novel roles of myelin in the nervous system, beyond its textbook role as an electrical insulator. We combine in vivo and primary culture models with the generation of new cell biology tools to answer these questions.

  • Evan Zucker

    Evan Zucker

    Associate Professor of Radiology (Pediatric Radiology)

    BioDr. Zucker serves as Director of Cardiovascular Imaging for Stanford Children’s Health. He is a board-certified pediatric and cardiovascular radiologist with a special interest in CT and MRI for congenital heart disease.

  • Donna Zulman

    Donna Zulman

    Professor of Medicine (Primary Care and Population Health)

    Current Research and Scholarly Interests- Health care delivery models for patients with complex medical, social and behavioral needs.
    - Interventions that address social determinants of health
    - Effective communication and relationship-building in the clinical context
    - Patient-facing technology (e.g., video-based care, eHealth technology) to facilitate access to health care