Phosphodiesterases: CNS Functions and Diseases

Dr. Zhang's major research interests focus on intracellular signaling in the mediation of neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. More specifically, he is interested in exploring the roles of phosphodiesterase (PDE)-mediated cyclic nucleotide (cAMP, cGMP) signaling in depression, anxiety, alcohol dependence, drug abuse, and cognition deficits associated with neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer disease. Development of novel drugs for treating these disorders is also one of his research foci. Dr. Zhang has published nearly 80 research papers and review articles and 18 book chapters, most of which focusing on PDEs, in particular the PDE4 enzyme family. He has been awarded the NARSAD Young Investigator Award twice (2006 and 2008). Dr. Zhang has been served as the Guest Chief Editor of Current Pharmaceutical Design and currently serves as the Deputy Chief Editor/Associate Editor for Metabolic Brain Disease, Frontiers in Pharmacology, Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, Translational Neuroscience Review, Austin Psychiatry, and Editorial Board member for Scientific Reports and several other international journals.
Dr. Ying Xu received her Ph.D. degree from Peking University in 2006. She has been a Research Assistant Professor in School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences at the State University of New York at Buffalo since 2013. Dr. Xu has long been working in drug discovery focusing on treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. Her research includes the effects and molecular mechanism of natural polyphenols and target synthetic drugs on neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders, such as age-related cognitive disorders, depression, anxiety, and neuropathic pain. Her recent work has focused on development of small molecule drugs, particularly phosphodiesterase-2 and 9 inhibitors, on central nervous system disorders. Dr. Xu was the winner of 2015 New Investigator Award (NIA) in the American Association of College of Pharmacy. She is serving for seven peer-reviewed journals as an editorial board member and serving as the Deputy Chief Editor or AssociateEditor for Metabolic Bain Disease and Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. Dr. Xu published more than 60 peer-reviewed research papers, reviews and book chapters.



Dr. James M. O'Donnell received his B.S. in Psychology from Carnegie Mellon University and Ph.D. in Pharmacological and Physiological Sciences from the University of Chicago; he completed postdoctoral training in Neuropsychopharmacology at the University of Pennsylvania. He was appointed the eleventh Dean of the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2013, where he also holds academic appointments as Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology (adjunct). Previously, he held research or faculty positions at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Louisiana State University, University of Tennessee, and West Virginia University, where he served as Associate Dean for Research in the School of Medicine and Assistant VicePres