Stem cell (iPS, reprogramming)
Neuroscience (NSC, learning and memory, addiction, behavior)

2005-2010 Graduate Student, Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. USA 

2001-2005 Undergraduate Student, Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China.

2010 –Current Researcher, Principle Investigator, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academic of Science 

2010 Postdoctoral Research Assistant, Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. USA

Honors:

5. 2023, Guangdong Provincial Youth Science and Technology Innovation Award, 1/1 (Sole contributor)

4. 2018, Second Prize of the Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Award, "Cell Fate Transition Regulation Based on Transcription Factors and Small Molecules", 1/10 (1st contributor out of 10)

3. 2018, Second Prize of the National Natural Science Award, "Cell Fate Regulation of EMT-MET", 4/5 (4th contributor out of 5)

2. 2018, Outstanding Scientific and Technological Achievement Award of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), "Collective Research on Stem Cell Pluripotency and Reprogramming Mechanisms", 7/17 (7th contributor out of 17)

1. 2009.05 Beatrice Z. Milne and Theodore Brandenburg Awards for the excellent scientific achievement during the Ph.D. Study.

Distinctions:

​10. National Invention Patent, Fusion Polynucleotide, Kit and Method for Detecting LSD1 Protein Binding Sites, 202411632574.0, Filed on Nov 15, 2024, Contributors: Sun Hao, Liu Zhengyan, Liu Lin, Zheng Hui

9. National Invention Patent, Application of Dehydroascorbic Acid and 2,3-Diketo-L-Gulonic Acid in Cell Reprogramming, 202310053420.5, Filed on Feb 03, 2023, Contributors: Zheng Hui, Liang Lining, Qin Chaohui, Zhou Yusheng, Wang Chenchen (Pending)

8. National Invention Patent, shTet1 Lentivirus, Its Construction Method and Its Application in Neural Stem Cell Proliferation, 202310079144.X, Filed on Feb 08, 2023, Contributors: Zheng Hui, Liang Lining, Wang Chenchen, Zhou Yusheng, Qin Chaohui (Pending)

7. PCT Patent Application, Composition and Its Use in Enhancing the Antitumor Effect of Vitamin C, PCT/CN2021/112737, Filed on Aug 16, 2021, Contributors: Zheng Hui, Li Changpeng, Wang Fuhui (Pending)

6. National Invention Patent, A Class of Pharmaceutical Compositions for Enhancing the Antitumor Effect of Vitamin C, 202011430939.3, Filed on Dec 10, 2020, Contributors: Zheng Hui, Li Changpeng, Wang Fuhui (Pending)

5. National Invention Patent, Application of Naloxone in Drugs Regulating the DNA Demethylase Activity of Tet1 Protein, 201810491786.X, Filed on May 22, 2018, Contributors: Zheng Hui, Liang Lining, Chen Jinlong (Pending)

​4. National Invention Patent, A Method for Improving the Efficiency of Transdifferentiation from Somatic Cells to Neural Cells, 201710326824.1, Filed on May 10, 2017, Contributors: Zheng Hui, Yang Xiao, Chen Jinlong, He Songwei (Pending)

3. National Invention Patent, A Method for Obtaining Neural Cells from Fibroblasts Using Serum-Free Medium, ZL201610952074.4, Filed on Nov 03, 2016, Authorized on Oct 11, 2019, Contributors: Zheng Hui, He Songwei, Chen Jinlong (Authorized)

2. National Invention Patent, A Method for Obtaining Neural Cells Through Transdifferentiation Using Serum-Free Medium, ZL201510289740.6, Filed on Jun 17, 2015, Authorized on Jan 03, 2020, Contributors: Zheng Hui, He Songwei (Authorized)

​1. National Invention Patent, Application of Naloxone in Preparing Drugs for Improving Spatial Learning and Memory Ability, ZL201410393385.2, Filed on Nov 05, 2014, Authorized on Aug 24, 2016, Contributors: Zheng Hui, Li Wen, He Songwei, Sun Hao (Authorized)

 [38] Guo L#*, Lin J, Ren Q, Sun H, Wu Y, Ge H, Wu X, Lin L, Liang L, Li C, Liu H, Mai Y, Chu S, Liu J, Liu J, Chen J, Pei D*, Zheng H* Enhanced Activities of OCT4 and SOX2 Promote Epigenetic Reprogramming by Shortening G1 Phase. Advanced Sciences. 2025 Aug;12(32):e15528. Co-Corresponding Author

[37] Liang L#, He M#, Zhang Y#, Wang C, Qin Z, Li Q, Yang T, Meng F, Zhou Y, Ge H, Song W, Chen S, Dong L, Ren Q, Li C, Guo L, Sun H, Zhang W, Pei D*, Zheng H* Unraveling the 2,3–diketo–L–gulonic acid–dependent and –independent impacts of L–ascorbic acid on somatic cell reprogramming. Cell & Bioscience. 2023 Nov 30;13(1):218. Co-Corresponding Author

[36] Li C*#, He J#, Meng F#, Wang F#, Sun H, Zhang H, Zhang M, Xu Q, Liang L, Li Y, Yang T, He M, Wang T, Lin J, Sun J, Huang Q, Guo L, Zhang X, Mai S*, Zheng H*. Nuclear Localization of TET2 Requires β-catenin Activation and Correlates with Favourable Prognosis in Colorectal Cancer. Cell Death & Disease. 2023 Aug 24;14(8):552. Co-Corresponding Author

[35] Li Y#, Yang T#, Cheng Y#, Hou J#, Liu Z, Zhao Y, Chen S, Qin Z, Wang C, Song W, Ge H, Li C, Liang L, Guo L, Sun H, Wu LP*, Zheng H*. Low glutaminase and glycolysis correlate with a high transdifferentiation efficiency in mouse cortex. Cell Proliferation. 2023 May;56(5):e13422. Co-Corresponding Author

    [34] Sun J#*, Yang J, Miao X, Loh HH, Pei D, Zheng H*. Proteins in DNA methylation and their role in neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation. Cell Regeneration. 2021 Mar 2;10(1):7. Co-Corresponding Author

    [33] Meng F#, Li Y, Sun H, Li C, Li Q, Law PY, Loh HH, Liang L*, Zheng H*. Naloxone Facilitates Contextual Learning and Memory in a Receptor-Independent and Tet1-Dependent Manner. Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology. 2021 Jul;41(5):1031-1038.Co-Corresponding Author

    [32] Zhang M#, Li Q, Yang T, Meng F, Lai X, Liang L, Li C, Sun H, Sun J, Zheng H*. Positive feedback between retinoic acid and 2-phospho-L-ascorbic acid trisodium salt during somatic cell reprogramming. Cell Regeneration. 2020 Oct 1;9(1):17.Corresponding Author

    [31] Lai X#, Li Q#, Wu F, Lin J, Chen J*, Zheng H*, Guo L*. Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Metabolic Switching in Cancer: Lessons From Somatic Cell Reprogramming. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology. 2020 Aug 6;8:760.Co-Corresponding Author

[30] Chen J#, Liang L#, Li Y, Zhang Y, Zhang M, Yang T, Meng F, Lai X, Li C, He J, He M, Xu Q, Li Q, Law PY, Loh HH, Pei D, Sun H*, Zheng H*. Naloxone regulates the differentiation of neural stem cells via a receptor-independent pathway. The FASEB Journal. 2020 Apr;34(4):5917-5930. 共同通讯作者

    [29] Liang L#, Chen J#, Li Y, Lai X, Sun H, Li C, Zhang M, Yang T, Meng F, Law PY, Loh HH, Zheng H*. Morphine and Naloxone Facilitate Neural Stem Cells Proliferation via a TET1-Dependent and Receptor-Independent Pathway. Cell Reports. 2020 Mar 17;30(11):3625-3631. Corresponding Author

    [28] Sun H#, Yang X#, Liang L#, Zhang M#, Li Y, Chen J, Wang F, Yang T, Meng F, Lai X, Li C, He J, He M, Xu Q, Li Q, Lin L, Pei D*, Zheng H*. Metabolic switch and epithelial-mesenchymal transition cooperate to regulate pluripotency. The EMBO Journal. 2020 Apr 15;39(8):e102961. Co-Corresponding Author

    [27] He S#, Wang F#, Zhang Y#, Chen J, Liang L, Li Y, Zhang M, Yang X, Pang H, Li Y, Huang X, Qin D, Pei D, Sun H*, Zheng H*. Hemi-methylated CpG sites connect Dnmt1-knockdown-induced and Tet1-induced DNA demethylation during somatic cell reprogramming. Cell Discovery. 2019 Feb 12;5:11. Co-Corresponding Author

[26] Lin L#, Liang L#, Yang X#, Sun H, Li Y, Pei D, Zheng H*. The homeobox transcription factor MSX2 partially mediates the effects of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) on somatic cell reprogramming. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2018 Sep 21;293(38):14905-14915. Corresponding Author

[25] He S#, Sun H#, Lin L, Zhang Y, Chen J, Liang L, Li Y, Zhang M, Yang X, Wang X, Wang F, Zhu F, Chen J, Pei D, Zheng H*. Passive DNA demethylation preferentially up-regulates pluripotency-related genes and facilitates the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2017 Nov 10;292(45):18542-18555. Corresponding Author

    [24] He S#, Chen J#, Zhang Y#, Zhang M, Yang X, Li Y, Sun H, Lin L, Fan K, Liang L, Feng C, Wang F, Zhang X, Guo Y, Pei D*, Zheng H*. Sequential EMT-MET induces neuronal conversion through Sox2. Cell Discovery. 2017 May 30;3:17017.  Co-Corresponding Author

[23] Liang L#, Sun H, Li L, Zheng H*. Transitions between mesenchymal and epithelial states and the concomitant gene expression changes. Science Foundation in China. 2016,24(1):50-62. Corresponding Author

    [22] Li L#, He S, Zheng H*. The Abilities of ShDNMT1 to Promote Reprogramming are Enhanced by Vitamin C-recused Proliferation. China Biotechnology. 2016, 36(6): 1-8. Corresponding Author

    [21] Sun H#, Liang L, Li Y, Feng C, Li L, Zhang Y, He S, Pei D, Guo Y*, Zheng H*. Lysine-specific histone demethylase 1 inhibition promotes reprogramming by facilitating the expression of exogenous transcriptional factors and metabolic switch. Scientific Reports. 2016 Aug 2;6:30903. Co-Corresponding Author

[20] Liang L#, Sun H#, Zhang W, Zhang M, Yang X, Kuang R, Zheng H*. Meta-Analysis of EMT Datasets Reveals Different Types of EMT. PLoS One. 2016 Jun 3;11(6):e0156839. Corresponding Author

[19] Huang Z#, Liang L#, Li L#, Xu M, Li X, Sun H, He S, Lin L, Zhang Y, Song Y, Yang M, Luo Y, Loh HH, Law PY, Zheng D*, Zheng H*. Opioid doses required for pain management in lung cancer patients with different cholesterol levels: negative correlation between opioid doses and cholesterol levels. Lipids in Health and Disease. 2016 Mar 8;15:47. Co-Corresponding Author

    [18] Chen J#, Li W, Li Y, He S, Li L, Liang L, Song Y, Qin D*, Zheng H*. MicroRNA-128-3p impaired water maze learning by suppressing Doublecortin expression in both wild type and Aβ-42 infused mice. Neuroscience Letters. 2016 Jul 28;626:79-85. Co-Corresponding Author

    [17] He S#, Guo Y, Zhang Y, Li Y, Feng C, Li X, Lin L, Guo L, Wang H, Liu C, Zheng Y, Luo C, Liu Q, Wang F, Sun H, Liang L, Li L, Su H, Chen J, Pei D*, Zheng H*. Reprogramming somatic cells to cells with neuronal characteristics by defined medium both in vitro and in vivo. Cell Regeneration. 2015 Dec 30;4:12. 共同通讯作者

[16] Zheng H#, Hutchins AP, Pan G, Li Y, Pei D*, Pei G*. Where cell fate conversions meet Chinese philosophy. Cell Research. 2014 Oct;24(10):1162-3. First Author

[15] Li X#, Pei D, Zheng H*. Transitions between epithelial and mesenchymal states during cell fate conversions. Protein Cell. 2014;5(8):580-91. Corresponding Author

    [14] Li W#, He S#, Zhou Y, Li Y, Hao J, Zhou X, Wang F, Zhang Y, Huang Z, Li Z, Loh HH, Law PY, Zheng H*. Neurod1 modulates opioid antinociceptive tolerance via two distinct mechanisms. Biological Psychiatry. 2014 Nov 15;76(10):775-84.Corresponding Author

    [13] Zheng H*#, Zhang Y, Li W, Loh HH, Law PY. NeuroD modulates opioid agonist-selective regulation of adult neurogenesis and contextual memory extinction. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2013 Apr;38(5):770-7. First Author+Corresponding Author

    [12] Zheng H*#, Loh HH, Law PY. Posttranslation modification of G protein-coupled receptor in relationship to biased agonism. Methods in Enzymology. 2013;522:391-408. First Author+Corresponding Author

[11] Liu X#, Sun H, Qi J, Wang L, He S, Liu J, Feng C, Chen C, Li W, Guo Y, Qin D, Pan G, Chen J, Pei D*, Zheng H*. Sequential introduction of reprogramming factors reveals a time-sensitive requirement for individual factors and a sequential EMT-MET mechanism for optimal reprogramming. Nature Cell Biology. 2013 Jul;15(7):829-38. Co-Corresponding Author

[10] Zheng H*#, Zou H, Liu X, Chu J, Zhou Y, Loh HH, Law PY. Cholesterol level influences opioid signaling in cell models and analgesia in mice and humans. Journal of Lipid Research. 2012 Jun;53(6):1153-62. First Author+Corresponding Author 

[9]           Zheng H*#, Pearsall EA, Hurst DP, Zhang Y, Chu J, Zhou Y, Reggio PH, Loh HH, Law PY. Palmitoylation and membrane cholesterol stabilize μ-opioid receptor homodimerization and G protein coupling. BMC Cell Biology. 2012 Mar 19;13:6. First Author+Corresponding Author  

[8]           Zheng H*#, Law PY, Loh HH. Non-Coding RNAs Regulating Morphine Function: With Emphasis on the In vivo and In vitro Functions of miR-190. Frontiers in Genetics. 2012 Jun 15;3:113. First Author+Corresponding Author  

[7]           Zheng H*#, Chu J, Zhang Y, Loh HH, Law PY. Modulating micro-opioid receptor phosphorylation switches agonist-dependent signaling as reflected in PKCepsilon activation and dendritic spine stability. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2011 Apr 8;286(14):12724-33. First Author+Corresponding Author

[6]           Zheng H*#, Zeng Y, Zhang X, Chu J, Loh HH, Law PY. mu-Opioid receptor agonists differentially regulate the expression of miR-190 and NeuroD. Molecular Pharmacology. 2010 Jan;77(1):102-9. First Author+Corresponding Author

[5]           Zheng H*#, Zeng Y, Chu J, Kam AY, Loh HH, Law PY. Modulations of NeuroD activity contribute to the differential effects of morphine and fentanyl on dendritic spine stability. Journal of Neuroscience. 2010 Jun 16;30(24):8102-10. First Author+Corresponding Author

[4]           Zheng H*#, Loh HH, Law PY. Agonist-selective signaling of G protein-coupled receptor: mechanisms and implications. IUBMB Life. 2010 Feb;62(2):112-9. First Author+Corresponding Author

[3]           Zheng H*#, Chu J, Zeng Y, Loh HH, Law PY. Yin Yang 1 phosphorylation contributes to the differential effects of mu-opioid receptor agonists on microRNA-190 expression. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2010 Jul 16;285(29):21994-2002. First Author+Corresponding Author

[2]           Zheng H*#, Loh HH, Law PY. Beta-arrestin-dependent mu-opioid receptor-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) Translocate to Nucleus in Contrast to G protein-dependent ERK activation. Molecular Pharmacology. 2008 Jan;73(1):178-90. First Author+Corresponding Author

[1]           Zheng H*#, Chu J, Qiu Y, Loh HH, Law PY. Agonist-selective signaling is determined by the receptor location within the membrane domains. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2008 Jul 8;105(27):9421-6. First Author+Corresponding Author

2010. 10 Beijing Forest University, Beijing,China
Oral Presentation in ASBMB. Title: “Opioid, NeuroD, Adult Neurogenesis and Memory”, Hui Zheng, Ji Chu, Horace H. Loh and Ping-Yee Law”

2010. 09 Cold Spring Harbor Asia Conference, Suzhou,China
Oral Presentation Titled “NeuroD, Adult Neurogenesis and Memory” in “Reprogramming and Plasticity” section, “Molecular Switches & Genome Function in Stem Cells & Development”, Hui Zheng, Ji Chu, Horace H. Loh and Ping-Yee Law”

2010. 04 Experimental Biology 2010, Anaheim, CA
Poster Presentation in ASBMB. Title: “Yin Yang 1 Phosphorylation contributes to the differential effects of µ-opioid receptor agonists on miR-190 expression”, Hui Zheng, Ji Chu, Yan Zeng, Horace H. Loh and Ping-Yee Law”


2009. 10 Society of neuroscience annual meeting in Chicago, IL.
Poster Presentation Title: μ-opioid receptor modulates the stability of dendritic spines by agonist-selective regulation on NeuroD activity. Hui Zheng, Yan Zeng, Xiaoxiao Zhang, Ji Chu, Horace H. Loh and Ping-Yee Law

2009. 05 2nd Annual Biomedical Sciences Graduate Programs, Minneapolis, MN
Oral Presentation. Title: “Agonist-selective signaling of MOR” Hui Zheng, Horace H. Loh and Ping-Yee Law

2008.08 236th American Chemical Society National Meeting, Philadelphia, PA
Oral Presentation in a symposium: “Pharmacology: The Forgotten Art of Drug Discovery”. Title: “Agonist-Selective Signaling On mu-Opioid Receptor, Hui Zheng, Horace H. Loh and Ping-Yee Law”

2008.05 1st Annual Biomedical Sciences Graduate Programs, Minneapolis, MN
Poster Presentation. Title: “Agonist-selective signaling of MOR agonists, morphine and fentanyl, Hui Zheng, Horace H. Loh and Ping-Yee Law

2008.04 Experimental Biology 2008, San Diego, CA
Poster Presentation in Program: “G Protein II”, ASPET. Title: “Morphine and Etorphine activate same G protein but exhibit distinct pathways in μ-opioid receptor-mediated ERK1/2 activation, Hui Zheng, Horace H. Loh and Ping-Yee Law”