Summary

Haojie Zhu is a Professor in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy. He graduated from the China Pharmaceutical University with a major in Pharmacy, and further received his M.S. and Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the same University. He also holds an MBA degree from Nanjing University. He was a licensed Pharmacist as well as a trained Dentist in China. Dr. Zhu completed his post-doctoral training in Pharmacogenomics, Pharmacokinetics, and Neuropsychopharmacology at the Medical University of South Carolina. His research focuses on identifying genetic variants and environmental regulators that impact pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of various therapeutic agents using an integrated multi-omics approach (e.g., genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics). The generated information can be used to guide the personalized use of medications to maximize efficacy while minimizing the risk of adverse effects. 

Research Interests

  • Utilize an integrated multi-omics approach combining pharmacogenomics, proteomics, and metabonomics to identify biomarkers associated with interindividual variability in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics

  • Determine tissue-specific protein expression patterns of prodrug-activating enzymes and apply the information to prodrug design to enhance the activation and accumulation of prodrugs in target tissues 

  • Develop innovative LC-MS/MS-based technologies to address the challenges in quantifying proteins and metabolites in complex biomatrices such as blood and solid tissues

Awards

  • 2016 JBC/Herbert Tabor Young Investigator Award, The Journal of Biological Chemistry
  • 2015 AACP New Investigator Award , American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP)

Selected Publications

  • Li, J.; de Melo Jorge, D. M.; Wang, W.; Sun, S.; Frum, T.; Hang, Y.-A.; Liu, Y.; Zhou, X.; Xiao, J.; Wang, X. Spence, JR. Wobus, CE. and Zhu, H.J. Differential Bioactivation Profiles of Different GS-441524 Prodrugs in Cell and Mouse Models: ProTide Prodrugs with High Cell Permeability and Susceptibility to Cathepsin A Are More Efficient in Delivering Antiviral Active Metabolites to the Lung. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2024.

     

    Bhatt‐Mehta, V.; Jing, X.; Wang, X.; Zhu, H. J. Transplacental methadone exposure and risk of Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome. Pharmacotherapy: The Journal of Human Pharmacology and Drug Therapy 2023.

     

    Her, L.; Shi, J.; Wang, X.; He, B.; Smith, L.; Jiang, H.; Zhu, H. J. Identification of regulatory variants of carboxylesterase 1 (CES1): A proof‐of‐concept study for the application of the Allele‐Specific Protein Expression (ASPE) assay in identifying cis‐acting regulatory genetic polymorphisms. Proteomics 2022, 2200176.

     

    Li, J.; Xue, Y.; Wang, X.; Smith, L. S.; He, B.; Liu, S.; Zhu, H. J. Tissue‐and cell‐expression of druggable host proteins provide insights into repurposing drugs for COVID‐19. Clinical and Translational Science 2022.

     

    Shi, J.; Xiao, J.; Wang, X.; Jung, S. M.; Bleske, B. E.; Markowitz, J. S.; Patrick, K. S.; Zhu, H. J. Plasma carboxylesterase 1 predicts methylphenidate exposure: a proof‐of‐concept study using plasma protein biomarker for hepatic drug metabolism. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics 2021.