Liang Zheng, Ph.D.

Professional Background

Dr. Zheng earned his PhD in Marine Life Science from Hokkaido University in Japan, where he developed a strong foundation in molecular and cellular biology. He completed postdoctoral training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, supported by an American Heart Association postdoctoral fellowship, focusing on mechanisms of thrombosis, hemostasis, and vascular biology. He joined the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center in July 2020. His work integrates molecular techniques, animal models, and translational approaches to advance the understanding of blood clotting disorders and vascular disease.

• MSC, Marine Biology , Shanghai Ocean University
• PhD, Marine Life Science , Hokkaido University
• Post Doctoral Fellowship, Toxicology, University of Illinois at Chicago
• Post Doctoral Fellowship, Pathology , University of Alabama at Birmingham

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Research

Overview

Dr. Zheng's research is centered on advancing our understanding of Thrombotic Microangiopathy (TMA), a group of rare but severe thrombotic disorders, and developing new targeted therapeutic approaches using animal models of TMA. He primarily employs zebrafish and murine models to identify and characterize novel genetic factors and pathways involved in the pathogenesis of TMA. In addition, he is interested in exploring the role of environmental factors in modulating the disease onset, progression, and outcome.

• Career Development Award, American Heart Association , PI
• Pathogenesis of thrombotic microangiopathies, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Co-I

• Zheng, Liang, Wu, Zhijian, Yada, Noritaka, Liu, Suzmam , Lin, Cindy, Bignotti, Antonia , Zhao, Xinyang , Zheng, X. Long. 2025. Modeling ANKRD26 5’-UTR mutation-related thrombocytopenia . Disease Models & Mechanisms, 18 (4). https://journals.biologists.com/dmm/article/doi/10.1242/dmm.052222
• Zheng, Liang, Adili, Reheman , Wu, Zhijian, Zhang, Quan, Zhu, Guangheng, Lei, Xi, Liu, Zhenze, Neves, Miguel ., A.D., Ma, Wenjing, Slavkovic, Sladjana , Xu, Xiaohong , Ni, Heyu, Zheng, X. Long. 2025. Preventative and therapeutic efficacy of a humanized anti-GPIbα Fab fragment in a mouse model of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 23 (5), 1596-1607. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1538783625000741
• Liu, Jianfu, Zheng, Liang. 2025. Microplastic Migration and Transformation Pathways and Exposure Health Risks. Environmental Pollution, 368, 125700
• Zheng, Liang , Cao, Liyun , Zheng, X. Long. 2022. ADAMTS13 protease or lack of von Willebrand factor protects irradiation and melanoma-induced thrombotic microangiopathy in zebrafish. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 20 (10), 2270-2283
• Zheng, L, Abdelgawwad, M., S, Zhang, D, Xu, L, Wei, S, Cao, W, Zheng, X., L. 2020. Histone-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in adamts13-/- zebrafish depends on von Willebrand factor.. Haematologica, 105 (4), 1107-1119
• Zheng, L, Zhang, D, Cao, W, Song, W., C, Zheng, X., L. 2019. Synergistic effects of ADAMTS13 deficiency and complement activation in pathogenesis of thrombotic microangiopathy.. Blood, 134 (13), 1095-1105
• Zheng, Liang, Mao, Yingying, Abdelgawwad, Mohammad ., S , Kocher , Nicole , Li, Mandy, Dai, Xiangrong, Li, Benjamin , Zheng, X. Long. 2016. Therapeutic efficacy of the platelet glycoprotein Ib antagonist anfibatide in murine models of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Blood advances , 1 (1), 75-83