Pan Zheng
Co-discovered why suppressing mTOR keeps aging blood stem cells alive, then showed the effect is reversible with rapamycin
MD, Peking Union Medical College · PhD, Yale · Professor, Univ. of Michigan, Ohio State, Children's National, Univ. of Maryland IHV · now Co-founder & CMO, OncoC4, Inc.
Portrait: OncoC4, Inc.
Senior author on both CHE2008 and CHE2009 (HSC aging/mTOR). Long partnership with immunologist Yang Liu spanning Yale, Ohio State, Michigan, Children's National, Univ. of Maryland IHV; co-discovered the CD24–Siglec-10 checkpoint, translated into CD24Fc (tested for GVHD and severe COVID).
Co-founded OncoC4 (formerly OncoImmune), where he's now CMO directing global checkpoint-immunotherapy trials.
Milestones in the Atlas
| Year | Evidence | Study |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | A | TSC-mTOR maintains quiescence and function of hematopoietic stem cells by repressing mitochondrial biogenesis and reactive oxygen species CHE2008 Senior author: TSC-mTOR keeps blood stem cells quiescent by repressing mitochondrial ROS. |
| 2009 | A | mTOR regulation and therapeutic rejuvenation of aging hematopoietic stem cells CHE2009 Senior author: mTOR hyperactivation drives HSC aging; rapamycin restores function and immune competence. |