Xin Zhang

Dr. Xin Zhang is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology’s Center for Translational Pain Medicine (CTPM) at Duke University and a Professor at Nanjing Medical University in China. With a doctoral degree in the pain field and 20 years of clinical experience, he possesses a unique perspective on translating preclinical research to patient care. During his postdoctoral fellowship in Dr. Andrea Nackley's lab, Xin’s research focused on chronic primary ‘overlapping’ pain syndromes (CPPCs). He demonstrated the involvement of peripheral β2- and β3-adrenergic receptors in driving nociception and persistent pain, and the link between CPPCs and depressive disorders mediated by heightened catecholaminergic tone. Xin continues to collaborate on the development and validation of novel CPPC mouse models for in vivo discovery and screening of novel analgesic therapeutics.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology · 2021 - Present Anesthesiology, Clinical Science Departments

Recent Publications

miR-374 family is a key regulator of chronic primary pain onset.

Journal Article Pain Rep · December 2024 INTRODUCTION: Chronic primary pain conditions (CPPCs) are linked to catecholamine activation of peripheral adrenergic receptors. Yet, catecholamine-dependent epigenetic mechanisms, such as microRNA (miRNA) regulation of mRNA transcripts, remain largely unk ... Full text Link to item Cite

Elevated vesicular Zn2+ in dorsal root ganglion neurons expressing the transporter TMEM163 causes age-associated itchy skin in mice.

Journal Article PLoS Biol · November 2024 The prevalent itching condition associated with aging, historically referred to as senile pruritus, diminishes quality of life. Despite its impact, effective treatments remain elusive, largely due to an incomplete understanding of its pathological cause. I ... Full text Link to item Cite

Identifying risk factors for hypoxemia during emergence from anesthesia in patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

Journal Article J Robot Surg · May 7, 2024 Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) has emerged as an effective treatment for prostate cancer with obvious advantages. This study aims to identify risk factors related to hypoxemia during the emergence from anesthesia in patients under ... Full text Link to item Cite

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Education, Training & Certifications

Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China) · 2015 Ph.D.