Dr. Zhu joined APOM in 2012 as a post-doctor working for Dr. Alkayed and accepted the new appointment as Senior Research Associate in Dr. Alkayed’s lab in 2015.  He previously graduated from Hunan Medical University and worked as a neurological physician more than 10 years in China. Dr. Zhu’s research interests focus on the pathophysiological mechanism and the seeking of possible neuroprotective agents of ischemic stroke. Dr. Zhu is specialized in the animal surgeries of MCAO model, CA/CPR model and OMAG scanning technique as well as the post-processing of OMAG data. In his free time, Dr. Zhu enjoys reading, movie, skiing and of course, the quality time with his family.

Lijuan (Helen) Liu, D.V.M., is a research associate.  She joined APOM in January of 2013.  Dr. Liu received her DVM degree in China. Most recently, Dr. Liu worked in Dr. Donna Van Winkle’s lab, studying the mechanisms of cardioprotection induced by opioid peptides and

epoxyeicosatrienoic acids. Specifically, she used cardiomyocytes isolated from adult or neonatal mouse to study signal transduction (PI3K-AKT pathway) transactivated by G protein-coupled receptors (opioid receptors and EGFR receptors). In addition, she also

provided service for other laboratory personnel from OHSU in providing basic training for cardiomyocyte isolations and culture. Currently, she is working as the lead technician for the APOM Research Histology Core, providing technical expertise and support for a variety of research projects.  Outside of the lab, Helen enjoys dancing and taking care her parents at home.

In July 2007, Dr. Wenri Zhang accepted an appointment as Senior Research Associate in the Research Division of the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine.  Over the past several years, his research has been focused on gender-related outcomes of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion and, more specifically, the associated molecular mechanisms of neuroprotection, vascular biology, microcirculation, neurogenesis, and neurostereology. In 1996, Dr. Zhang graduated from the YanBian University School of Medicine in JiLin, China.  After completing a residency in General Surgery, he entered the Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry in Japan where he earned the PhD in Neuroscience in 2003. When he is away from the lab, Dr. Zhang enjoys running, playing soccer, and reading

Destine is originally from Dallas, Texas but moved to Portland, Oregon to attend Reed college where she earned a degree in neuroscience. She joined APOM in 2022 as a research assistant where she provides support on a variety of projects.  When not in lab she can enjoys reading, hiking, and playing board games with friends.

Zoe joined APOM as a Senior Research Assistant in 2023. She earned her Bachelor of Science at the University of Oregon, where she studied the structural dynamics of pre-mRNA in the spliceosome under the mentorship of Dr. Julia Widom. She went on to earn her Master of Engineering in Bioengineering at U.C. Berkeley, where she conducted research with Dr. Boris Rubinsky concerning the cryopreservation of human organs. Outside of work, Zoe enjoys painting, dancing, and anything involving nature.