Zhen Huang, PhD

Research Assistant Professor

School of Medicine
Medicine Infectious Diseases
Headshot-Zhen Huang

Biography

Dr. Zhen Huang specializes in developing and translating advanced biosensors and in vitro diagnostic platforms to enhance pathogen biomarker detection and clinical diagnostics for infectious diseases. His research bridges fundamental science and clinical practice, driving innovations in diagnostic accuracy for complex biological samples and enabling personalized disease diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Huang has led three national and provincial research projects in China and contributed to four national initiatives. He has published over 40 peer-reviewed articles in top journals, including Nature Reviews Bioengineering, The Lancet Microbe, Nature Nanotechnology, Nature Biomedical Engineering, Nature Communicators, Science Advances, Journal of Clinical Investigation, Advanced Science, and ACS Nano et al. He also served as an associate editor for a published monograph and received a provincial scientific and technological award as a primary contributor. Additionally, he holds one international, one U.S., and two Chinese patents, with two successfully commercialized.

 

 

Publications

  1. Z. Huang#, Z. Song, J. Zeng, X. Liu, M. Fang, Z. Wu, Y Zhao, Y. Chen, D. Li, H. Huang, L. Fu, P. Xu, B. Ning, J. Chen, M. Guan, L. Sun, C.J. Lyon, X.Y. Fan, S. Lu#, T. Hu#. (2025) Sensitive pathogen DNA detection by a multi-guide RNA Cas12a assay favoring trans- versus cis-cleavage. Nature Communicaitons 16: 8257.
  2. B. Gou, C. Zhang, Z. Song, Z. Huang#, S. Lu#. (2025). Targeted next-generation sequencing for rapid tuberculosis detection: systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinica Chimica Acta, 577: 120469.
  3. Y. Chen, L.C. Fan, Z. Ren, Y.H. Yu, J. Sun, M.R. Wang, C. Liu, Y. Zhang, S.H. Lu#, X.H. Liu#, Z. Huang#. (2025). Sensitive diagnosis of paucibacillary tuberculosis with targeted next-generation sequencing: a molecular diagnostic study. BMC Medicine, 23(1):178.
  4. Z. Huang*, H. Huang*, J. Hu*, L. Xia, X. H. Liu, R. Qu, X. L. Huang, Y. Yang, K. Wu, R. Q. Ma, Ji. C. Xu, Z. Y. Chen, Y. H. Wu, J. Yang, Y. Fang, J. F. Zeng, W. H. Lai, G. D. Sui, W. Sha, Y. H. Xiong, S. H. Lu, X. Y. Fan.(2024). A novel quantitative urine LAM antigen strip for point-of-care tuberculosis diagnosis in non-HIV adults. Journal of Infection, 88(2): 194-198.
  5. G. Zhang, Z. Huang#, L. W. Hu, W. M. Wang, S. L. Deng, D. F. Liu, J. Peng, W. H. Lai#. (2023) Molecular Engineering Powered Dual-Readout Point-of-Care Testing for Sensitive Detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7. ACS Nano, 12(23): 23723-23731.
  6. Z. Huang, G. L. Zhang, C. J. Lyon, T. Y. Hu, S. H. Lu. (2023) Outlook for CRISPR-based tuberculosis assays now in their infancy. Frontiers in Immunology 14: 117205.
  7. Z. Huang, C. J. Lyon, J. Wang, S.H. Lu, T. Y. Hu. (2023) CRISPR assays for disease diagnosis: progress to and barriers remaining for clinical applications. Advanced Science 2301697.
  8. Z. Huang, C. J. Lyon, and T. Y. Hu (2023). CRISPR-based assays for low-resource settings. Nature Review Bioengineering 1: 230-231.
  9. Z. Huang, S. M. LaCourse, A. W. Kay, J. Stern, J. N. Escudero, B. M. Youngquist, W. S. Zheng, D. Vambe, M. Dlamini, G. Mtetwa, L. M. Cranmer, I. Njuguna, D. C. Wamalwa, E. Maleche-Obimbo, D. Catanzaro, C. J. Lyon, G. John-Stewart, A. DiNardo, A. M. Mandalakas, B. Ning, and T. Y. Hu (2022). CRISPR detection of circulating cell-free M. tuberculosis DNA in adults and children, including children with HIV: a molecular diagnostics study. The Lancet Microbe 3(7): e482-492.
  10. Z. Huang*, L. Zhang*, J. C. Lyon, B. Ning, B. M. Youngquist, A. Niu, B. J. Beddingfield, N. J. Maness, N. S. Saba, C. Z. Li, C. J. Roy, and T. Y. Hu (2022). CRISPR-based assay reveals SARS-CoV-2 RNA dynamic changes and redistribution patterns in non-human primate model. Emerging Microbes & Infections 11(1): 629-638.
  11. Z. Huang*, B. Ning*, H. S. Yang*, B. M. Youngquist, A. Niu, C. J. Lyon, B. J. Beddingfield, A. C. Fears, C. H. Monk, A. E. Murrell, S. J. Bilton, J. P. Linhuber, E. B. Norton, M. L. Dietrich, J. Yee, W. H. Lai, J. W. Scott, X. M. Yin, J. Rappaport, J. E. Robinson, N. S. Saba, C. J. Roy, K. J. Zwezdaryk, Z. Zhao#, and T. Y. Hu# (2021). Sensitive tracking of circulating viral RNA through all stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Journal of Clinical Investigation 131(7): e146031.
  12. Z. Huang, D. Tian, Y. Liu, Z. Lin, C. J. Lyon, W. Lai, D. Fusco, A. Drouin, X. Yin, T. Hu, and B. Ning (2020). Ultra-sensitive and high-throughput CRISPR-powered COVID-19 diagnosis. Biosensor and Bioelectronics 164: 112316.
  13. Z. Huang, Y. H. Liu, Y. Chen, Q. R. Xiong, Y. H. Wang, H. W. Duan, and W. H. Lai (2020). Improving the performance of upconversion nanoprobe-based lateral flow immunoassays by supramolecular self-assembly core/shell strategies.Sensors and Actuators B-Chemical318: 128233.

Interests

In vitro diagnostics; biomarkers; biosensors; nanoprobes; immunodiagnostics; molecular diagnostics; infectious diseases, and foodborne diseases.