<aside> š§ Hi! Iām CHENGYANG ZHANG, an MRes Pharmaceutical Research student at University College London, supervised by Dr Audrey Mercer. My current research focuses on evaluating the neuroprotective effects of probiotics in a pre-motor rat model of Parkinsonās disease.
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Chengyang Zhang completed his Bachelorās degree in Natural Sciences at UCL, focusing on Biomedical Science and Organic Chemistry. His interest in neuroscience began during a lecture on Parkinsonās diseaseāa moment that sparked a lasting fascination with neurodegeneration and pharmacology. Learning about the cellular mechanisms that drive neuronal loss and the complex neural circuits involved in motor control revealed the remarkable intricacy of the brain. What started as a simple curiosity soon grew into a deeper motivation to understand how molecular events underlie physiological function, and how their disruption gives rise to disease.
His research interests centre on the early stages of Parkinsonās disease (PD). Like cancer, PD is a progressive condition that develops gradually over many years. Although it is divided into five clinical stages, most patients only recognise symptoms once the disease has already progressed, making early detection a significant challenge. This delay underscores the importance of studying the prodromal, non-motor phase of PD. Symptoms such as sleep disturbances, constipation, olfactory deficits, mood changes, and subtle cognitive decline often emerge long before the characteristic motor impairments appear.
By focusing on this early phase, Chengyang aims to contribute to efforts in improving early diagnosis, patient stratification, and the development of potential disease-modifying treatments. Understanding the pathological and molecular events that precede motor symptoms may ultimately support the creation of more effective strategies for prevention, timely intervention, and slowing disease progression.
MRes Project - UCL
Research Assistant - SJTU
Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis - UCL
Sept, 2025 - Now
June, 2025 - August, 2025
March, 2025 - April, 2025
Optimizing aerosolized RNA to lung delivery - UCL
June, 2024 - August, 2024
PHAR0010 Neuropharmacology: Explored the foundations of neuropharmacology, covering neurotransmitter signalling, synaptic transmission, and pharmacological approaches to CNS disorders.
PHAR0012 Receptor Mechanism: Explored cellular signalling mechanisms underlying receptor activation, covering GPCR pathways, ion channel function, and second messengers such as CaĀ²āŗ, IPā, and cAMP.
PHAR0007 Introductory Pharmacology:
Explored key therapeutic drug groups, examining evidence for their mechanisms of action and how drugs and toxins are used to reveal physiological processes.
PHOL0005 Structure and Function of Nervous Systems:
Explored neural development, brain anatomy, sensory processing, and the neural basis of behaviour, with practical sessions on motor reflexes, mechanoreception, hearing, and vision.
Reach me at chengyang.zhang@outlook.com or on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/feed/. Let's connect and learn together!