O&T, CUHK

Academic Profile

Dr ZHANG Ning

Dr CHUI Chun-sing, Elvis

Dr TONG Wenxue

Dr CHEN Xiaona

Dr HSUEH Yu-sheng, Delon

Dr CAO Mingde

Dr LIU Chaoran

CONTACT INFORMATION

Office : (852) 3505-1559

Email : ningzhang@cuhk.edu.hk

ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT

Undergraduate teaching:
BEng in Biomedical Engineering

Postgraduate supervision:
MPhil/PhD in Orthopaedics & Traumatology
MSc in Musculoskeletal Medicine, Rehabilitation and Geriatric Orthopaedics

ORCID: 0000-0002-9513-9288
Scopus Author ID: 58743782400
Google Scholar: 3T5ykDIAAAAJ

Dr. ZHANG Ning 張寧

BSc (SDU), MSc (SJTU), PhD (CUHK)

Assistant Professor
助理教授

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Zhang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). He received his PhD from CUHK and completed postdoctoral training in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Stanford University.

Dr. Zhang’s research focuses on the regeneration and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal disorders, including fragility fractures, large bone defects, and muscle and bone deterioration associated with aging or environmental stressors. His work integrates cell-based therapies, immunomodulation, tissue engineering, and biophysical interventions. He is deeply committed to identifying emerging risk factors through a multidisciplinary lens and developing novel therapeutic and rehabilitation strategies for musculoskeletal conditions.

Dr. Zhang serves as the PI for several grants funded by the RGC, HMRF, and ITF. He has authored over 80 peer-reviewed publications and actively contributes to the academic community as an editorial board member, guest editor, and reviewer for multiple leading international journals.

SPECIALISED RESEARCH AREAS

Immunomodulation for Bone and Muscle Regeneration
Rehabilitation Interventions for Post-fracture Recovery
Muscle-Bone Crosstalk
Environmental Stressors and Musculoskeletal Health

SELECTED PUBLICATION

1.	Qu X, Shi Y, Li Y, Han Y, Sun G, Sun H, Wang Y, Nan X, Qu R, Zhang N(co-corresponding), Zhao X, Liu B. Cross-Organ Toxicity and Metabolic Responses to Food Chain-Transferred Nanoplastics: Mechanistic Insights from a Multiomics Perspective. ACS Nano. 20(20):14426-14442; 2026.*
2.	Xiao Y, Pan H, Zhang M, Han X, Guo H, Qu X, Shi Y, Cao S, Zhang N(co-corresponding), Zhao X, Liu B. The game changer of biofilm in microplastic pollution and potential environmental risks: Unveiling the pivotal roles on surface modification, metal adsorption, and biological uptake. Environmental research. 303:124709; 2026.*
3.	Zhang N(co-corresponding), Yuan J, Li X, Su N, Wang Y, Chen S, Huang E, Gao Q, Yang F, Chow SKH, Goodman SB. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals early cell dynamics of MSC-based therapy in long bone critical-size defects in mice. J Orthop Translat. 55:121-31; 2025.
4.	Xu X, Wang Q, Li B, Liu C, Cui C, Yi M, Zhai L, Wong RMY, Zhang N(corresponding), Cheung WH. Effects of Artificial Sweeteners on the Musculoskeletal System: A Systematic Review of Current Evidence. Nutrients. 17(21); 2025.*
5.	Zhang N(co-corresponding), Zhai L, Wong RMY, Cui C, Law SW, Chow SK, Goodman SB, Cheung WH. Harnessing immunomodulation to combat sarcopenia: current insights and possible approaches. Immun Ageing. 21(1):55; 2024.
6.	Li X, Shen H, Zhang M, Teissier V, Huang EE, Gao Q, Tsubosaka M, Toya M, Kushioka J, Maduka CV, Contag CH, Chow SK, Zhang N(co-corresponding), Goodman SB. Glycolytic reprogramming in macrophages and MSCs during inflammation. Front Immunol. 14:1199751; 2023.
7.	Huang EE, Zhang N ¹ (co-first author), Ganio EA, Shen H, Li X, Ueno M, Utsunomiya T, Maruyama M, Gao Q, Su N, Yao Z, Yang F, Gaudillière B, Goodman SB. Differential dynamics of bone graft transplantation and mesenchymal stem cell therapy during bone defect healing in a murine critical size defect. J Orthop Translat. 36:64-74. 2022.
8.	Hirata H, Zhang N ¹ (co-first author), Ueno M, Barati D, Kushioka J, Shen H, Tsubosaka M, Toya M, Lin T, Huang E, Yao Z, Wu JY, Zwingenberger S, Yang F, Goodman SB. Ageing Attenuates Bone Healing by Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Microribbon Hydrogel with a Murine Long Bone Critical-Size Defect Model. Immun Ageing. 19,14; 2022.
9.	Zhang N, Lo CW, Utsunomiya T, Maruyama M, Huang E, Rhee C, Gao Q, Yao Z, Goodman SB. PDGF-BB and IL-4 co-overexpression is a potential strategy to enhance mesenchymal stem cell-based bone regeneration. Stem Cell Res Ther. 12 (1), 1-11; 2021.
10.	Zhang N, Utsunomiya T, Lin T, Kohno Y, Ueno M, Maruyama M, Huang E, Rhee C, Yao Z, Goodman SB. Mesenchymal Stem Cells and NF-κB Sensing Interleukin-4 Over-Expressing Mesenchymal Stem Cells Are Equally Effective in Mitigating Particle-Associated Chronic Inflammatory Bone Loss in Mice. Front Cell Dev Biol. 9:757830; 2021.

SELECTED AWARDS

1.	Silver Medal. Artificial Intelligence Assisted Orthopaedic Prosthesis Design and Surgical Planning System. Silicon Valley International Invention Festival, Santa Clara, California, USA. 2024
2.	Orthopaedic Basic Science Award. Does sarcopenia affect osteoporotic fracture healing? Myostatin as a target to enhance repair. The 40th Annual Congress of Hong Kong Orthopaedic Association. Hong Kong. 2020
3.	Best Paper Award for Associate Member. Influence of sarcopenia on osteoporotic fracture healing in senescence accelerated mouse model. The 36th Annual Congress of Hong Kong Orthopaedic Association. Hong Kong. 2016
4.	研究生國家獎學金. 中華人民共和國教育部, 2012
5.	骨科基礎獎優秀論文一等獎. TRAF3在IL-17引起的软骨破坏中作用研究. The 7th Annual Congress of Chinese Orthopaedic Association. Beijing, China. 2012.