Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Jianying Zhang, PhD

  • Research Associate Professor

Education & Training

  • PhD, Kochi University Medical School, Kochi, Japan
  • MS, Peking University School of Pharmacy, Beijing, China
  • BS, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China

Representative Publications

  1. Zhang Jianying, Brown R, Hogan M, Onishi K, Wang JH-C. Metformin improves tendon degeneration by blocking translocation of HMGB1 and suppressing tendon inflammation and senescence in aging mice. Journal of Orthopaedic Research, Oct. 18, 2022 online. doi.org/10.1002/jor.25470; Journal impact factor: 3.494.
  2. Zhang Jianying, Li F, Williamson K, Tan S, Scott D, Onishi K, Hogan MV, Wang JH-C. Characterization of the structure, vascularity, and stem/progenitor cell populations in porcine Achilles tendon (PAT). Cell and Tissue Research, 384:367-387, 2021. doi:10.1007/s00441-020-03379-3; Journal impact factor: 4.044. Cited by 8.
  3. Zhang Jianying, Li F, Augi T, Williamson K, Onishi K, Hogan M, Neal M, Wang JHC. Platelet HMGB1 in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) promotes tendon wound healing. Plos One, 16(9):e0251166, 2021. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0251166; Journal impact factor: 3.757. Cited by 8.
  4. Nie D, Zhou Y, Wang W, Zhang Jianying, Wang JH-C. Mechanical overloading induced-activation of mTOR signaling in tendonstem/progenitor cells contributes to tendinopathy development. Frontiers in Cell Developmental Biology, 9:687856, 2021. (Corresponsing author). doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2021.687856; Journal impact factor: 6.081. Cited by 8.
  5. Zhang Jianying, Li F, Nie D, Onishi K, Hogan MV, Wang JH-C. Effect of metformin on development of tendinopathy due to mechanical overloading in an animal model. Foot & Ankle International, 41(12):1455-1465, 2020. Doi: 10.1177/1071100720966318; This paper is awarded as outstanding research paper in 2020 by American Foot & Ankle Society (J. Leonard Goldner Award), Journal impact factor: 3.569. Cited by 7.
  6. Zhang Jianying, Nie D, Williamson K, Rocha JL, Hogan MV, Wang JH-C. Selectively activated platelets exert differential effects on tendon stem cells and tendon healing. Journal of Tissue Engineering, 10:1-14, 2019. DOI: 10.1177/2041731418820034; Journal impact factor: 7.94. Cited by 19.
  7. Zhang Jianying, Nie D, Rocha JL, Hogan MV, Wang JH-C. Characterization of the structure, stem cells, and mechanobiology of human plantar fascia. Journal of Tissue Engineering, 9:1-16, 2018. (Corresponding author). Doi: 10.1177/2041731418801103; Journal impact factor: 7.94. Cited by 25.
  8. Zhang Jianying, Yuan T, Zheng N, Zhou Y, Hogan M, Wang JH-C. The combined use of kartogenin and platelet-rich plasma promotes fibrocartilage formation in the wounded rat Achilles tendon entheses. Bone & Joint Research, 6(4):231-244, 2017. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.64.BJR-2017-0268.R1; Journal Impact Factor: 4.41; Cited by 51.
  9. Zhang Jianying, Li B, Wang JH-C. The role of engineered tendon matrix in the stemness of tendon stem cells in vitro and the promotion of tendon-like tissue formation in vivo. Biomaterials, 32(29):6972-6981, 2011. PMID: 21703682; PMCID: PMC3148341; Journal Impact Factor: 15.304; Cited by 132.
  10. Zhang Jianying, Wang JH-C.  Platelet-rich plasma releasate promotes differentiation of tendon stem cells into active tenocytes. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 38 (12):2477-2486, 2010. PMID: 20802092; Journal Impact Factor: 7.01; Cited by 299.

 

Research Interests

My current research is focused on tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, especially on developing new biomaterials and new drugs to enhance wounded tissue (bone, cartilage and tendon) healing. I understand that successful development of a tissue engineered product requires the integration of new knowledge across diverse fields, such as material science, biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, pharmaceutical chemistry, and polymer chemistry. I have been fully trained by these multiple fields and have more than 30 years of professional experiences in developing new biomaterials and new drugs for wound healing and tissue regeneration and repair. I have established a proven track record of successfully completing productive research projects with more than 100 published scientific papers, and more than 30 patents. One of my patents (US7264823) has been licensed and the patent products have been approved by US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical use. Due to my outstanding contribution in research, I was awarded “Pitt Innovator Award” by the University of Pittsburgh for three times, and one of my research papers is warded as an outstanding research paper by American Foot & Ankle Society in 2020.

Research Grants

  1. Repurposed metfromin as a preventative therapeutic for tendon overuse injuries
    DOD grant; MTEC-22-02-MPAI-014
    Amount Awarded:
    10/01/2022 to 6/30/2024
    Co-PI (75% effort)
     
  2. Recovery of tendon injury by targeting its root cause and enhancing tendon stem cells
    DOD grant; OR220017
    Amount Awarded:
    07/01/2023 to 6/30/2026
    Co-PI (15% effort)
     
  3. The treatment of Achilles tendinopathy with P-PRP and percutaneous ultrasound tenotomy
    DOD grant
    Amount Awarded: $1,650,000)
    07/01/2023 to 06/30/2026
    Co-I (10% effort)
     
  4. Use of bio-agents-containing polymer adhesive to promote healing in diabetic bone fractures
    Pittsburgh Foundation; Albert B. Ferguson, JR., MD Orthopaedic Fund
    Amount Awarded:
    01/01/2023 to 12/30/2023
    PI (5% effort)
     
  5. Inhibition of HMGB1 by metformin prevents aging induced tendinopathy
    Pittsburgh Foundation; Albert B. Ferguson, JR., MD Orthopaedic Fund; AD2021-120112
    Amount Awarded:
    7/01/2021 to 6/30/2023
    PI (5% effort)
     
  6. Use of non-oxidizable HMGB1 to regenerate tendon after an overuse injury
    Pittsburgh Foundation; Albert B. Ferguson, JR., MD Orthopaedic Fund; AD2021-120108
    Amount Awarded:
    7/01/2021 to 6/30/2023
    Co-I (5% effort)
     
  7. Evaluation of frHMGB1 treatment for nonunion fracture healing in a diabetic rat model
    AOFAS grant; 2021-12655-E
    Amount Awarded:
    5/01/2021 to 4/30/2023
    Co-I (5% effort)
     
  8. A novel bioactive scaffold for cartilage regeneration
    Pittsburgh Foundation, Albert B. Ferguson, JR., MD Orthopaedic Fund
    Amount Awarded:
    7/01/2019 to 6/30/2020
    PI (5% effort)
     
  9. HMGB1 mediates the onset of loading-induced tendon injury
    NIH/NIAMS grant; 1R21AR070340-01
    Amount Awarded: $320,000
    07/01/2016 to 04/30/2018
    Co-I (30% effort)
     
  10. The role of tendon stem cells in the degenerative tendinopathy induced by mechanical loading
    NIH/NIAMS---1RO1AR06549-01A1
    Amount Awarded: $220,000 
    3/01/2015 to 2/28/2020
    Co-I (85% effort)
     
  11. Repair of tendinopathic tendons
    NIH/NIAMS grant; 1R01AR061395 
    Amount Awarded: $323,831
    9/01/2011 to 8/30/2016   
    Co-I (85% effort)
     
  12. Moderate exercise improve aging tendons
    Pittsburgh Pepper Center Pilot Study Funding 
    Amount Awarded: $25,000
    9/01/2015 to 8/31/2016
    Co-I (5% effort)
     
  13. Aging effect on tendon cell senescence
    The Pittsburgh Foundation
    Amount Awarded: $5,000
    9/01/2015 to 8/31/2016
    Co-I (5% effort)