Translational Biomedical Research

From Labs To Lives

Welcome to the Center for Translational Biomedical Research of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro! Here, scientists are implementing pioneering biomedical discoveries to explore disease pathogenesis and to develop new methods for prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of human diseases.

Our Research

Current CTBR research activities focus on fatty liver diseases and diabetes. Scientists at the center are using state-of-the art tools and interdisciplinary approaches to uncover the biomolecules and mechanisms that cause these diseases. They are also exploring novel methods to prevent and treat these disorders, with a particular focus on dietary interventions.

Learn more about the Zhou lab’s research on liver disease
Learn more about the Zhang lab’s research on diabetes

Current Projects

ALDEHYDE TOXICITY

Investigating the mechanisms by which aldehydes impair cell function and induce organ damage…

LIPOTOXICITY

Lipid accumulation is one of the most fundamental cellular disorders in the development of alcoholic liver disease…

ORGAN INTERACTIONS

Increasing evidence support a concept that extra-hepatic factors critically involve in the pathogenesis…

DIETARY INTERVENTIONS

Exploring dietary interventions to prevent or treat liver diseases. Liver is the organ responsible for metabolism …

Proteomics

Temporal plasma proteomics and biomarkers of Type 1 diabetes (T1D) progression …

Lipidomics

Tissue-specific global lipidomics | High-resolution ozone-induced dissociation mass spectrometry …

METABOLOMICS

Tryptophan catabolism | Oxylipins and inflammation | Fatty acid and energy metabolism …

News

December 4, 2020

How targeting the ATF4 gene could help us fight alcoholic liver disease

Repost from the Office of Research and Engagement Scientists from UNC Greensboro have a new publication in the prestigious journal G…

Zhong

August 23, 2018

Zhong receives R21 to investigate alcoholic liver disease

Dr. Wei Zhong received an R21 grant from The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) for the project titled “DU…

Qibin

May 9, 2018

Zhang awarded $500K AHA grant

Repost from UNCG Now UNC Greensboro’s Dr. Qibin Zhang, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry and co-director for the�…

Our goal is to maintain a diverse and energetic research workforce at the Center. If you are interested in joining us as a postdoctoral researcher or research scientist, you are strongly encouraged to contact Dr. Zhang or Dr. Zhou individually, and include a CV and a description of your research interests and skills, and how they align with the expertise and needs of their respective research groups.

Learn more about our career opportunities

About Us

The UNCG Center for Translational Biomedical Research was established by the State of North Carolina in 2008 as one of the research centers at the North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC) in Kannapolis. The center, located 70 miles southwest of Greensboro, reports to the UNCG Office of Research and Engagement and is co-directed by Drs. Qibin Zhang and Zhanxiang Zhou.

The CTBR of UNCG is housed on the 2nd floor of the NC State PHHI Building. One of the three original buildings completed in 2008 at the North Carolina Research Campus, it houses the NC State Plants for Human Health Institute, and research centers of three additional universities. The CTBR laboratory space is well equipped for both biomedical (pathology, biochemistry, and molecular biology) and bioanalytical (proteomics, metabolomics and lipidomics) studies, and is organized according to functional areas.

Learn More About Us
Learn More About Our Facilities

North Carolina Research Campus

by the numbers

$218+

Million

Total Federal & Extramural Funding Since 2008

71

MD & PHD Level Scientists

Plus Even More University Post Docs, Graduate and Undergraduate Students

261

Scientific Publications

Published in 2023 Alone

10

Prestigious Universities

And Educational Partners Empowering Human Health

Learn More About NCRC