About

Dr. Ching Zhu is a physician-scientist and the Principal Investigator of the Ching Zhu Lab, specializing in the neurobiology of arrhythmia. She holds the positions of Assistant Professor of Medicine and Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering. Dr. Zhu's research is focused on advancing therapy for heart rhythm disorders, with her laboratory studying the neuronal control of cardiac arrhythmia susceptibility. In addition to her research, she is a practicing clinical electrophysiologist who specializes in cardiac device implantation and catheter ablation of arrhythmias. Dr. Zhu's academic journey began in Charleston, SC, where she started bench research in arrhythmia biology as a high school student at the Medical University of South Carolina. She completed her undergraduate studies at Harvard University, earned her MD degree at Stanford University, and obtained her PhD at UCLA. Her postgraduate medical training was completed at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School and UCLA.

Research topics

• Chemistry
• Biology
• Computer Science
• Biochemistry
• Data science
• Computational biology
• Materials science
• Optics
• Cancer research
• Pathology
• Biotechnology
• Physics
• Nuclear magnetic resonance
• Internal medicine
• Bioinformatics
• Medicine

Selected publications

• Combined autofluorescence and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy for rapid metabolic and vascular characterizations of orthotopic tongue tumors <i>in vivo</i>

  Biomedical Optics Express · 2026-02-09

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Precise label-free quantification of tissue metabolic and vascular dynamics in vivo represents a critical challenge for cancer therapy prediction and longitudinal treatment assessment. In this study, we demonstrated a portable autofluorescence and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy device along with novel spectroscopic algorithms to quantify tissue vascular and metabolic parameters of orthotopic head and neck cancer models in vivo . Tissue-mimicking phantom studies were used to verify the dual-modal optical spectroscopy and easy-to-use spectroscopic algorithms for rapid and accurate estimation of tissue oxygen saturation, total hemoglobin contents, and intrinsic optical redox ratio. Animal studies were conducted to demonstrate the feasibility of our technique for rapid functional characterization of small tongue tumors in vivo . Our phantom studies demonstrated that our dual-modal optical spectroscopy, along with novel spectroscopic algorithms, can accurately quantify tissue vascular and metabolic parameters in near real-time. Our in vivo animal studies captured reduced total hemoglobin contents and lower oxygen saturation in orthotopic tongue tumors compared to normal tongue tissues. Our data also showed that mouse tongue tumors with different radiation sensitivities had significantly different intrinsic optical redox ratios. Additionally, we observed elevated Protoporphyrin IX levels in tongue tumors compared with normal tongue tissues. These results demonstrated the potential of our portable dual-modal optical spectroscopy to noninvasively evaluate tumor metabolism and its vascular microenvironment in tongue cancer models for future oral cancer research.

  PublisherDOI

• Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy for rapid monitoring of glucose uptake on small animals in vivo

  2025-03-19

  articleSenior author

  Enhanced glucose uptake in many types of cancers regardless of the aerobic state has been routinely used as a clinical biomarker for tumor diagnosis. Rapid monitoring of glucose uptake in small animal models in vivo has been explored to study the role of tumor metabolism in therapeutic response. The available techniques for in vivo glucose uptake imaging like PET and fluorescence-based optical techniques have their limitation on the equipment cost, signal process and ease of techniques. To further minimize the optical device cost and maximize the ease of the technique, we report a low-cost diffuse reflectance spectroscopy tool along with a novel algorithm for accurate monitoring of glucose uptake in small animal models. Rather than looking at fluorescence, our proposed approach focuses on the absorption properties of 2-NBDG from which the 2-NBDG concentrations can be accurately and rapidly estimated by examining the absorption-caused diffuse reflectance changes. We expect the developed technology could be a useful tool for glucose uptake monitoring on small animals, which may advance the cancer research.

  PublisherDOI

• Patient-derived organotypic tissue cultures as a platform to evaluate metabolic reprogramming in breast cancer patients

  Journal of Biological Chemistry · 2025-04-09

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  CA OTC displayed compromised cellularity, reduced outgrowth, and disrupted growth/survival-supporting metabolism but the matched NC OTC did not. Thus, our PD-OTC culturing method not only promoted understanding of actual patient's tumor metabolism to uncover viable metabolic targets but also enabled target testing and elucidation of therapeutic efficacy.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Portable multi-parametric microscopy for noninvasive metabolic and vascular imaging of orthotopic tongue cancer models in vivo

  Journal of Biomedical Optics · 2025-04-23 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  SignificancePrecise imaging of tumor metabolism with its vascular microenvironment becomes emerging critical for cancer research because increasing evidence shows that the key attribute that allows a tumor to survive therapies is metabolic and vascular reprogramming. However, there are surprisingly few imaging techniques available to provide a systems-level view of tumor metabolism and vasculature in vivo on small animals for cancer discoveries.AimWe aim to develop a new multi-parametric microscope that can faithfully recapitulate in vivo metabolic and vascular changes with a wide field of view and microscope-level resolution to advance cancer-related investigations. To maximize the ease and accessibility of obtaining in vivo tissue metabolism and vasculature measurements, we aim to develop our new metabolic imaging tool with minimal cost and size, allowing one to easily quantify tissue metabolic and vascular endpoints together in vivo, advancing many critical biomedical inquiries.ApproachWe have combined fluorescence microscopy and dark-field microscopy in a re-emission geometry into one portable microscope to image the key metabolic and vascular endpoints on the same tissue site. The portable microscope was first characterized by tissue-mimicking phantoms. Then the multi-parametric system was demonstrated on small animals to image glucose uptake (using 2-NBDG) and mitochondrial membrane potential (using TMRE) along with vascular parameters (oxygen saturation and hemoglobin contents) of orthotopic tongue tumors in vivo.ResultsOur phantom studies demonstrated the capability of the portable microscope for effective measurements of several key vascular and metabolic parameters with a comparable accuracy compared with our former reported benchtop spectroscopy and imaging systems. Our in vivo animal studies revealed increased glucose uptake and mitochondrial membrane potential along with reduced vascular oxygenation in tongue tumors compared with normal tongue tissues. The spatial analysis of metabolic and vascular images showed a more heterogeneous metabolic and oxygenation profile in tongue tumors compared with normal tongue tissues.ConclusionsOur in vivo animal studies demonstrated the capability of our portable multi-parametric microscope for imaging the key metabolic and vascular parameters at the same tissue site with about one hour delay using an orthotopic tongue tumor model in vivo. Our study showed the potential of a portable functional microscope to noninvasively evaluate tumor biology using orthotopic tongue cancer models for future head and neck cancer research.

  PublisherDOI

• Noncontact optical spectroscopy for quantitative measurements of the key metabolic and vascular parameters on small animals in vivo

  2025-03-19

  articleSenior author

  A non-contact spectroscopy system has been developed to measure diffuse reflectance and fluorescence on small solid tumors in vivo, eliminating distortions caused by inconsistent probe-tissue contact and avoiding infection risks. This system allows for the rapid and precise quantification of key metabolic and vascular parameters, providing a comprehensive view of tumor metabolism and vasculature. The system's capabilities are demonstrated through tissue-mimicking phantom and animal studies. This method offers a real-time, cost-effective approach to cancer research, particularly for studying radiation therapy resistance and recurrence in various cancer models.

  PublisherDOI

• Multi-parametric functional optical spectroscopy to monitor the metabolic and vascular changes in small head and neck tumors <i>in vivo</i> with radiation stress

  Biomedical Optics Express · 2025-06-16 · 2 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  We demonstrated a portable multi-parametric functional optical spectroscopy to monitor metabolic and vascular changes in small head and neck tumors in vivo with fractional radiation therapy. For the first time, we captured the key metabolic and vascular parameters of head and neck xenograft tumors in vivo prior to and post a total of 10 Gy fractional radiation therapy. Our animal studies showed dramatic vascular and metabolic changes in radioresistant head and neck tumors (rSCC-61) under radiation stress but not in radiosensitive head and neck tumors (SCC-61). Specifically, our data showed that rSCC-61 tumors had increased tissue oxygen saturation (indicating reoxygenation), increased total hemoglobin content (indicating blood perfusion), and increased oxygenated hemoglobin (indicating oxygen supply) post radiation therapy. Our study also showed that rSCC-61 tumors had decreased glucose uptake and increased mitochondrial function post-radiation therapy. In contrast, SCC-61 tumors had minimal changes in either vascular or metabolic parameters post-radiation treatment. These results demonstrated the potential of our portable multi-parametric functional optical spectroscopy to evaluate tumor vascular and metabolic changes under therapeutic stresses for future head and neck cancer research.

  PublisherDOI

• Non-Contact Optical Spectroscopy for Metabolic and Vascular Characterizations of Orthotopic Tongue Cancer Models in Vivo

  IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics · 2025-11-20 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Most tissue optical spectroscopy platforms use a fiber probe for light delivery and collection, while the inconsistent probe-sample contact could induce significant distortions in the measured optical signals, which consequently bring analysis errors. Moreover, it will be practically difficult to use a fiber probe for measurements in some cases such as oral cancer investigations using small animal models. To address the critical challenge, we report a portable, lens-based, optical spectroscopy device capable of quantifying key vascular and metabolic parameters in vivo without probe-sample contact. We combined lenses based diffuse reflectance and fluorescence spectroscopy into one portable platform to enable multi-parametric functional characterizations of orthotopic tongue cancer models in vivo. We also implemented easy-to-use spectroscopic algorithms with the system for rapid quantification of the key metabolic and vascular parameters on biological tissue models. We then demonstrated our non-contact optical spectroscopy on tissue-mimicking phantoms and in vivo mouse tongue tumor models. Our phantom and in vivo animal studies showed that our non-contact optical spectroscopy, along with spectroscopic algorithms, could quantify the major metabolic and vascular parameters on in vivo tongue tumors with high accuracy. We also captured the diverse metabolic and vascular phenotypes of tongue tumors with different radiation sensitivity. Our new optical spectroscopy implemented with easy-to-use spectroscopic algorithms will provide a non-contact way for rapid and systematic characterizations of biological tissue metabolism and vascular microenvironment in vivo, which may significantly advance head and neck cancer research in the future.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Optical imaging provides flow-cytometry–like single-cell level analysis of HIF-1α-mediated metabolic changes in radioresistant head and neck squamous carcinoma cells

  Biophotonics discovery. · 2025-01-28 · 2 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  SignificanceRadioresistance remains a significant problem for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. To mitigate this, the cellular and molecular pathways used by radioresistant HNSCC that drive recurrence must be studied.AimWe aim to demonstrate optical imaging strategies to provide flow cytometry–like single-cell level analysis of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α)-mediated metabolic changes in the radioresistant and radiosensitive HNSCC cells but in a more efficient, cost-effective, and non-destructive manner. Through both optical imaging and flow cytometry studies, we will reveal the role of radiation-induced HIF-1α overexpression and the following metabolic changes in the radioresistance development for HNSCC.ApproachWe optimized the use of two metabolic probes: 2-[N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1, 3-diazol-4-yl) amino]-2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-NBDG) (to report glucose uptake) and Tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester (TMRE) (to report mitochondrial membrane potential) with both a standard fluorescence microscope and a flow cytometry device, to report the changes in metabolism between radioresistant (rSCC-61) and radiosensitive (SCC-61) HNSCC cell lines under radiation stresses with or without HIF-1α inhibition.ResultsWe found that the matched HNSCC cell lines had different baseline metabolic phenotypes, and their metabolism responded differently to radiation stress along with significantly enhanced HIF-1α expressions in the rSCC-61 cells. HIF-1α inhibition during the radiation treatment modulates the metabolic changes and radio-sensitizes the rSCC-61 cells. Through these studies, we demonstrated that a standard fluorescence microscope along with proper image processing methods can provide flow cytometry–like single-cell level analysis of HIF-1α-mediated metabolic changes in the radioresistant and radiosensitive HNSCC cells.ConclusionsOur reported optical imaging strategies may enable one to study the role of metabolism reprogramming in cancer therapeutic resistance development at the single-cell level in a more efficient, cost-effective, and non-destructive manner. Our understanding of radiation resistance mechanisms using our imaging methods will offer opportunities to design targeted radiotherapy for improved treatment outcomes for HNSCC patients.

  PublisherDOI

• Optical spectroscopy to characterize the functional changes of head and neck tumors under radiation stresses

  2025-03-19

  articleSenior author

  Radiotherapy, a primary or adjuvant treatment for head and neck cancer, often fails due to tumor hypoxia, which impedes DNA damage. While reoxygenation post-radiotherapy is traditionally seen as a success, aggressive tumors can develop resistance, switching metabolism between glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation to survive radiation stress. Current radiotherapy assessment methods like PET and MRI are costly and time-consuming. This study proposes using a portable fiber-based optical spectroscopy platform to monitor metabolic indicators (glucose uptake, mitochondrial function) and vascular parameters (oxygen saturation, total hemoglobin content) in orthotopic tongue tumors before and after radiation, offering a low-cost, point-of-care assessment tool.

  PublisherDOI

• Optical imaging of HIF-1α mediated metabolic changes in the radio-resistant head and neck squamous carcinoma cells

  2024-01-01

  articleSenior author

  We demonstrate that an optical microscope can be a cost-effective tool for non-destructive characterization of HIF-1α induced metabolic reprogramming under RT stress in the acquisition of radio-resistance in HNSCC for therapeutic discovery.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Quan Liu

  Tan Kah Kee Innovation Laboratory

  20 shared

• Nirmala Ramanujam

  Duke University

  19 shared

• Brian T. Crouch

  Duke University

  15 shared

• Shuo Chen

  Zhengzhou University

  13 shared

• Amy F. Martinez

  Vanderbilt University Medical Center

  13 shared

• Megan C. Madonna

  Duke University

  11 shared

• Qingguo Xie

  11 shared

• Christopher Hoe‐Kong Chui

  Singapore General Hospital

  9 shared

Labs

• CHING ZHU LABPI

  NEUROBIOLOGY OF ARRHYTHMIA

Education

• PhD , Bio engineering

  Nanyang Technological University

  2014