By Hannah Buckelew
Biomedical Engineering Chair Jianyi “Jay” Zhang, M.D., Ph.D., traveled throughout India in March to deliver lectures and form research and educational collaborations at various institutions.

Zhang, who is the T. Michael and Gillian Goodrich Endowed Chair of Engineering Leadership as well as a professor of medicine and biomedical engineering, visited Chennai, Tamil Nadu, in southern India on March 6 to present the keynote lecture at the University of Madras’ International Symposium on Disease Mechanisms and Translational Science. His lecture, titled, “Regenerative Medicine- Stem Cells and Patches in Repairing Injured Tissues,” focused on recent advances in the remuscularization of cardiac tissue using stem cells and cardiac patches. The International Forum of Translational Science (IFTS) awarded Zhang the 2023 Leader in the Field of Regenerative Medicine Award.

On March 7, Zhang arrived in southern India at Era University’s Department of Personalized Medicine for a special lecture in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. He highlighted recent developments in stem-cell therapy in the heart and encouraged attending cardiologists to engage in clinical trials for regenerative medicine. On March 9, Zhang travelled back to Chennai, Tamil Nadu, to Sri Ramachandra Medical University’s Departments of Cardiology and Pathology to connect with investigators with common research interests.

“These collaborations serve to enhance mutual educational and research benefits for all institutions involved,” Zhang says.

Rajasekaran Namakkal-Soorappan, Ph.D., an associate professor in the UAB Department of Pathology’s Division of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, travelled with Zhang to engage researchers in related specialties. Namakkal-Soorappan is a renowned redox cardiovascular researcher.

“This trip was filled with abundant opportunities for learning, sharing and collaborating with a diverse group of cardiologists, clinicians and biomedical science researchers.” Zhang says. “We invited many to join in establishing the India Chapter of the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Basic Cardiovascular Sciences and hope to collaborate in the future.”