Zhang Chenyu

Zhang Chenyu, born in October 1966, is the Dean of the School of Life Sciences at Nanjing University and a recipient of the National Outstanding Youth Science Fund. His research focuses on the fundamental and applied aspects of biomedicine, particularly in the study of non-coding small RNAs. Zhang is renowned for his groundbreaking discovery of 'extracellular small RNAs', demonstrating their unique biological functions and roles distinct from proteins and intracellular nucleic acids. His work has opened new avenues in the field of life sciences and led to significant medical advancements, including the development of diagnostic tools based on extracellular small RNA profiles. In June 2024, his team was awarded the second prize for the National Natural Science Award for their project on the original discovery, function, and application of extracellular small RNAs.