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Dr Run Zhang
Dr

Run Zhang

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 63806

Overview

Background

  • 2023-now Joint Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Nutrition and Food Sciences, The Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (CNFS, QAAFI)
  • 2022-now Senior Research Fellow, AIBN, The University of Queensland
  • 2020-now NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow, AIBN, The University of Queensland
  • 2017-2019 ARC DECRA Fellow, AIBN, The University of Queensland
  • 2016-2017 Research Associate, AIBN, The University of Queensland
  • 2013-2015 Macquarie University Research Fellow (MQRF), Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science (CBMS), Macquarie University
  • 2012-2013 Postdoc Research Fellow, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Macquarie University
  • July 2012 PhD, Analytical Chemistry, Dalian University of Technology (DLUT), China

Research Team: Dr Zhang is now leading more than 15 researchers, working on the development of responsive molecules/nanomaterials for biosensing and imaging, early disease detection and treatment, food/agricultural/environmental applications. He has collaborations with scientist in Chemistry, Materials Science, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Food and Agriculture Science, and Biophotonics from Australia, US, UK, Sweden, India, Russia and China.

Research Support: Since 2011, Dr Zhang has attracted 12 research grants (> 4 million) as chief investigator (lead CI and/or co-CI). These grants include 3 Fellowship (NHMRC Emerging Leadership, ARC DECRA and MQRF to develop responsive probes for redox biomarkers detection within body), 1 NHMRC Project grant in redox quantification in liver cancer chemotherapy, 1 ARC DP to develop nanoparticle with ultra-high MRI signal for sensor applications, 1 UQ ECR grant, 1 NSFC grant, and another 3 grants from universities.

Research Output: Dr Zhang has published about 200 research papers since his first publication in 2010 (~110 papers published as first and/or corresponding author), and 1 patent. He frequently publishes in a number of premier journals, such as Nature Photonics, Nature Plants, Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS), Angewandte Chemie, Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Society Reviews, and Accounts of Chemical Research. These publications have received more than 11,000 citations with an H-index of 60. He has 9 Highly Cited Papers (7 in the ESI field of Chemistry-Analytical) and 3 Hot Articles.

Service: Dr Zhang is an Editor of TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry (Elsevier, 1/106 in Analytical Chemistry) and Methods (Elsevier, 7/85 in Biochemical Research), and Editorial Board Member of several international high impact journals, such as Chemistry-An Asian Journal (Wiley), Aggregate (Wiley), Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis (Elsevier), Green Analytical Chemistry (Elsevier). He is a referee of >40 international journals (2nd most contributions of all UQ researchers, with >20 awards from RSC and Elsevier journals), and grant assessor for more than 10 country and regions, such as Australia, UK, Europe, Netherland, New Zealand.

Award: Dr Zhang's national and international standing in the fields of chemistry (analytical) and functional nanomaterials is evidenced by the awards of ACS Rising Star in Measurement Science, NJC Emerging Investigator, Biosensors Young Investigator Award, IAAM Scientist Medal, Vebleo Fellow, IAAM Fellow, ARC DECRA, NHMRC EL Fellow, MQRF, and more than 20 TOP Outstanding Reviewer awards from RSC and Elsevier. He has been a World's Top 2% Scientist in Chemistry (Analytical) and Nanoscience & Nanotechnology since 2022 by Stanford/Elsevier World’s Top 2% Scientist Ranking, and top 0.5% of all scholars worldwide for excellence in research productivity, impact and quality by ScholarGPS Ranking (ranked #183 Globally in Biomedical Engineering). He has delivered 40+ invited presentations and keynotes.

Teaching and Supervision: Dr Zhang has a strong commitment to training students. His students have received several awards, such as 5 "Dean’s Commendation for Outstanding Academic Performance", 1 "Dean’s Award for Excellence in Higher Degree Research", 1 "Dean's Award for Outstanding HDR Theses", ANFF-Q students award, 3MT Runner-UP and People's Choice. He has supervised 10 PhD and >20 Masters to completion. He is now co-coordinating and lecturing the MSE PP ENGY7112/7115/7114/7215 in School of Chem. Eng., EAIT. His teaching contributions in UQ are recognised by twice nominations of "Dean’s Commendation for Excellent Teaching Awards" in semesters 1 and 2 in 2022 by the students.

Availability

Dr Run Zhang is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy of Engineering, Dalian University of Technology

Research interests

  • Responsive probes to detect and visualise highly reactive biomolecules

    design and synthesis of organic/organometallic complexes (including Ru(II) and Ir(III) complexes and lanthanide chelate) for sensing of bioactive ions, reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), redox biomolecules, gasotransmitters, amino acid, and proteins in various diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular, and inflammatory diseases.

  • Functional nanomaterial for early diseases diagnosis and treatment

    engineering of functional nanomaterials for disease detection and treatment through monitoring and regulation of redox state, including photodynamic therapy (PDT), photothermal therapy (PTT), and sonodynamic therapy (SDT) for diseases deeply seated in body.

  • Sensors for the detection of food quality & safety and environmental pollutants

    development of ultra-sensitive sensors for the detection of food additives, antibiotics, pesticides, spoilage, heavy metals, toxic anions and gases (greenhouse gases and VOCs), etc.

  • Bionanoprobes for deep tissue sensing and imaging

    fabrication of responsive nanomaterials for sensing and imaging of biomarkers located deeply inside the body. The probes allow the monitoring of specific disease-related biomarkers through optical, acoustic, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

  • Redox monitoring and regulation for diagnosis and treatment

    development of novel luminescent probes with long emission lifetime to eliminate autofluorescence, allowing background-free quantification and bioimaging of redox species in situ development of responsive nanomaterials for treatment through quantitative redox regulation

Works

Search Professor Run Zhang’s works on UQ eSpace

205 works between 2010 and 2026

181 - 200 of 205 works

2015

Journal Article

A ruthenium(II) complex-based lysosome-targetable multisignal chemosensor for in vivo detection of hypochlorous acid

Cao, Liyan, Zhang, Run, Zhang, Wenzhu, Du, Zhongbo, Liu, Chunjun, Ye, Zhiqiang, Song, Bo and Yuan, Jingli (2015). A ruthenium(II) complex-based lysosome-targetable multisignal chemosensor for in vivo detection of hypochlorous acid. Biomaterials, 68, 21-31. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2015.07.052

A ruthenium(II) complex-based lysosome-targetable multisignal chemosensor for in vivo detection of hypochlorous acid

2015

Journal Article

Fluorescence detection of Fe3+ ions in aqueous solution and living cells based on a high selectivity and sensitivity chemosensor

Jia, Hongmin, Gao, Xue, Shi, Yu, Sayyadi, Nima, Zhang, Zhiqiang, Zhao, Qi, Meng, Qingtao and Zhang, Run (2015). Fluorescence detection of Fe3+ ions in aqueous solution and living cells based on a high selectivity and sensitivity chemosensor. Spectrochimica Acta Part A-Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 149, 674-681. doi: 10.1016/j.saa.2015.04.111

Fluorescence detection of Fe3+ ions in aqueous solution and living cells based on a high selectivity and sensitivity chemosensor

2015

Journal Article

A reversible fluorescence chemosensor for sequentially quantitative monitoring copper and sulfide in living cells

Meng, Qingtao, Zhang, Run, Jia, Hongmin, Gao, Xue, Wang, Cuiping, Shi, Yu, Everest-Dass, Arun V. and Zhang, Zhiqiang (2015). A reversible fluorescence chemosensor for sequentially quantitative monitoring copper and sulfide in living cells. Talanta, 143 15572, 294-301. doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2015.04.072

A reversible fluorescence chemosensor for sequentially quantitative monitoring copper and sulfide in living cells

2015

Journal Article

NBD-based fluorescent chemosensor for the selective quantification of copper and sulfide in an aqueous solution and living cells

Meng, Qingtao, Shi, Yu, Wang, Cuiping, Jia, Hongmin, Gao, Xue, Zhang, Run, Wang, Yongfei and Zhang, Zhiqiang (2015). NBD-based fluorescent chemosensor for the selective quantification of copper and sulfide in an aqueous solution and living cells. Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 13 (10), 2918-2926. doi: 10.1039/c4ob02178a

NBD-based fluorescent chemosensor for the selective quantification of copper and sulfide in an aqueous solution and living cells

2015

Journal Article

A new fluorescent chemosensor for highly selective and sensitive detection of inorganic phosphate (Pi) in aqueous solution and living cells

Meng, Qingtao, Wang, Yue, Yang, Ming, Zhang, Run, Wang, Renjie and Zhang, Zhiqiang (2015). A new fluorescent chemosensor for highly selective and sensitive detection of inorganic phosphate (Pi) in aqueous solution and living cells. RSC Advances, 5 (66), 53189-53197. doi: 10.1039/c5ra08712k

A new fluorescent chemosensor for highly selective and sensitive detection of inorganic phosphate (Pi) in aqueous solution and living cells

2015

Journal Article

Reversible and Selective Fluorescence Detection of Histidine Using a Naphthalimide-Based Chemosensing Ensemble

Meng, Qingtao, Jia, Hongmin, Gao, Xue, Wang, Yue, Zhang, Run, Wang, Renjie and Zhang, Zhiqiang (2015). Reversible and Selective Fluorescence Detection of Histidine Using a Naphthalimide-Based Chemosensing Ensemble. Chemistry - An Asian Journal, 10 (11), 2411-2418. doi: 10.1002/asia.201500690

Reversible and Selective Fluorescence Detection of Histidine Using a Naphthalimide-Based Chemosensing Ensemble

2014

Journal Article

Tunable lifetime multiplexing using luminescent nanocrystals

Lu, Yiqing, Zhao, Jiangbo, Zhang, Run, Liu, Yujia, Liu, Deming, Goldys, Ewa M., Yang, Xusan, Xi, Peng, Sunna, Anwar, Lu, Jie, Shi, Yu, Leif, Robert C., Huo, Yujing, Shen, Jian, Piper, James A., Robinson, J. Paul and Jin, Dayong (2014). Tunable lifetime multiplexing using luminescent nanocrystals. Nature Photonics, 8 (1), 33-37. doi: 10.1038/NPHOTON.2013.322

Tunable lifetime multiplexing using luminescent nanocrystals

2014

Journal Article

Development of a functional ruthenium(II) complex for probing hypochlorous acid in living cells

Ye, Zhiqiang, Zhang, Run, Song, Bo, Dai, Zhichao, Jin, Dayong, Goldys, Ewa M. and Yuan, Jingli (2014). Development of a functional ruthenium(II) complex for probing hypochlorous acid in living cells. Dalton Transactions, 43 (22), 8414-8420. doi: 10.1039/c4dt00179f

Development of a functional ruthenium(II) complex for probing hypochlorous acid in living cells

2014

Conference Publication

Nitric oxide sensitive optic fiber sensor based on immobilized ruthenium(II) complex

Zhang, Peng, Ruan, Shuai, Zhang, Run, Pullen, Benjamin, Zhang, Xiaozhou, Purdey, Malcolm Stuart, Ebendorff-Heidepriem, Heike, Abell, Andrew, Ding, Liyun, Tang, Ming and Ruan, Yinlan (2014). Nitric oxide sensitive optic fiber sensor based on immobilized ruthenium(II) complex. Asia-Pacific Optical Sensors Conference, APOS 2016, Shanghai China, 11-14 October 2016. Washington, DC United States: OSA - The Optical Society. doi: 10.1364/APOS.2016.W3A.5

Nitric oxide sensitive optic fiber sensor based on immobilized ruthenium(II) complex

2013

Journal Article

Highly sensitive and selective phosphorescent chemosensors for hypochlorous acid based on ruthenium(II) complexes

Zhang, Run, Song, Bo, Dai, Zhichao, Ye, Zhiqiang, Xiao, Yunna, Liu, Yan and Yuan, Jingli (2013). Highly sensitive and selective phosphorescent chemosensors for hypochlorous acid based on ruthenium(II) complexes. Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 50, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.bios.2013.06.005

Highly sensitive and selective phosphorescent chemosensors for hypochlorous acid based on ruthenium(II) complexes

2013

Journal Article

A lanthanide complex-based ratiometric luminescence probe for time-gated luminescence detection of intracellular thiols

Dai, Zhichao, Tian, Lu, Ye, Zhiqiang, Song, Bo, Zhang, Run and Yuan, Jingli (2013). A lanthanide complex-based ratiometric luminescence probe for time-gated luminescence detection of intracellular thiols. Analytical Chemistry, 85 (23), 11658-11664. doi: 10.1021/ac403370g

A lanthanide complex-based ratiometric luminescence probe for time-gated luminescence detection of intracellular thiols

2013

Journal Article

Development and application of a ruthenium(II) complex-based photoluminescent and electrochemiluminescent dual-signaling probe for nitric oxide

Zhang, Wenzhu, Zhang, Jingmei, Zhang, Hailei, Cao, Liyan, Zhang, Run, Ye, Zhiqiang and Yuan, Jingli (2013). Development and application of a ruthenium(II) complex-based photoluminescent and electrochemiluminescent dual-signaling probe for nitric oxide. Talanta, 116, 354-360. doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2013.05.064

Development and application of a ruthenium(II) complex-based photoluminescent and electrochemiluminescent dual-signaling probe for nitric oxide

2013

Journal Article

Design and synthesis of a ruthenium(II) complex-based luminescent probe for highly selective and sensitive luminescence detection of nitric oxide

Yu, Xiaojing, Zhang, Run, Ye, Zhiqiang, Song, Bo and Yuan, Jingli (2013). Design and synthesis of a ruthenium(II) complex-based luminescent probe for highly selective and sensitive luminescence detection of nitric oxide. Journal of Fluorescence, 23 (6), 1113-1120. doi: 10.1007/s10895-013-1240-8

Design and synthesis of a ruthenium(II) complex-based luminescent probe for highly selective and sensitive luminescence detection of nitric oxide

2013

Journal Article

Development of a ruthenium(II) complex-based luminescent probe for hypochlorous acid in living cells

Zhang, Run, Ye, Zhiqiang, Song, Bo, Dai, Zhichao, An, Xin and Yuan, Jingli (2013). Development of a ruthenium(II) complex-based luminescent probe for hypochlorous acid in living cells. Inorganic Chemistry, 52 (18), 10325-10331. doi: 10.1021/ic400767u

Development of a ruthenium(II) complex-based luminescent probe for hypochlorous acid in living cells

2013

Journal Article

A cell-membrane-permeable europium complex as an efficient luminescent probe for singlet oxygen

Dai, Zhichao, Tian, Lu, Xiao, Yunna, Ye, Zhiqiang, Zhang, Run and Yuan, Jingli (2013). A cell-membrane-permeable europium complex as an efficient luminescent probe for singlet oxygen. Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 1 (7), 924-927. doi: 10.1039/c2tb00350c

A cell-membrane-permeable europium complex as an efficient luminescent probe for singlet oxygen

2013

Journal Article

Development of singlet oxygen-responsive phosphorescent ruthenium(ii) complexes

Ye, Zhiqiang, Song, Bo, Yin, Yuejiao, Zhang, Run and Yuan, Jingli (2013). Development of singlet oxygen-responsive phosphorescent ruthenium(ii) complexes. Dalton Transactions, 42 (40), 14380-14383. doi: 10.1039/c3dt52020j

Development of singlet oxygen-responsive phosphorescent ruthenium(ii) complexes

2012

Journal Article

Lanthanide Complex-Based Luminescent Probes for Highly Sensitive Time-Gated Luminescence Detection of Hypochlorous Acid

Xiao, Yunna, Zhang, Run, Ye, Zhiqiang, Dai, Zhichao, An, Huaying and Yuan, Jingli (2012). Lanthanide Complex-Based Luminescent Probes for Highly Sensitive Time-Gated Luminescence Detection of Hypochlorous Acid. Analytical Chemistry, 84 (24), 10785-10792. doi: 10.1021/ac3028189

Lanthanide Complex-Based Luminescent Probes for Highly Sensitive Time-Gated Luminescence Detection of Hypochlorous Acid

2012

Journal Article

Photoluminescent and electrochemiluminescent dual-signaling probe for bio-thiols based on a ruthenium(II) complex

Zhang, Wenzhu, Zhang, Run, Zhang, Jingmei, Ye, Zhiqiang, Jin, Dayong and Yuan, Jingli (2012). Photoluminescent and electrochemiluminescent dual-signaling probe for bio-thiols based on a ruthenium(II) complex. Analytica Chimica Acta, 740, 80-87. doi: 10.1016/j.aca.2012.06.028

Photoluminescent and electrochemiluminescent dual-signaling probe for bio-thiols based on a ruthenium(II) complex

2012

Journal Article

Developing red-emissive ruthenium(II) complex-based luminescent probes for cellular imaging

Zhang, Run, Ye, Zhiqiang, Yin, Yuejiao, Wang, Guilan, Jin, Dayong, Yuan, Jingli and Piper, James A. (2012). Developing red-emissive ruthenium(II) complex-based luminescent probes for cellular imaging. Bioconjugate Chemistry, 23 (4), 725-733. doi: 10.1021/bc200506w

Developing red-emissive ruthenium(II) complex-based luminescent probes for cellular imaging

2012

Journal Article

Design and synthesis of a terbium(III) complex-based luminescence probe for time-gated luminescence detection of mercury(II) ions

Cui, Guanfeng, Ye, Zhiqiang, Zhang, Run, Wang, Guilan and Yuan, Jingli (2012). Design and synthesis of a terbium(III) complex-based luminescence probe for time-gated luminescence detection of mercury(II) ions. Journal of Fluorescence, 22 (1), 261-267. doi: 10.1007/s10895-011-0956-6

Design and synthesis of a terbium(III) complex-based luminescence probe for time-gated luminescence detection of mercury(II) ions

Funding

Current funding

  • 2026 - 2030
    Heterometallic nanosheets with ultra-high MRI signals and sensor capability (ARC Discovery Project administered by Griffith University)
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2026 - 2027
    Portable and Affordable Paper-based Sensor Platform for Wine Quality Control
    Australia's Economic Accelerator Ignite Grants
    Open grant
  • 2026 - 2027
    Smart Photodynamic Technology for Postharvest Decay Management
    Australia's Economic Accelerator Ignite Grants
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2020 - 2025
    Monitoring inflammation through quantitation of redox-mediated macrophage polarisation
    NHMRC Investigator Grants
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Paper-based sensing devices for quick and effective monitoring of red meat quality
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    X-ray Induced Photoacoustic Nanoprobe: Break Depth Dependency of Bioimaging
    ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Visualisation and early prediction of ROS-mediated treatment response in liver cancer by a novel nanoplatform
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Dr Run Zhang is:
Available for supervision

Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.

Available projects

  • Responsive molecules and nanomaterials for bisoensing and bioimaging

  • Sensors for environmental pollutants and food quality & safety

  • Theranostic nanomaterials: especially the optical nanomaterials for diagnosis and therapy

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

Contact Dr Run Zhang directly for media enquiries about:

  • Biosensing and imaging
  • Cancer
  • Environmental pollution
  • Food safety
  • Inflammation
  • Optical probe
  • Redox biomolecules
  • Sensor
  • Stress resilience
  • Theranostic nanomaterials

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