Jiang Named Fellow of Obesity Society

Zhihua Jiang
Zhihua Jiang. Click image for larger version.

PULLMAN, Wash. — Zhihua Jiang, an assistant professor in Washington State University’s animal sciences department, has been named a fellow in the North American Association for the Study of Obesity, The Obesity Society.

A leading scientific society dedicated to the study of obesity, The Obesity Society’s membership includes about 2,000 researchers and care providers in obesity treatment and prevention.

As a senior author, Jiang has had 11 papers on obesity research published or accepted in such journals as Obesity, the Journal of Biotechnology and the International Journal of Biological Sciences. Throughout his career, Jiang has authored or co-authored some 160 scientific publications in the field of animal genetics and genomics.

His Animal Genomics Laboratory at WSU has been focusing on genetic links to fat accumulation using cattle as an animal model. Fat deposition in muscle is a major contributor to insulin resistance affiliated with obesity and type 2 diabetes. The long-term goal of the research is to provide molecular tools to identify people who have a genetic predisposition for developing obesity and offer possibilities for development of therapies for the condition.

“Dr. Jiang’s work is one example of research in animal sciences that contributes to solving human health problems while addressing issues of importance to animal agriculture,” said Margaret Benson, chair of WSU’s animal sciences department. “There are many examples in which early discoveries in animal sciences have moved human medicine forward. Work conducted in animal sciences today is of benefit to humans as well.

“Dr. Jiang’s work provides important new information on the genetics of obesity and will provide fundamental information that can improve animal and human well-being.”

Jiang joined the WSU faculty in 2002.

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