Chunyu was the son of two urban intellects who were sent to a Jiangxi rural village for reform. Sadly, at an early age of 11 months, Chunyu lost both of his parents and was subsequently adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Fuxiang Zhang. Under their loving care, Chunyu quickly grew to an accomplished, mature middle schooler. He was No. 1 student in his middle-high school. Just as described by the meaning of his name --- Spring Rain, Chunyu started his life as a tender spring rain drop, through perseverance, drive, and hard work Chunyu had become an influential life force of meaning and purpose, touching many people’s life with his research, teaching, and commercial product.
Chunyu was a graduate of Beijing Normal University with a Bachelor of Science degree. Chunyu additionally held a Master and a PhD degree from Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, which he finished a year earlier than anticipated, with many awards and accolades. In 1997, he was selected by Yale University for his postdoctoral research. Since coming to the United States, Chunyu’s career further took off. He worked at many top-notch universities and research institutes, such as Harvard Medical School, Harvard Institute of Medicine, National Cancer Institute, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Chunyu published nearly 30 papers in top scientific journals such as the Mucosal Immunology under Nature and Cell Death and Disease of Nature Publishing Group, the Cancer Research, the Clinical Cancer Research, the Molecular Cancer Therapeutics of the American Association for Cancer Research, the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences, the Genomics, the Science Bulletin, and the Cell, producing 128 cumulative impact factors and 1,600 citations.
The death of his adoptive father, Mr. Zhang, in 1985 from lung cancer after many years of struggle with bronchitis and asthma inspired Chunyu to “make a difference in cancer research and help relieve the suffering”. He was determined, “I hope to make more progress in my cancer research, so that more people can live longer and healthier, and no longer suffer the pain my adoptive father had been though. This is my lifelong pursuit and cause”.
In recent years, Chunyu and his research team identified for the first time an entire new mechanism of transcriptional activation of tumor suppressor gene, RhoB, and accordingly found some novel anti-cancer small molecules. One product shows the most promise in inducing tumor cell death without excessive toxicity to normal cells. This product, by Chunyu’s further modification, can safely and effectively keep the RhoB level high in not only cancer cells but also normal cells so as to both suppress cancer and protect normal cells (anti-aging). In 2017, Chunyu founded his company, SanuLife, in Maryland and commercialized the product, Rovidium, in US and China.
Chunyu is survived by his beloved ex-wife Hongling Liao, daughter Gloria Zhang, his half-brother Yanjing Tan in China, cousins many nephews and nieces.
Services will be held at WITZKE FUNERAL HOMES, INC., 5555 TWIN KNOLLS ROAD, COLUMBIA, MD 21045, Saturday October 27 at 12pm with VISITATION starting at 10am.
Those who wish may contribute to https://www.gofundme.com/donation-for-chunyu-zhangmemorial?teamInvite=eWMSSARvUvbdhMkEN4my1JIGdsOEGK7gKEXLXSG8XybpESum3CggduYXI7q92hwG which helps fund Chunyu’s hometown schools in Jiangxi, China, especially those rural schools.
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