Dr. Zhang’s laboratory studies the molecular basis of cancer development, progression, and treatment. Her laboratory uses molecular biology, protein biochemistry, cell biology, and animal models to address questions related to blood cell differentiation, transformation, and innate immune responses. A major project underway in the Zhang laboratory focuses on the transcription factor AML1 (RUNX1) and its fusion protein AML1-ETO. As a second major project, Dr. Zhang studies the role of a ubiquitin-like modifier, ISG15, and the ISG15–specific protease, USP18 (UBP43), in inter­feron-initiated cell-signaling and cancer.