Dr Mingzi Zhang

Dr. Mingzi Zhang is currently a research associate with Dr. Susann Beier in the Faulty of Engineering at the University of New South Wales. He gained a PhD degree in Engineering from Tohoku University (Japan), for his work on the structural optimisation and manufacturing of neurovascular stents. He then obtained a second PhD degree in Biomedical Sciences from Macquarie University, with a thesis into the virtual stenting and simulation-based treatment individualisation for patients with cerebral aneurysms. Prior to switching his research focus onto cerebrovascular diseases, Dr. Zhang had developed a lumped parameter model of human circulatory system over his master’s study, applicable for modelling of various structural and coronary heart diseases.

Throughout his study and research, Dr. Zhang has published over 25 scientific articles in prestigious peer-reviewed academic journals and co-authored 2 book chapters. He has presented in over 20 esteemed academic conferences (including invited talks). Meanwhile, he has been serving as the external peer reviewer for many academic journals. Dr. Zhang’s areas of expertise lie in the computational modelling of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, structural optimisation and virtual deployment of endovascular stents and surgical implants, and image-based non-invasive estimation of in vivo haemodynamic parameters.

Alongside his effort in unravelling the link between haemodynamics and vascular diseases, Dr. Zhang has been enthusiastic about translating his research outcomes to diagnostic-assisting or treatment-planning tools applicable in clinical settings to improve the quality of patient care. A representative example of such is a virtual stenting platform that can be used by neuro-interventionists to individualise the treatment strategy for intracranial aneurysms. This platform allows the treating clinicians to assess feasibility and examine the deployed stent structures prior to the real treatments. The embedded blood flow evaluation module would meanwhile suggest the optimal treatment plan with the best efficacy in diverting blood flow away from entering the aneurysm sac. The core technologies developed, together with a 3D printing method for fabricating in vitro vascular models, are being commercialised in Japan for neuro-interventionists to rehearse and standardise the care for patients with cerebrovascular diseases.