Zaijie Wang
Distinguished Professor, University of Illinois Chicago
Professor of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Sciences
Email:
Related Sites:
About
Overview:
https://zjwang.lab.uic.edu/
Research Interests:
Pain
Addiction
(
Neurobiology
Epigenetics
Pharmacology
Natural product pharmacology; CNS drug discovery
Targeted delivery
)
Teaching and Supervision
Ph.D. Thesis Research (BME 45879), 1/12/2026 – 5/1/2026
PhD Thesis Research (BPS 19984), 1/12/2026 – 5/1/2026
PhD Thesis Research (BPS 599), 8/25/2025 – 12/5/2025
PhD Thesis Research (BPS 599), 1/13/2025 – 5/2/2025
Undergrad Res Exp Pharm Sci (PSCI 300), 1/13/2025 – 5/2/2025
PhD Thesis Research (BPS 599), 8/26/2024 – 12/6/2024
Undergrad Res Exp Pharm Sci (PSCI 300), 8/26/2024 – 12/6/2024
PhD Thesis Research (BPS 599), 1/8/2024 – 4/26/2024
PhD Thesis Research (BPS 599), 8/21/2023 – 12/1/2023
Selected Grants
Exploring the Mediterranean Diet as A Promising Approach for Alleviating Chronic Pain in Sickle Cell Disease, National Institutes of Health (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)., 4/21/2025 - 3/31/2027, Obligated Amount: $437458; Anticipated Amount: $437458
Molecular Mechanism and Targeting of Chronic Pain in Sickle Cell Disease, National Institutes of Health (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)., 2/1/2025 - 1/31/2032, Obligated Amount: $2152377; Anticipated Amount: $7726481
α9α10 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in neuropathic pain, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke., 8/1/2024 - 6/30/2029, Obligated Amount: $1248720; No Anticipated Amount Set
?9?10 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in neuropathic pain, National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)., 8/1/2024 - 6/30/2029, Obligated Amount: $1248720; Anticipated Amount: $3121800
Erythrocyte Autophagy Proteins as Potential Non-opioid Novel Targets for Pain in Sickle Cell Disease, National Institutes of Health (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)., 9/22/2022 - 8/31/2024, Obligated Amount: $455195; Anticipated Amount: $455195
“Identification of Natural Products with Translational Potential for Management of Chronic Pain”, NIH/NCCIH (ODS)., 9/20/2019 - 6/30/2020, Obligated Amount: $191.393; No Anticipated Amount Set
Regulation of Trigeminal Nociception by TRESK Channels, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke., 4/1/2018 - 3/30/2023, Obligated Amount: $251595; No Anticipated Amount Set
Molecular Mechanism and Targeting of Chronic Pain in Sickle Cell Disease, National Institutes of Health (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)., 1/16/2018 - 12/31/2024, Obligated Amount: $3240850; Anticipated Amount: $4629786
Molecular Mechanism and Targeting of Chronic Pain in Sickle Cell Disease, National Institutes of Health (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)., 1/16/2018 - 12/31/2024, Obligated Amount: $3240850; Anticipated Amount: $4629786
Selected Publications
Adams-Mitchell, Candice, Ajiboye, Rachael O, Stephen, John K, AlHassan, Kholod, Keagle, Matthew J, Ezenwa, Miriam O, Duckworth, Laurie, Yoon, Saunjoo, Schlaeger, Judith, Jenerette, Coretta, Campbell, Claudia M, Molokie, Robert E, Wang, Z Jim, Wilkie, Diana J. (2026). Sickle cell pain: call for whole person health approaches to mechanisms-informed integrative management. Blood Advances, 10, (9), 2885-2889. doi:10.1182/bloodadvances.2025017641.
Stephen, John, Ezenwa, Miriam, Wang, Zaijie, Molokie, Robert, Yao, Yingwei, Zhu, Yenan, Wilkie, Diana. (2026). 488 Association Between Fatigue and Neuropathic Pain Status in Adults with Sickle Cell Disease: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Adjusted for Pain Intensity and Stress. Journal of Pain, 41, 106135. doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2025.106135.
Ajiboye, Rachael O, Yao, Yingwei, Cruz-Almeida, Yenisel, Ezenwa, Miriam O, Wang, Z Jim, Molokie, Robert E, Schlaeger, Judith M, Wilkie, Diana J. (2026). 478 Differences in Quality of Life Scores Across Seasons in Adults with Sickle Cell Disease. Journal of Pain, 41, 106125. doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2025.106125.
Tan, Yanqi, Kashyap, Yavnika, De La Toba, Eduardo, Croslow, Seth W, Gill, Meghna, Guo, Xiao, Ilktach, Giokdjen, Davy, Erin, Molokie, Robert, Wang, Zaijie Jim, Sweedler, Jonathan V. (2026). Hemorphins, atypical endogenous opiate peptides, in sickle cell disease and their association with pain. Pain, 167, (2), 326-337. doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003859.
Ajiboye, Rachael, Yao, Yingwei, Cruz-Almeida, Yenisel, Ezenwa, Miriam, Wang, Zaijie, Molokie, Robert, Wilkie, Diana. (2025). Impact of pain sensitization phenotypes on quality of life among adults with sickle cell disease. Blood, 146, (Supplement 1), 4720. doi:10.1182/blood-2025-4720.
Islam, Abigail R, Kiros, Gebre-Egziabher, Ajiboye, Rachael O, Powell-Roach, Keesha, Ezenwa, Miriam O, Reams, R Renee, Molokie, Robert E, Wang, Zaijie Jim, Yao, Yingwei, Wilkie, Diana J. (2025). Association of COMT rs4680 Genotype With Chronic Neuropathic Pain Experience in Patients With Sickle Cell Disease. Pain Management Nursing, 26, (3), e287-e292. doi:10.1016/j.pmn.2024.11.010.
Kashyap, Yavnika, Wang, Zaijie Jim. (2025). 484 Gut Microbiota and Metabolites on Chronic Pain in Sickle Cell Disease. Journal of Pain, 29, 105282. doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2025.105282.
Zheng, Jingtian, Wu, Yi-Chien, Cai, Xiaoying, Phan, Philana, Gill, Meghna, Er, Ekrem Emrah, Zhao, Zongmin, Wang, Zaijie J, Lee, Steve Seung-Young. (2025). Correlative multiscale 3D imaging of mouse primary and metastatic tumors by sequential light sheet and confocal fluorescence microscopy. iScience, 28, (3), 111934. doi:10.1016/j.isci.2025.111934.
Wang, Zaijie Jim, Kashyap, Yavnika. (2025). Role of Gut Microbiota and Microbiota-derived Metabolites in Sickle Cell Pain (Abstract ID: 191525). Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 392, (3), 103475. doi:10.1016/j.jpet.2025.103475.
Professional Leadership
NIH NPI Study Section, NIH, 10/1/2014 - 6/30/2021
Ontario Genomics Institute’s Scientific Advisory Group (SAG), 2012 - 2012
Education
Degrees:
Ph.D, University of California at San Francisco, United States