Renji Zhang

Renji was born on September 17, 1930, in Beijing, China, to Professor H. C. Chang, a renowned physiologist, and Ms. Yue Chuan Gao, an esteemed educator. As a distinguished professor at the School of Life Sciences at Peking University, Renji made groundbreaking contributions to physiology and neurobiology. As the founder of Meridian Science, he applied modern physiological principles to validate the traditional Chinese Meridian System.

Professor Zhang's academic journey began in the Department of Biology at Tsinghua University. Following academic restructuring, the department was relocated to Peking University, where he graduated and later became a dedicated faculty member. His career was marked by extensive international collaboration, including positions as a visiting scholar in Professor C. Leon Harris’ lab at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, an associate professor in the Department of Neurobiology at Stanford University, a co-scientist at the University of Basel in Switzerland, both in Professor John Nicholls' lab, and a consultant professor at Yale University in Professor Larry Cohen's lab. He also served as a visiting professor at the Weizmann Institute.

While acquiring the latest knowledge and technologies abroad, he brought innovative ideas and advanced equipment back to his lab at Peking University, where he mentored numerous graduate students. Under his guidance, these students authored many papers in renowned scientific journals and earned their Master’s (MS) and Doctoral (PhD) degrees in physiology and neurobiology. Today, his students are making significant contributions in neurobiology, medicine, computer sciences, and various innovative and cutting-edge fields.

Professor Zhang's professional achievements were numerous, including nearly 100 publications in scientific journals and books, as well as his service as the executive director of the Chinese Society of Physiology and as a founding member of the Chinese Biophysical Society. His work earned him membership in the New York Academy of Sciences and the American Society of Modern Science and Technology.

Zhang Renji is survived by his siblings, Mr. Ren Xiang Zhang and Ms. Ren Hua Zhang, and his two daughters, Yang (Sunny) Zhang and Tong Zhang, their husbands Michael Yee and Sheng Li. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Qili Pan.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, September 8, 2024, at El Camino Memorial - Sorrento Valley, 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd, San Diego, CA 92121. Visitation will take place from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, followed by the funeral service from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. A reception and reflection venue will be held from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.