Aiwen Zhang, PhD

Aiwen Zhang is currently the section head of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics, and the director of Allogen Laboratories, Pathology and Laboratories Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic. She earned her PhD in Phytopathology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL USA in 1998. In her thesis work she found the molecular genetic variation and phylogenetic relationship of Phomopsis/Diaporthe spp.

After completing her PhD, Aiwen worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at molecular genetic department of the Thomas Jefferson University and the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA USA. During that time, she was selected as one of the five Howard Hughes project carriers. One of her research findings was published in the journal of The European Molecular Biology Organization.

Aiwen decided to switch her focus to Tx immunology in 2006. After 8 years working as a research fellow and director in training fellow in the histocompatibility lab, she was certified as a clinical lab director by The American Board of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics in 2013 and was hired as associate director of Allogen laboratories at the Cleveland Clinic. Meanwhile, she received approval as a clinical research assistant professor by Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine (CCLCM).

In 2016, Aiwen accepted the position as a section head of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics and the full director of Allogen Laboratories, where she has been since that time. As a successful large center histocompatibility laboratory director, Aiwen’s activities have been very supportive and influential to the academic development of organ transplantation societies. She has published numerous peer-reviewed articles from her research findings. She has frequently shared her clinical service experiences and research results at national/international meetings and technical/clinical workshops. In 2018 alone, Aiwen has presented eight lectures from her studies of deleterious effect of antibodies against human leucocyte antigen (HLA) and non-HLA to solid organ transplantation. Her outstanding clinical research accomplishments have been repeatedly awarded by histocompatibility and transplantation immunology societies, as well as The International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation.

Aiwen is involved in multiple medical education programs. She has been a faculty committee member of Kidney Transplant Preceptorship for International Transplant Nephrologist and fellow/resident of Blood Bank at Cleveland Clinic and Metro Heath. Since the time she became a clinical assistant professor and the director of Allogen laboratories, she has also continually provided annual educational lectures on transplantation immunology and histocompatibility laboratory rotations for medical fellows/residents from more than seven departments and programs at Cleveland Clinic, as well as from other regional, national, and international hospitals. In addition, she has dedicated her time to advise many medical students, residents, and fellows in their research efforts. Currently, she’s been approved as an associate professor of pathology by CCLCM.

Education & Professional Highlights

Appointed
2013

Education & Fellowships

Fellowship - Cleveland Clinic
Allogen Laboratories
Cleveland, OH
2013

Fellowship - Dorothy M. Davis Heart & Lung Research Institute
Transplant Immunology/Molecular Physiology
Columbus, OH
2008

Medical Education - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Plant Pathology
Urbana, IL
1998

Undergraduate - Shenyang Agricultural University
Shenhang,
1983

Professional Highlights

Associate Professor of Pathology

Specialty Interests

Histocompatibility and Organ Transplantation Immunology

Research & Publications

See publications for Aiwen Zhang, PhD.

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Industry Relationships

Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists may collaborate with the pharmaceutical or medical device industries to help develop medical breakthroughs or provide medical expertise or education. Cleveland Clinic strives to make scientific advances that will benefit patient care and support outside relationships that promise public benefit. In order for the discoveries of Cleveland Clinic physicians' and scientists' laboratories and investigations to benefit the public, these discoveries must be commercialized in partnership with industry. As experts in their fields, Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists are often sought after by industry to consult, provide expertise and education.

To assure professional and commercial integrity in such matters, Cleveland Clinic maintains a program that reviews these collaborations and, when appropriate, puts measures in place to minimize bias that may result from ties to industry. Cleveland Clinic publicly discloses the names of companies when (i) its physicians/scientists receive $5,000 or more per year (or, in rare cases, equity or stock options) for speaking and consulting, (ii) its physicians/scientists serve as a fiduciary, (iii) its physicians/scientists receive or have the right to receive royalties or (iv) its physicians/ scientists hold any equity interest for the physician's/scientist's role as inventor, discoverer, developer, founder or consultant.* In publicly disclosing this information, Cleveland Clinic tries to provide information as accurately as possible about its physicians' and scientists' connections with industry.

As of 7/30/2024, Dr. Zhang has reported the financial relationships with the companies listed below. In general, patients should feel free to contact their doctor about any of the relationships and how the relationships are overseen by Cleveland Clinic. To learn more about Cleveland Clinic's policies on collaborations with industry and innovation management, go to our Integrity in Innovation page.

Public Health Service-Reportable Financial Conflicts of Interest. Cleveland Clinic scientists and physicians engage in basic, translational and clinical research activities, working to solve health problems, enhance patient care and improve quality of life for patients. Interactions with industry are essential to bringing the researchers' discoveries to the public, but can present the potential for conflicts of interest related to their research activities. Click here to view a listing of instances where Cleveland Clinic has identified a Public Health Service (PHS)-Reportable Financial Conflict of Interest and has put measures in place to ensure that, to the extent possible, the design, conduct and reporting of the research is free from bias.

* Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists subscribe to the guidance presented in the PhRMA Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals and the AdvaMed Code of Ethics on Interactions with Health Care Professionals. As such, gifts of substantial value are generally prohibited.

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About Aiwen Zhang, PhD