Regents Award Recognizes Faculty Impact in Research and Scholarly Achievement

Dr. Ying Zhang, Director of the Center for American Indian Health Research (CAIHR) and President’s Associates Presidential Professor at the Hudson College of Public Health, has been named a recipient of the Regents Award for Superior Research and Creative/Scholarly Activity at the 2026 Health Campus Faculty Awards Ceremony.

Established in 1963, the Regents Award is among the University’s highest honors, recognizing faculty who demonstrate exceptional achievement in research, teaching and service. The award highlights individuals whose scholarly contributions have made a significant and lasting impact within their disciplines.

Dr. Zhang’s work exemplifies this level of excellence. A nationally recognized biostatistician, her research focuses on developing and applying statistical methods to better understand the pathophysiology of diabetes and its complications, including cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and nonalcoholic liver disease. Her recent work explores lipidomic data analysis and strategies to protect data privacy, further advancing the field.

Dr. Zhang’s career at OUHSC spans more than two decades, beginning in 1999 when she joined CAIHR as a postdoctoral fellow working on the landmark NIH-funded Strong Heart Study. Over the years, she has risen through the ranks to become Director of CAIHR, now a leading research center within the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology. She currently serves as Principal Investigator of the Strong Heart Study Coordinating Center, supporting one of the longest-running prospective studies of American Indian health in the nation.

In addition to her research leadership, Dr. Zhang is a dedicated mentor, having advised more than 60 graduate students across multiple degree programs. Her commitment to student success and her extensive service at the departmental, college, university and national levels further reflect the breadth of her contributions.