We are delighted to announce Dr Qilin Zhang as a touchENDOCRINOLOGY Future Leader 2026, recognized by peers as an emerging leader in endocrinology and translational pituitary research.
Dr Qilin Zhang, MD, PhD, MMSci, is an  associate professor and attending neurosurgeon at Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, China, focusing on pituitary neuroendocrine tumors and translational research. He recently completed research training in endocrinology and clinical investigation at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School.
Dr Zhang’s research integrates multi-omics approaches, molecular imaging and large international clinical cohorts to advance molecular classification, improve precision diagnosis and support more personalized treatment strategies for pituitary tumors. Through international collaborations, his work has contributed to a growing understanding of how molecular and clinical features can be combined to better predict outcomes and guide patient care, including more refined approaches to postoperative risk stratification in conditions such as Cushing’s disease.
Recognized with the ENDO Early Investigator Award, Dr Qilin Zhang represents a new generation of clinician–scientists working across disciplines to translate scientific discoveries into meaningful clinical impact.
In this Q&A, Dr Qilin Zhang reflects on the milestones that have shaped his career so far, the role of mentorship and collaboration in balancing clinical and research responsibilities, and how his work is helping to move pituitary endocrinology towards a more precise and individualized future.
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What has been the most rewarding moment in your journey so far?
The most rewarding moment in my journey so far was learning that I had received the ENDO Early Investigator Award. For me, this recognition was not only an acknowledgement of my previous research work, but also a reminder of how much support I have received along the way.
My neurosurgical mentors in China, Professor Yao Zhao and Professor Yongfei Wang, taught me how to think as a surgeon and how to build a foundation in basic and translational research. My mentors in the United States, Professor Karen Miller, Dr Ana Abreu, and Professor Ursula Kaiser, have helped me develop a deeper understanding of endocrinology and clinical investigation. I have also been fortunate to work with collaborators from many different countries, whose support has been invaluable.
Rather than viewing this award as an endpoint, I see it as a new starting point. It encourages me to continue building bridges between neurosurgery, endocrinology, and translational research.
How do you balance clinical practice, research, and personal development?
I do not think clinical practice, research, and personal development can be balanced by one person alone. Each requires sustained effort, and the key is to work within strong, collaborative teams. I have been fortunate to be part of several energetic and supportive teams, which allows me to contribute meaningfully across different areas without trying to do everything by myself.
I also try to regularly review my priorities over the next one to two months. At certain times, my focus needs to be in the operating room. At other times, there may be important experimental data that require immediate analysis, or international meetings that provide opportunities to develop collaborations. Planning ahead helps me adjust the proportion of time devoted to each area.
At the same time, I believe it is essential not to forget family. Spending time with my family is not separate from professional development; it is an equally important part of maintaining perspective, energy, and long-term motivation.
Can you share a defining breakthrough in your research and how it impacted your field?
One defining breakthrough in my research has been an international multicenter retrospective study on Cushing’s disease, conducted in collaboration with Marily and Luis in Germany. In this study, we found that combining USP8 mutation status with tumor size could identify three clinically meaningful subgroups: USP8-wildtype microadenomas, USP8-mutant adenomas, and USP8-wildtype macroadenomas. These groups showed significantly different risks of postoperative recurrence.
This finding is important because Cushing’s disease has traditionally been followed mainly according to clinical and biochemical remission status, while molecular information has not been routinely incorporated into postoperative management. Our study provides evidence that USP8 mutation testing may help refine recurrence risk stratification after surgery.
In practical terms, this work supports the idea that patients with Cushing’s disease may benefit from more individualized follow-up strategies based on both tumor characteristics and molecular features, rather than a uniform surveillance schedule for all patients.
More content in pituitary disorders.
Cite: Dr Qilin Zhang on advancing precision endocrinology through translational pituitary research: touchENDOCRINOLOGY Future Leaders 2026. touchENDOCRINOLOGY. September 2026.
Disclosures: This short article was prepared by touchENDOCRINOLOGY in collaboration with Dr Zhang. No fees or funding were associated with its publication.
Editor: Carla Junkier, Editorial Director.
