It is with deep regret and sorrow that Zoological Research (ZR) notes the passing of our dear friend, generous supporter, and diligent colleague, Professor Yun Zhang, aged 60, on 18 March 2023. Professor Zhang was a principle investigator of the laboratory of bio-toxins and human diseases at the Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and a “Yun Ling Scholar” of Yunnan Province, China. Professor Zhang was also the Asia-Pacific Director of the International Society of Biological Toxins, the Director of the Professional Committee of Bio-toxins of the Chinese Society of Toxicology, an editorial board member of the International Society for Biological Toxins’ journal Toxicon, and an Associate Editor-in-Chief of ZR.

Professor Zhang joined ZR as an editorial board member in 1998 and fulfilled the role of Associate Editor-in-Chief from 2010. As a passionate researcher and productive author, Professor Zhang made outstanding contributions in the field of bio-toxins, with a focus on deciphering human physiological and pathological mechanisms using animal-derived bioactive peptides and proteins as molecular probes. Professor Zhang published 32 original reviews and research articles in ZR from 1998 to 2023, including: “Why do we study animal toxins?” (2015, 36 (4): 183-222), “Tree shrews under the spotlight: Emerging model of human diseases” (2013, 34 (2): 59-69), “King cobra peptide OH-CATH30 as a potential candidate drug through clinic drug-resistant isolates” (2018, 39 (2): 87-96), and many others. As a respected member of our editorial board, Professor Zhang fulfilled his editorial duties faithfully and diligently, and all members and editors of ZR greatly cherish his contributions. His passing is a great loss not only for our journal, but also for the entire scientific community.