Dr S.Z. Xu is a senior lecturer of the Centre for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research. He obtained his BM in clinical medicine from Shandong Medical University in 1986, MSc in Pharmacology from Shanghai Medical University (1989, Shanghai) and MD in cardiology (1996, Shanghai). He worked as a resident physician, specialist, and then associate professor and consultant cardiologist (1989-1998). He was enthusiastic for medical research and investigated ATP-sensitive K channels in Leeds as a visiting scholar. He moved to Leeds for PhD study (PhD, 2001, Leeds) and then postdoctoral research fellow (2001-2005). He studied TRP and store-operated channels in cardiovascular diseases, working in Prof. DJ Beech's laboratory (1998-2005). Sam joined the Postgraduate Medical Institute and Hull York Medical School as a lecturer in diabetes and endocrinology in 2005, and became Senior lecturer HYMS in 2008.