TMU Research Center of Cancer Translational Medicine

Zhenghe (John) Wang

        • Chair, Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University.Associate Professor of Medicine

    Contact Information

      • Office: 2103 Cornell Road, WRB 3120, Cleveland, OH 44106

      • TEL:  216-368-0446 (Office)/  216-386-4968 (Cell)          

      • FAX:  216-368-8919

    NARRATIVE

    I am a professor and chair of the Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) School of Medicine. I hold the Dale H. Cowan M.D. – Ruth Goodman Blum Professor of Cancer Research. I am also a co-leader of the Cancer Genome and Epigenome Program at Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.

     I obtained my PhD from the University of Virginia working on yeast genetics and trained as a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Bert Vogelstein’s laboratory at Johns Hopkins University on cancer genetics. Since I became independent in August 2005 at Case Western Reserve University, I have developed a well-funded, internationally recognized research program in colorectal cancer with publications in high-profile journals, including Science, Science Signaling, Cancer Cell, Nature Methods, Nature Communications, PNAS, J. Clinical Investigation, Cancer Research, and J Natl Cancer Inst. My laboratory is currently funded by four NIH R01s. I also have an outstanding past funding record. Notably, I was rewarded with a prestigious $12 million Stand Up to Cancer (SU2C) Colorectal Cancer treatment grant and named as a co-leader of the Dream Team. 

    I co-discovered PIK3CA oncogenic mutations in human cancer. My laboratory identifies novel mechanisms by which PIK3CA oncogenic mutations drive tumorigenesis. I have successfully translated these discoveries into active phase I/II clinical trials. 

    EDUCATION

    • 1995 – 2001   Ph. D. Microbiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va
    • 1989 – 1992   M.S.   Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, China
    • 1985 – 1989   B.S.   Microbiology, Sichuan University, China

    PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

    • 07/2023-          Chair, Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University.
    • 2017-2023       Vice Chair for Faculty Development, Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University.
    • 07/2015-          Professor, Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University.
    • 07/2014-          Co-leader, Cancer Genome and Epigenome Program, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.
    • 2012-2015       Associate Professor with tenure, Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine Case Western Reserve University.
    • 2006-           Adjunct Staff, Genomic Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
    • 2005-2012       Assistant Professor, Department of Genetics and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University
    • 2004-2005       Research Associate, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute
    • 2001- 2004      Postdoctoral Fellow, the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (Bert Vogelstein, mentor)
    • 1992-1995  Research Assistant, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, China 

    PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

    • American Society of Human Genetics
    • American Association for Cancer Research
    • American Association for the Advancement of Science
    • Association of Chinese Americans in Cancer Research
    • Asian American Academy of Science and Engineering (board of directors)

    HONORS and AWARDS

    • 2020    Chair of the NIH Molecular Oncogenesis Study Section
    • 2019    Interviewed by Fox 8 news.
    • 2018    Interviewed by the Cleveland Public Radio (Facebook Live in my lab).
    • 2017    Dale H. Cowan M.D. – Ruth Goodman Blum Professor of Cancer Research
    • 2017    Standup to Cancer Colorectal Cancer Dream Team Co-leader
    • 2106    “Top 10 Clinical Research Achievement Awards — for 2016” By the Clinical Research Forum.
    • 2008    Outstanding Junior Faculty Award, Department of Genetics, Case Western Reserve University
    • 2006    V Scholar
    • 2005    First Place Basic Research Award, The Sydney Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
    • 2001    Michael Peach Award Honorable Mention, University of Virginia

     

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