Hun-Way Hwang

Hun-Way Hwang, MD, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Pittsburgh, with appointments in the Division of Experimental Pathology and Section of Laboratory Medicine. He directs the Hwang Lab, which is affiliated with the Cellular and Molecular Pathology (CMP) and Integrative Systems Biology graduate programs.

His research program examines RNA processing mechanisms through three interconnected themes:

• Fundamental RNA biology: Alternative polyadenylation, microRNA regulation, and isoform-specific gene expression
• Technical innovation: Development of in vivo mapping tools (cTag-PAPERCLIP) and CRISPR screening approaches
• Disease mechanisms: Neurological disorders, hematological cancers, and liver pathology linked to RNA processing defects

Publication analysis reveals consistent focus on post-transcriptional regulation across 22 papers (2005-2023). Recent work emphasizes:

• mTORC1 signaling in isoform balance (2023)
• DNA damage-responsive polyadenylation in chemoresistance (2021)
• Cell-type-specific poly(A) usage in microglia (2017)
• Non-canonical polyadenylation in miRNA targeting (2016)

The lab employs genetically modified mouse models combined with high-throughput methods to identify disease-relevant mRNA isoforms and their functional consequences.