Chang-il Hwang

Chang-il Hwang is a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at the University of California, Davis. He leads a research lab focused on understanding the genetic and epigenetic underpinnings of pancreatic cancer progression, with a strong emphasis on therapeutic vulnerabilities and organoid-based modeling.

Education:

• D.V.M., Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
• M.S., Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
• Ph.D., Cornell University

Research Interests:

Dr. Hwang's lab investigates how genetic and epigenetic alterations contribute to pancreatic cancer progression. A major focus is the development and use of pancreatic organoid models to study the epigenetic landscape of cancer. His team explores how BET inhibitors and other epigenetic therapies can be leveraged to target cancer vulnerabilities, particularly in BRCA-deficient and therapy-resistant tumors.

His recent work highlights the role of DNA methylation, enhancer reprogramming, and tumor microenvironment interactions in driving metastasis and therapy resistance. The lab also delves into cancer stem cell biology and the metabolic dependencies of pancreatic tumors.

Scientific Awards & Recognition:

• Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduate Researchers, UC Davis
• UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center Affiliate Scholar Award of Excellence (Daniel Pham)
• Director’s Fellowship (Suyakarn Archasappawat)
• UC Davis Cancer Center Travel Award (Daniel Pham)

Grants & Funding:

Dr. Hwang has secured significant funding, including a UC Cancer Research Coordinating Committee (CRCC) Faculty Seed Grant for 2025–2026 to investigate the epigenetics of the pancreatic tumor microenvironment. His lab also received a CRCC Diversity Supplement to support undergraduate researcher Mitchell Huang.

Lab & Team:

The Hwang Lab is an active research group with graduate students, postdocs, and undergraduates. Notable members include Suyakarn (Sonia) Archasappawat, who recently completed her PhD, and Daniel Pham, a key contributor to cancer epigenetics research. The lab emphasizes mentorship, diversity, and translational research.