Chunyu Wang

Chunyu Wang is a Professor of Biological Sciences and Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), where he holds a joint appointment in the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies (CBIS). With an MD from Peking Union Medical College (1996) and a PhD in Molecular Biology and Genetics from Cornell University (2000), followed by postdoctoral training at Columbia University, Dr. Wang has established a distinguished research career spanning nearly two decades at RPI.

Dr. Wang's research focuses on the structural mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease and cancer, with particular emphasis on amyloid-beta production, tau-glycan interactions, and ApoE in neurodegeneration, as well as Hedgehog signaling and p53 in oncology. His laboratory employs nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy as a primary tool to investigate protein structure and dynamics, complemented by biochemical, biophysical, and computational approaches. Recent work has centered on heparan sulfate modifications and their role in disease progression, with promising implications for therapeutic development.

Dr. Wang teaches advanced courses in protein structure determination (BCBP 4870/6870) and molecular modeling (BCBP/BIOL 4550/6420), training the next generation of structural biologists. His research program has been continuously funded by NIH, including multiple R01 grants, as well as awards from the Alzheimer's Association, Warren Alpert Foundation, and New York State. In 2024, he was elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), recognizing his significant contributions to structural biology and neurodegenerative disease research.

Selected Scientific Awards:

• Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement Science (AAAS) (2024)
• NIA R01 grant for ApoE research featured on RPI News (2024)
• NIA R01 grant for Tau-glycan interaction in AD (2020)
• Warren Alpert Foundation grant for Structure-Based Drug Discovery (2019)
• NIA T32 and R25 grants for Alzheimer's research training (2024)

Dr. Wang actively mentors a diverse team of researchers, including postdoctoral associates, graduate students, and undergraduates, fostering an inclusive environment that has produced numerous successful scientists. His laboratory has made significant contributions to understanding the molecular mechanisms of protein aggregation in Alzheimer's disease and the structural basis of Hedgehog signaling in cancer, with work published in high-impact journals including PNAS, Nature Communications, and Angewandte Chemie. Current research directions include developing novel therapeutics targeting protein-glycan interactions and exploring the circadian regulation of heparan sulfate in neurodegenerative processes.