David T.W. Wong

David T.W. Wong is a Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Dentistry, leading the Section of Biosystems and Function in the Division of Oral and Systemic Health Sciences. He directs the UCLA Center for Oral/Head and Neck Oncology Research, focusing on oral cancer and saliva diagnostics. With over 320 peer-reviewed publications, Wong pioneered the term Salivaomics and developed EFIRM Liquid Biopsy for early cancer detection via saliva.

• Education: B.Sc. (Simon Fraser University, 1979), D.M.D. (University of British Columbia, 1981), D.M.Sc. in Molecular Biology (Harvard University, 1985), Certificate in Oral Pathology (Harvard School of Dental Medicine, 1985)
• Research: His work on CDK2AP1 revealed its role as a tumor suppressor gene regulating cell cycle via CDK2 inhibition and epigenetic control in stem cell differentiation. He also advanced salivary exosome studies and liquid biopsy technologies.
• Scientific Leadership: Past President of the American Association for Dental Research (AADR), Chair of NIH CSR MCDC Study Section, and current Chair of NCI Liquid Biopsy Consortium.
• Awards: AAAS Fellow (2006), Dr. Murray J. Gavel Clinical Research Award (2011), AADR Fellow (2019), and multiple Distinguished Faculty Awards.
• Publications: His 2024 Nucleic Acids Research paper on plasma ultrashort cfDNA methylation profiling and 2023 Cell Reports Medicine review on Liquid Biopsy Consortium advancements highlight his leadership in non-invasive cancer diagnostics.