Hong-Gang Wang

Hong-Gang Wang, PhD is Lois High Berstler Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology and Oncology, and Professor in the Department of Cell and Biological Systems at Penn State College of Medicine. He is also affiliated with the Penn State Cancer Institute (Next-Generation Therapies) and the Penn State Neuroscience Institute. Dr. Wang joined Penn State in 2008 after advancing from assistant professor to full professor at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and the University of South Florida in Tampa.

Dr. Wang's research focuses on understanding the fundamental mechanisms that control apoptosis (self-killing) and autophagy (self-eating) in the context of oncogenesis. His laboratory investigates how these cellular processes can be targeted for anticancer drug discovery and development, with the ultimate goal of translating basic science discoveries into new approaches for cancer treatment. His work significantly contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and well-being.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on autophagy mechanisms, particularly autophagosome formation and closure, caspase activation, and the role of these processes in cancer progression and treatment. His research spans molecular mechanisms, cellular dynamics, and translational applications for cancer therapy.

• Career Citation Milestone Award - D (500) Club (2017, 2019, 2020)
• Outstanding Collaborative Research Team (2015)

Dr. Wang serves as Principal Investigator on multiple significant research projects funded by the National Cancer Institute and National Institute of General Medical Sciences, including studies on non-canonical caspase-8 activation, autophagosome closure by ESCRT machinery, autophagy heterogeneity in tumor metastasis, and targeted sphingolipid metabolism for AML treatment. His research program maintains strong collaborative connections across multiple institutions.

His laboratory maintains active research programs investigating the molecular mechanisms of cell death and survival pathways, with particular emphasis on how these processes can be harnessed for cancer therapy. The research group employs a range of molecular, cellular, and in vivo approaches to study these fundamental biological processes in the context of cancer.