Xiaodong Wang is a Professor at the Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery within the Eshelman School of Pharmacy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research program focuses on developing innovative drug leads and candidates targeting novel protein kinases and other molecular targets identified by UNC faculty and external investigators. Dr. Wang's research interests center on structure- and ligand-based drug design approaches for developing therapeutic compounds, particularly kinase inhibitors targeting the TAM family (TYRO3, AXL, MERTK). His laboratory has successfully applied these methodologies to deliver compounds to clinical trials, including MerTK inhibitors and IDH1 inhibitors developed in collaboration with NCATS. Current research continues to focus on structure-based drug design for novel targets, with particular emphasis on cancer therapeutics and molecular imaging agents. Analysis of Dr. Wang's recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a strong focus on developing selective kinase inhibitors, particularly targeting the TAM receptor family (TYRO3, AXL, MERTK) for various cancer types including leukemia, Ewing sarcoma, and melanoma. His work spans multiple disciplines including medicinal chemistry, cancer biology, immunology, and molecular imaging, with recent publications appearing in high-impact journals such as Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, Nature Communications, and Leukemia. Dr. Wang maintains active collaborations across UNC-Chapel Hill and with external institutions, working with researchers in pharmacology, oncology, immunology, and structural biology. His laboratory develops both small molecule inhibitors and imaging agents, with several compounds progressing toward clinical applications. Contact information: xiaodonw@email.unc.edu | Wang Lab website
