Wang Lab
The Wang Lab has a long-term interest in understanding the fundamental questions related to cell metabolism, cell cycle, and cell fate determination in various physio-pathological contexts. The laboratory currently employs model organisms and cutting-edge tools to:
- establish a framework for understanding metabolic checkpoints during cell cycle transitions.
- delineate control mechanisms and signatures of immune cell metabolism.
- address how the altered immune metabolic landscape impacts autoimmunity and antitumoral immunity.
- determine how metabolic reprogramming during development impacts tumorigenesis and tumor immunity in pediatric cancers.
Featured Publications
- Asparagine restriction enhances CD8+ T cell metabolic fitness and antitumoral functionality through an NRF2-dependent stress response
- The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzyme spectrum enables optimally controlling T cell glycolysis and differentiation
- GAB functions as a bioenergetic and signalling gatekeeper to control T cell inflammation
- Succinate dehydrogenase/complex II is critical for metabolic and epigenetic regulation of T cell proliferation and inflammation
- Inosine is an alternative carbon source for CD8+ T cell function under glucose restriction
- De novo synthesis and salvage pathway coordinately regulates polyamine homeostasis and determines T cell proliferation and function
- mTOR Is Key to T Cell Transdifferentiation
- Glutathione de novo synthesis but not recycling process coordinates with glutamine catabolism to control redox homeostasis and directs murine T cell differentiation
- Metabolic maintenance of cell asymmetry following division in activated T lymphocytes
- Proinflammatory signal suppresses proliferation and shifts macrophage metabolism from Myc-dependent to HIF1α-dependent
- Dendritic cell SIRT1-HIF1α axis programs the differentiation of CD4+ T cells through IL-12 and TGF-β1
Ongoing Research Support
| Funding | Research | Role |
| NIH/NIAID 1R01AI175004 | Decipher and target GABA metabolism and receptor-mediated signaling in inflammation and autoimmunity |
Principal Investigator |
| NIH/NCI 1R01CA247941 | Modulation of asparagine bioavailability and stress response signaling to enhance T cell robustness and maximize immunotherapy |
Principal Investigator |
| NIH/NIAID 2R01AI114581 | Dissect and target Arginine-polyamine metabolic axis in T cell mediated inflammation and autoimmunity | Principal Investigator |
| NIH/NCI U54CA232561 | Counteracting suppressive factors to effectively harness cellular and viral immunotherapies for pediatric solid tumors | co-Investigator, |
| NIH/NCI R37CA | Optimizing Theranostic Dosimetry and Kidney Biomarkers for Alpha-Emitter Radioligand Therapy in Neuroendocrine Tumors |
co-Investigator, Zepeda-Orozco |
Lab Staff
Ruoning Wang, PhD
Principal Investigator
Ruoning Wang, PhD, is a principal investigator in the Center for Childhood Cancer for The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, a principal investigator for the Division of Hematology and Oncology at Nationwide Children's Hospital and a professor in the Department of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.
Dr. Wang earned his bachelor's degree in Medicinal Chemistry from China Pharmaceutical University, followed by a master's degree in Biochemistry from Nanjing Medical University and a doctorate in Gene & Development from the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center (UT-MDACC). He trained in Immunology and Cancer Biology at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital as a postdoctoral fellow and joined The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital as a principal investigator and The Ohio State University as an assistant professor of pediatrics in August 2013.
Kanika Chandra, PhD
Postdoctoral Scientist
Kanika.Chandra@NatiowideChildrens.org
Kanika obtained her doctorate from Dr Reddy’s Institute of Life Sciences, Hyderabad, India in September of 2023, where her work focused primarily on understanding the Mitochondrial forms and functions. She joined the Wang Lab in December of 2023 and her current research focuses on understanding the molecular significance of metabolic checkpoint during G2/M phase progression.
Xindi Dang, PhD
Postdoctoral Scientist
Xindi.Dang@NatiowideChildrens.org
Xindi obtained her doctorate at East Tennessee State University before she joined Wang Lab in 2023. Her research focuses on T cells metabolic reprogramming, cell cycle and DNA damage.
Tingting Fan, PhD
Postdoctoral Scientist
Tingting.Fan@NatiowideChildrens.org
Tingting obtained her doctorate at The University of Chinese Academy of Sciences. Her research focuses on exploring metabolic checkpoints that control T cell activation, polarization, and plasticity, particularly in the context of autoimmune diseases. Besides immuno-metabolism, she has a keen interest in investigating the intricate interplay between gut microbiota and the immune system.
Siwen Kang, PhD
Postdoctoral Scientist
Siwen.Kang@NatiowideChildrens.org
Siwen's research is focused on metabolic reprogramming and T cell response to modulate inflammation, and the crosstalk between neural and immune system. She obtained her doctoral degree in Molecular Immunology from Tokyo Medical and Dental University Graduate School of Sciences in Japan, and then pursued postdoctoral training for CAR-T cell immunotherapy at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center before joining Wang Lab. Siwen’s long-term career goal is to discover novel therapeutic approaches for pediatric cancers.
Bhavana Kushwaha, PhD
Postdoctoral Scientist
Bhavana.Kushwaha@NatiowideChildrens.org
Since she joined Wang Lab in 2022, Bhavana has been studying the interplay between metabolic reprogramming and T cell differentiation to enhance anti-tumor immune responses. Her research extends beyond cancer biology; she is also focusing on identifying metabolic pathways that regulate T-cell responses for the benefit of treating immune-mediated disease. Bhavana received her doctorate in 2021 at CSIR- Central Drug Research Institute, where she worked on the interrelations between infection, inflammation, and prostate cancer.
Jie Li, PhD
Postdoctoral Scientist
Jie.Li@NatiowideChildrens.org
Jie joined Wang Lab in 2023 and her current research is T cell metabolism, proliferation and differentiation. Jie obtained her doctorate at the State Key Laboratory of Molecular Development, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Her research primarily focused on lipid metabolism, specifically studying the function of acyl-CoAs in Drosophila’s fat body.
Hongmiao Yu, PhD
Postdoctoral Scientist
Hongmiao.Yu@NatiowideChildrens.org
Hongmiao obtained her doctorate from Fudan University, China in 2023, she joined Wang Lab in February 2024, and her current research focuses on cell metabolism.
Lingling Liu, PhD
Senior Research Scientist / Lab Manager
Lingling.Liu@NatiowideChildrens.org
Lingling’s research interest is T cells and Tumor cell Metabolism. She coordinates and supervises lab projects, develops assays, trains lab members, and manages lab supplies and mouse colonies. Lingling obtained her doctorate at Fudan University, followed by postdoctoral training at MD Anderson Cancer center and St. Jude Children’s Hospital. She was a research scientist at GTx inc before she joined Wang Lab in 2013.
Dechao Cao
Research Associate
Dechao.Cao@NatiowideChildrens.org
Dechao joined the Wang Lab as a research associate in 2023, his role encompasses assay development, project coordination, equipment and supplies maintenance.
Sushma Kambala, MD
Research Associate
Sushma.Kambala@NatiowideChildrens.org
Sushma joined the Wang Lab as a research associate in July 2022, where she aids postdoctoral fellows in their research pursuits. Her primary responsibilities include genetic sequencing of mice strains and the management of animal colonies. She obtained her medical degree from Meenakshi Medical College and Research Institute in Kanchipuram, India.
Postdoctoral Scientists
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Noushi Lotfi (2022-2023): Postdoctoral Scientist at University of California
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Md Golam Sarowar Jahan (2021-2023): Postdoctoral Scientist at University of California
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Xuyong Chen (2017-2022): Associate professor at Tongji Hospital, Wuhan, China
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Rashida Gnanaprakasam, PhD (2016-2022): Scientist at Pharmaceutical company in California
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Tingting Wang, PhD (2014-2021): Scientist at Pharmaceutical company in New Jersey
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Yuqing Shen, PhD (2016-2018): Associate Professor at Southeast University, China
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Gaojian Lian, PhD (2015-2017): Associate Professor at Hengyang Medical School, University of South China
Senior Research Associates
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Xuequn Xu (2018-2021): Scientist at Pharmaceutical company in Pennsylvania
Research Associates
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Ethan Miller, MD ( 2016-2017): Physician at US Army
Graduate Students
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John Sherman, PhD (2016-2020): Postdoctoral Scientist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital
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Ruohan Wu, PhD (2017-2020): Postdoctoral Scientist at Ohio State University
