“One size does not fit all.” Standard drug treatments may fail to produce the desired therapeutic effects or, in certain instances, lead to life-threatening toxic reactions for many patients. Therefore, it is essential to gain a comprehensive understanding of the interindividual variability in drug responses.
The Wang Lab focuses on using pharmacokinetics and pharmaco-omics tools, including pharmacogenomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, to uncover the genetic and non-genetic factors that contribute to the differences in drug disposition and responses. Dr. Wang’s research aims to provide a knowledge base for precision medicine and improve pharmacotherapy efficacy and safety through biomarker discovery and predictive modeling of individual drug responses.
Current work
“One size does not fit all.” Standard drug treatments may fail to produce the desired therapeutic effects or, in certain instances, lead to life-threatening toxic reactions for many patients. Therefore, it is essential to gain a comprehensive understanding of the interindividual variability in drug responses.
The Wang Lab focuses on using pharmacokinetics and pharmaco-omics tools, including pharmacogenomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, to uncover the genetic and non-genetic factors that contribute to the differences in drug disposition and responses. Dr. Wang’s research aims to provide a knowledge base for precision medicine and improve pharmacotherapy efficacy and safety through biomarker discovery and predictive modeling of individual drug responses.
Current work
Figure1. Workflow for the CYP2D6 Pharmacogenomics project.
Project 1
Pharmacogenomics and Pharmacometabolomics informing Precision Pharmacotherapy
Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) is a critical enzyme metabolizing 20-25% of clinical medications. Despite known variants, much of its variability remains unexplained. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on human liver samples, identifying novel variants associated with CYP2D6 protein expressions and activities. These discoveries hold potential to improve individualized drug therapies for the drugs mediated by CYP2D6 (Figure1).
CES1 is a predominant hydrolase in human livers, which is responsible for the hydrolysis of many clinically important medications. However, individual responses to CES1-metabolized drugs vary widely, prompting us to study genetic and environmental factors using multi-omics tools. This work aims to discover CES1 biomarkers that enhance the prediction of enzyme activity, aiding in optimizing drug therapies for CES1 substrates (Figure2).
Figure2. The CES1 PGx-Metabolomics project workflow
Project 2
Drug Disposition in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Our lab is interested in investigating drug disposition in neurodegenerative diseases, where drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) may be altered. With millions of patients worldwide and a high failure rate in drug development, understanding these mechanisms is critical for optimizing therapies. Neurodegenerative diseases remain an unexplored frontier in modulating key drug disposition pathways, particularly for elderly patients who often take multiple medications. To bridge this knowledge gap, we collaborate with experts in neurodegenerative research to explore how these diseases influence the pharmacokinetics of commonly used drugs, aiming to improve patient outcomes.
Figure3. Drug Disposition in neurodegenerative diseasesFigure1. Workflow for the CYP2D6 Pharmacogenomics project.
Project 1
Pharmacogenomics and Pharmacometabolomics informing Precision Pharmacotherapy
Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) is a critical enzyme metabolizing 20-25% of clinical medications. Despite known variants, much of its variability remains unexplained. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on human liver samples, identifying novel variants associated with CYP2D6 protein expressions and activities. These discoveries hold potential to improve individualized drug therapies for the drugs mediated by CYP2D6 (Figure1).
CES1 is a predominant hydrolase in human livers, which is responsible for the hydrolysis of many clinically important medications. However, individual responses to CES1-metabolized drugs vary widely, prompting us to study genetic and environmental factors using multi-omics tools. This work aims to discover CES1 biomarkers that enhance the prediction of enzyme activity, aiding in optimizing drug therapies for CES1 substrates (Figure2).
Figure2. The CES1 PGx-Metabolomics project workflow
Project 2
Drug Disposition in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Our lab is interested in investigating drug disposition in neurodegenerative diseases, where drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) may be altered. With millions of patients worldwide and a high failure rate in drug development, understanding these mechanisms is critical for optimizing therapies. Neurodegenerative diseases remain an unexplored frontier in modulating key drug disposition pathways, particularly for elderly patients who often take multiple medications. To bridge this knowledge gap, we collaborate with experts in neurodegenerative research to explore how these diseases influence the pharmacokinetics of commonly used drugs, aiming to improve patient outcomes.
Figure3. Drug Disposition in neurodegenerative diseases
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