Yuan Wang, Ph.D.
Tenure-track Assistant Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute
Dr. Yuan Wang earned her PhD from the Department of Cell Biology & Cell Engineering Research Center at the Fourth Military Medical University in China, where she developed a strong foundation in cellular and molecular biology. She then completed her first postdoctoral training at Washington State University, focusing on DNA damage repair with an emphasis on DNA replication and genomic stability. She continued her research at Rutgers Cancer Institute with a second postdoctoral position under the mentorship of Dr. Zhiyuan Shen in the Department of Radiation Oncology. Her work centered on Ku70, a versatile protein essential for DNA repair via the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway, as well as in telomere maintenance, innate immunity, cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, V(D)J recombination, and tumorigenesis. One of her most notable discoveries was identifying a critical lysine methylation site within the C-terminal SAP domain of Ku70, mediated by a novel lysine methyltransferase, SETD4. This post-translational modification functions as a molecular switch that regulates Ku70’s translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, a process crucial for cell survival during stress. Dr. Wang’s laboratory is dedicated to exploring the mechanisms underlying the largely uncharacterized SAP domain of Ku70 and its methylation by SETD4. Her current research focuses on uncovering how this domain influences cellular responses to DNA damage, inflammation, and cancer progression, utilizing both cellular and mouse models. Her ultimate goal is to translate these fundamental insights into innovative clinical strategies to enhance cancer treatments and improve the efficacy of radiation therapy for better patient outcomes.