Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,
I am pleased to share that I have appointed John Wang, PhD, as chair of the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences.
Dr. Wang—working with the exceptional faculty, staff and students in the department—will continue to push the boundaries of knowledge and innovation to deliver future groundbreaking genomic research. This research will lead to the development of cutting-edge technologies to revolutionize the field and provide patients with the most advanced and comprehensive care.
"I am deeply honored and humbled to assume the role of chair in this extraordinary department that has been an integral part of my personal and professional journey," said Dr. Wang. "With immense enthusiasm, I embark on this exciting chapter as we find ourselves in a truly remarkable era for genetics and genomics."
Since joining the School of Medicine faculty in 2005, Dr. Wang has served as the Dale H. Cowan - Ruth Goodman Blum Professor of Cancer Research, vice chair for faculty development in the Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences and a co-leader of the Cancer Genome and Epigenome Program at Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.
He earned his PhD from the University of Virginia and trained as a postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins University, where he focused on cancer genetics research in the laboratory of Bert Vogelstein, MD.
Dr. Wang is an internationally recognized colorectal cancer researcher—his co-discovery of PIK3CA oncogenic mutations in human cancer and other discoveries have successfully translated into active phase I/II clinical trials. His research has been published in many high-impact journals, including Science, Science Signaling, Cancer Cell, Nature Methods, Nature Communications, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), Cancer Research and Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
A highly funded researcher, Dr. Wang’s research is currently funded by three National Institutes of Health (NIH) RO1s, the Case GI Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) program and a European Sove-RD Seeing Grant. He also led the SPORE career enhancement program and developmental research program. Recognized for his contributions to colorectal cancer research, he was awarded a prestigious $12 million Stand Up to Cancer Colorectal Cancer treatment grant and named a co-leader of its Dream Team.
"The once-dreamed concepts of gene therapy and gene correction therapy are now within our grasp, shaping the landscape of medical possibilities," said Dr. Wang. "The rapid decline in the cost of sequencing heralds a future where genomic medicine will be an essential component of mainstream patient care."
For the past 10 years, the department has been led by Tony Wynshaw-Boris, MD, PhD, a recognized international human geneticist whose major contributions to understanding the pathophysiology of human childhood neurogenetic diseases and cancer has positioned the department as a leader in groundbreaking genomic research. Though stepping down as chair, Dr. Wynshaw-Boris will remain an active faculty member. We will celebrate his indelible contributions as chair of the department on Aug. 24 from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Biomedical Building Lobby (BRB) lobby.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Wang on his appointment as the chair of the Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences.
Sincerely,
Stan Gerson, MD
Dean and Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs
School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University