Kuang-Wei Wang pursued his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Michigan State University (2019 – Present), where he centered his research on Alzheimer’s disease mechanisms and drug discovery. Prior to this, he earned dual B.S. degrees in Applied Chemistry and Interdisciplinary Science Degree Program from National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan (2011 – 2015), solidifying his foundation in chemical and biological sciences.
Currently, Kuang-Wei is conducting his doctoral research in the Kuo Lab at Michigan State University, under the guidance of Dr. Min-Hao Kuo. His work involves using advanced techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to characterize the biophysical properties of hyperphosphorylated tau protein. He has explored the effects of cytotoxic p-tau across various models, including human cell lines, mouse primary neurons, and in vivo mouse models, contributing to high-throughput screening (HTS) that identified novel inhibitors for p-tau aggregation and cytotoxicity. Previously, he gained valuable experience as a research assistant in Dr. Yaw-Kuen Li’s lab at National Chiao Tung University, purifying macrolide glycosyltransferases and analyzing enzymatic reactions. His industry experience includes roles at DuPont Taiwan and Avision Inc., complemented by military service in Taiwan.
Kuang-Wei’s research interests revolve around unraveling the molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly tauopathies like Alzheimer’s disease. He is passionate about protein engineering, drug discovery, and developing high-throughput screening methods to identify small-molecule inhibitors that mitigate tau aggregation and cytotoxicity.
Kuang-Wei has demonstrated leadership through roles such as Captain of the Applied Chemistry Tennis Team, President of the Applied Chemistry Student Association, and General Coordinator for the Applied Chemistry Summer Camp. These experiences underscore his ability to lead and collaborate effectively in diverse environments.
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Title: Alzheimer’s Disease Drug Discovery: Small Molecule Inhibitors of Hyperphosphorylated Tau Aggregation and Cytotoxicity
Authors: Wang, K. W., Hagar, H. C., Fernandez-Vega, V., Jordán, L. O., Scampavia, L., Shumate, J., Spicer, T., & Kuo, M. H.
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Title: Effects of Heparan Sulfate Trisaccharide Containing Oleanolic Acid in Attenuating Hyperphosphorylated Tau-Induced Cell Dysfunction Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Zhu, S., Song, Z., Tapayan, A., Singh, K., Wang, K. W., Hagar, H. C., Zhang, J., Kim, H., Thepsuwan, P., Kuo, M. H., Zhang, K., & Nguyen, H.
Year: 2025
Journal: Journal of Medicinal Chemistr
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Title: Hyperphosphorylated Tau Inflicts Intracellular Stress Responses that Are Mitigated by Apomorphine
Authors: Wang, K. W., Hagar, H. C., Song, Z., Chen, H. R., Kuan, C. Y., Zhang, K., & Kuo, M. H.
Year: 2024
Journal: Molecular Neurobiology
Citations: 61(5), p. 2653-2671
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Title: Frontotemporal Dementia P301L Mutation Potentiates but Is Not Sufficient to Cause the Formation of Cytotoxic Fibrils of Tau
Authors: Wang, K. W., Zhang, G., & Kuo, M. H.
Year: 2023
Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Citations: 24(19), 14996
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Title: Evaluation of N- and O-Linked Indole Triazines for a Dual Effect on α-Synuclein and Tau Aggregation
Authors: Ramirez, E., Ganegamage, S. K., Min, S., Patel, H., Ogunware, A., Plascencia-Villa, G., Alnakhala, H., Shimanaka, K., Tripathi, A., Wang, K. W., Zhu, X., Rochet, J. C., Kuo, M. H., Counts, S. E., Perry, G., Dettmer, U., Lasagna-Reeves, C. A., & Fortin, J. S.
Year: 2023
Journal: ACS Chemical Neuroscience
Citations: 14(21), 3913–3927
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Title: Anti-fibrillization Effects of Sulfonamide Derivatives on α-Synuclein and Hyperphosphorylated Tau Isoform 1N4R
Authors: Fortin, J. S., Shimanaka, K., Saraswati, A. P., Liu, M., Wang, K. W., Hagar, H. T., Maity, S., Ganegamage, S. K., Ellsworth, E., Counts, S. E., Borhan, B., Dettmer, U., & Kuo, M. H.
Year: 2022
Journal: Journal of Molecular Structure
Citations: 1267, 133574
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Title: Hyperphosphorylation Renders Tau Prone to Aggregate and to Cause Cell Death
Authors: Liu, M., Sui, D., Dexheimer, T., Hovde, S., Deng, X., Wang, K. W., Lin, H. L., Chien, H. T., Kweon, H. K., Kuo, N. S., Ayoub, C. A., Jimenez-Harrison, D., Andrews, P. C., Kwok, R., Bochar, D. A., Kuret, J., Fortin, J., Tsay, Y. G., & Kuo, M. H.
Year: 2020
Journal: Molecular Neurobiology
Citations: 57(11), 4704–4719
Kuang-Wei Wang stands out as a passionate researcher driven to uncover the complexities of tauopathies and contribute to therapeutic advancements. His diverse experience in academia and industry, combined with his leadership roles and technical skills, make him a promising scientist in the field of neurodegenerative diseases. He continues to push the boundaries of knowledge, aiming to translate molecular insights into innovative treatments.
