Molecular Genetics Laboratory of Female Reproductive Cancer

The long-term objectives of our research team are to:

  • understand the molecular etiology of female reproductive cancers
  • elucidate the mechanics of chemoresistance in ovarian cancer
  • translate basic research into potential clinical promise

We use ovarian carcinoma as a primary disease model because it is one of the most aggressive neoplastic diseases for women. Our research team aims to understand the molecular basis behind how normal cells are transformed, selected, and evolve to become invasive carcinoma. Genome-wide analyses at Hopkins have identified molecular genetic alterations in different types of ovarian cancers including NOTCH3, ARID1A, PIK3CA, PPP2R1A, among several others. We are currently focusing on revealing the tumor-promoting functions of NOTCH3 signaling and tumor-suppressor functions of the ARID1A pathway. In addition, we are characterizing metabolic reprograming during the development of platinum drug resistance. The ultimate goal is to translate our research findings into new preventive and therapeutic strategies. We are in collaboration with a team of dedicated clinicians and scientists across multiple disciplines to achieve this goal.

What we observe is not nature itself, but nature exposed to our method of questioning.

— Werner Heisenberg, Physics and Philosophy, 1958

Tian-Li Wang, PhD
Director
Biography
tlw@jhmi.edu
Professor; Director of the Molecular Genetics Laboratory of Female Reproductive Cancer
Departments of Pathology, Oncology, and Gynecology & Obstetrics

Faculty in Pathobiology Graduate Program
Faculty in Cellular and Molecular Medicine (CMM) Graduate Program


Trainings:
– Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
– Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, PhD (study with Bill Guggino and Garry Cutting)
– University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine, Post-doc fellow – Neuroscience (study with Peter Sterling and Noga Vardi)
– Howard Hughes Medical Institutions, Associate – Cancer Genetics (study with Bert Vogelstein)

Patents:
Digital Karyotyping US7704687B2
Small molecule compounds targeting pbx1 transcriptional complex WO2016172437A3

Faculty Collaborator

Ie-Ming Shih, MD, PhD
Co-Director, Breast & Ovarian Cancer Program
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
Director, Telinde GYN Pathology Research Program
ishih@jhmi.edu

Richard W. TeLinde Distinguished Professor
Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics
Departments of Pathology and Oncology

Faculty in Pathobiology Graduate Program
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Taipei Medical University, MD
University of Pennsylvania, PhD
Johns Hopkins University, Residency (Pathology)
Johns Hopkins University, Fellowships (Gynecologic Pathology and Cancer Genetics)

Faculty Collaborator

Stephanie L. Gaillard, MD, PhD
Director of Gynecologic Cancer Trials
Associate Professor of Oncology
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University
stephanie.gaillard@jhmi.edu



Duke University, MD, PhD
Johns Hopkins University, Internal Medicine and Oncology, Resident and Fellowship
Johns Hopkins University, Molecular Genetic Lab of Female Reproductive Cancer, Research Fellow

Additional Collaborators

  • Dr. Denis Wirtz
    Theophilus Halley Smoot Professor, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
  • Dr. Peng Huang
    Associate Professor, Department of Oncology, Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Johns Hopkins University
  • Dr. Thomas Pisanic and Dr. Jeff Wang
    Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge funding support from the following sources who have made our work possible.

Private Foundations

  • Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance (OCFRA)
  • The Honorable Tina Brozman Foundation – Tina’s Wish
  • Colleen’s Dream Foundation
  • Team Katie Oppo – Ovarian Cancer Research Fund
  • Endometriosis Foundation of America
  • Ephraim & Wilma Shaw Roseman Foundation
  • American Cancer Society
  • Gray Foundation – for BRCA research

Government funding

  • National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute
  • Department of Defense – Ovarian Cancer Research Program