Pin Wang
Assistant Professor
Research Topics
Engineering Viral Vectors for Targeted Gene Delivery
Stem Cell Engineering for Immunotherapy
TCR Engineering for Cancer Therapy
Research Overview
Engineering Viral Vectors for Targeted Gene Delivery
One of our research focuses is to develop novel gene delivery strategies and evaluate their therapeutic potentials ranging from correction of inherent genetic deficiency to cancer and anti-HIV therapies. We are particularly interested in engineering lentiviral vectors derived from HIV-1 for targeted gene delivery because such vectors stably infect both dividing and non-dividing cells and are not subject to the silencing imposed on other viral vectors. We incorporate de novo the designed surface proteins into lentiviral vectors to direct viral particles to specific cells. In addition, we also attempt to engineer insect virus for targeted gene delivery. To date, we have demonstrated in the laboratory several viable approaches to achieve the goal of delivering genes to specific cell types.
Stem Cell Engineering for Immunotherapy
Human embryonic stem cells (hESC) have the potential to serve as a renewable source to generate tissue-specific cells for various cell therapies. Genetically engineering hESC to differentiate into appropriate cell lineages could expand our ability to utilize stem cells for disease treatment. We are interested in genetically programming hESC to generate lymphocytes in cell culture system for adoptive cell therapy against cancer.
TCR Engineering for Cancer Therapy
Another research focus in the laboratory is a large collaborative effort to use gene therapy for cancer treatment. The UCLA-CALTECH-CHLA-USC-UCONN Translational Program in Engineering Immunity was formed in late 2005 and is represented by 4 research universities, 9 academic departments, 2 gene therapy programs, 3 institutes and 3 cancer centers. The goal of this program is to focus a team of scientists from various disciplines to conduct translational research that will improve the care of patients. As one of members for this program, our group is working on viral vector engineering and T cell receptor engineering. |
Contact Information
Web Site:
E-mail:
pinwang@usc.edu
Mailing Address:
Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
University of Southern California
925 Bloom Walk, HED 216
Los Angeles, CA 90089-1211
Office Location:
HED 216
Office Phone:
(213)740-0780
Fax:
(213) 740-8053
RTH 509
Education
Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 2003
B.S., Material Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China
Research Images
Selected Publications
1. Qijing Zhang, Pin Wang, Yan Zhai, “Refractive Index Distribution of Graded Index Poly(methyl methacrylate) Preform Made by Interfacial-gel Polymerization”, Macromolecules, 1997, 30, 7874-7879.
2. Qijing Zhang, Pin Wang, “Analysis on Absorption Spectra of Nd3+ in Poly(methyl methacrylate)”, J. Mol. Stru., 1998, 440, 35-42.
3. Qijing Zhang, Pin Wang, Xuefeng Sun, Yan Zhai, Peng Dai, Bao Yang, Ming Hai, Jieping Xie, “Amplified Spontaneous Emission of an Nd3+-doped Poly(methyl methacrylate) Optical Fiber at Ambient Temperature”, Appl. Phys. Lett., 1998, 74, 407-409.
4. Qijing Zhang, Pin Wang, Yan Zhai, “Preparation of Graded Index Plastic Rods Doped with Nd3+ by Interfacial-gel Polymerization”, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 1998, 67, 1431-1436.
5. Qijing Zhang, Xuefeng Sun, Pin Wang, “Preparation of Graded Index Plastic Rods Doped with Sm3+ by Interfacial-gel Polymerization”, Polymer International, 1998, 45, 185-190.
6. Guru Kumaraswamy, Ravi K. Verma, A. M. Issaian, Pin Wang, Julie A. Kornfield, F. Yeh, B. S. Hsiao, R. H. Olley, “Shear Induced Crystallization in Isotactic Polypropylene Part 2. Analysis of the Formation of the Oriented ‘Skin’”, Polymer, 2000, 41, 8931-8940.
7. Deepshikha Datta, Pin Wang, Isaac S. Carrico, Stephen L. Mayo, David A. Tirrell, “A Designed Phenylalanyl-tRNA Synthetase Variant Allows Efficient in vivo Incorporation of Aryl Ketone Functionality into Proteins”, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2002, 124, 5652-5653.
8. Pin Wang, Nagarajan Vaidehi, David A. Tirrell, William A. Goddard III, “Virtual Screening for Binding of Phenylalanine Analogs to Phenylalanyl-tRNA Synthetase”, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2002, 124, 14442-14449
9. Pin Wang, Yi Tang, David A. Tirrell, “Incorporation of Trifluoroisoleucine into Proteins in vivo”, J. Am. Chem. Sco., 2003, 125, 6900-6906.
10. Pin Wang, Alfio Fichera, Krishna Kumar David A. Tirrell, “Alternative Translations of A Single RNA Message: An identity switch of (2S,3R)-4,4,4-trifluorovaline between valine and isoleucine codons”, Ange. Chmie Intel. Ed, 2004, 43, 3664-3666.
11. Inchan Kwon, Pin Wang, David A. Tirrell, “Design of a Bacterial Host for Site-Specific Incorporation of para-Bromophenylalanine into Recombinant Proteins”, J. Am. Chem. Sco., 2006, 128, 11778-11783.
12. Lili Yang, Leslie Bailey, David Baltimore, Pin Wang, “Targeting Lentiviral Vectors to Specific Cell Types in vivo”, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 2006, 103, 11479-11484.
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