Michael Wang

About Michael Wang

I am the Puddin Clark endowed Professor in the Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX, my home since becoming a faculty member in 2002. As a physician scientist, I am deeply committed to advancing both clinical and translational research to identify effective and safe treatments for patients with lymphoma and myeloma. I work primarily on improving the care of patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), a cancer that is currently incurable. To promote continued research and treatment of MCL, I established the Mantle Cell Lymphoma Program of Excellence at MD Anderson; it is the world’s only center dedicated to research and treatment of MCL and is the largest referral center in the world. I am also the founding and current Co-PI of the MD Anderson B-cell Lymphoma Moon Shot Program, with the goal of using clinical, translational, and basic science approaches to double the cure rate of B-cell lymphoma patients in the next 5-10 years.My multidisciplinary team of research specialists is committed to developing effective therapies for MCL by translating preclinical research to clinical trials that deliver improved outcomes. Together, we have worked on a host of preclinical studies and clinical trials devoted to patients with MCL. This is reflected in our 291 peer-reviewed publications (cited over times as of mid-2024). Our research has led to the FDA approval of five treatments for relapsed or refractory MCL: three inhibitors of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase and two forms of CAR-T cell therapy wherein the patients own immune T cells attack the tumor cells. Together, these five FDA approvals for MCL have completely changed the therapeutic landscape for MCL. Because molecular changes in MCL cells nearly always lead to therapy resistance and clinical relapse, my laboratory research is focused on overcoming resistance. To study MCL tumors in the lab in ways that are not possible in patients, we have developed models derived from patient samples that enable us to characterize the cellular and molecular heterogeneity within and across patients. Using patient samples taken both before and at intervals after the development of resistance to various therapies permits the discovery of the mechanisms underlying resistance. This enables the intelligent testing of therapies to bypass or eliminate resistance, often with combinations of therapies.

Experience

1. Professor

   UT MD Anderson

   Jul 1999 — Present

   Professor in the Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma and in the Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy; Founding and current director of the Mantle Cell Lymphoma Program of Excellence; Co-Director of Clinical Investigation and Translational Research.