Jack Tzu-Chieh Wang
Academic Appointments
- MD Student with Scholarly Concentrations in Neuroscience, Behavior, and Cognition, expected graduation Spring 2014
-
Ph.D. Student in Interdepartmental Program, Neurosciences with Scholarly Concentrations in Neuroscience, Behavior, and Cognition, admitted Autumn 2009
Key Documents
Contact Information
- Academic Offices
Personal Information Email Tel (650) 498-7901
Professional Overview
Stanford Advisors
| Terrence Blaschke: | Academic Advising Dean |
| Ben Barres: | Med Scholar Project Advisor |
Education History
| Bachelor of Arts and Science: | Stanford University, BIOL-BASH (2003) |
| Bachelor of Arts and Science: | Stanford University, PSYCH-BAS (2003) |
Honors and Awards
- Bio-X Graduate Fellowship, Stanford Bio-X (2011-Present)
- Graduate Fellowship, American Heart & Stroke Association (2009 - Present)
- Medical Research Fellowship, Adelson Neural Repair & Rehabilitation Foundation (2007 - Present)
- International Achievement Summit Delegate, Academy of Achievement (2007)
- Medical Student Research Training Fellowship, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (2006 - 2007)
- Stanford Medical Scholars Research Fellowship, Stanford School of Medicine (2005-2007)
Scientific Focus
Current Research Interests
I am investigating the molecular and cellular basis of axon degeneration in neurological injury and disease. Degeneration of the white matter is a pivotal event in most acute and chronic diseases in the CNS, including glaucoma, Alzheimer's, ALS, multiple sclerosis and stroke, to name a few. Yet little is known about how the axons degenerate in these diseases even though this event significantly contributes to clinical outcome.
To approach this question, I study a genetic mutation (Wlds) that confers robust axonal protection from various physical injuries and chemical insults. My current study focuses on understanding the neuroprotective mechanism of the mutant Wlds protein, and through this understand what molecular events orchestrate the process of axon degeneration, what triggers this in diseases, and how this knowledge may be used to develop therapies to slow or prevent nerve damage in many neurodegenerative conditions.
Publications
- Axon degeneration: molecular mechanisms of a self-destruction pathway. J Cell Biol. 2012; (1): 7-18
- Axon degeneration: where the Wlds things are. Curr Biol. 2012; (7): R221-3
- Disease gene candidates revealed by expression profiling of retinal ganglion cell development. J Neurosci. 2007; (32): 8593-603
- An oligodendrocyte lineage-specific semaphorin, Sema5A, inhibits axon growth by retinal ganglion cells. J Neurosci. 2004; (21): 4989-99
Student Life and Personal Pursuits
Membership Organizations
- StEMS: Stanford Emergency Medical Service, Co-Founder/Lecturer/Consultant
Help