The long-term goal of the Z Wang lab is to understand the molecular mechanisms of necrotic cell death pathways and to develop chemical compounds that will help treat necrosis-associated diseases, including cardiac injury, infections, inflammation, neurodegeneration and cancer. We currently have two major research foci in the lab. In our first, more established research program, we employ CRISPR-mediated whole genome knockout screens to identify novel players in the cell death pathways. The other focus is on the identification of new pathway inhibitors and activators derived from completed chemical library screens. Our approach has already resulted in the identification of new molecular regulators of the necroptosis pathway (Nature Communication 2021 and PNAS 2020a) and a novel necroptosis blocking compound (PNAS 2020b) as well as the repurposing of a compound previously unknown to be an activator of necroptosis (JBC, 2017). We have a wealth of exciting new avenues of investigation and are looking forward to welcoming motivated students and postdocs into the lab!
