Allison Institute and Institute for Data Science in Oncology blend spatial biology efforts by appointing new member

MD Anderson computational biologist Linghua Wang, M.D., Ph.D., will advance collaborative work in tumor immunobiology and spatial omics research

MD Anderson News Release September 24, 2024

The James P. Allison Institute and the Institute for Data Science in Oncology  (IDSO) at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center today announced the appointment of pioneering computational biologist and data scientist Linghua Wang, M.D., Ph.D., to roles within each institute.

Building on Wang’s previous work and collaborations at MD Anderson, these appointments will allow her to expand the impact of her research and harmonize efforts between the two institutes by bridging the gap between data-driven insights, computational predictions and clinical practice.

“Dr. Wang has made tremendous contributions to our understanding of cancer evolution and the tumor microenvironment of gastric cancer and other neoplastic conditions. Her work with the Allison Institute and IDSO will be critical to unraveling the complexities and evolution of tumor ecosystems, particularly the immune microenvironment, at an unprecedented resolution,” said Giulio Draetta, M.D., Ph.D., chief scientific officer at MD Anderson. “We are pleased to have her step into these new roles, and I am delighted to see the growing synergy between these two premier research institutes as we all work to strengthen our scientific agenda and deliver meaningful benefits to patients."

Wang, an associate professor of Genomic Medicine, joins the Allison Institute as an associate member; her expertise in the tumor microenvironment and spatial biology aligns with the institute’s priority research areas. Launched to conduct groundbreaking science that integrates immunotherapy across disciplines, the Allison Institute is working to develop novel and synergetic therapies that bring the benefits of immunotherapy to more patients.  

Previously appointed an IDSO Affiliate, Wang now will co-lead a focus area aiming to use single-cell spatial omics to unveil cancer complexity and unlock new therapeutic opportunities. Aligning with MD Anderson’s strong discovery science and bioinformatics community, Wang aims to lead the development and application of innovative bioinformatics tools, computational frameworks, and machine learning methods to drive transformative discoveries at MD Anderson and beyond.

Wang joined MD Anderson in 2017 from Baylor College of Medicine, where she also completed her postdoctoral training. Her lab, established in 2017, has published numerous influential works, and her groundbreaking studies have advanced the understanding of tumor cell heterogeneity and plasticity, evolution, and immune microenvironment interactions. In the past two years alone their research has led to novel insights into the formation and evolution of lung cancer, gastric cancer and multiple myeloma, and has brought new understanding of T cell states, biology, and immunotherapy efficacy.