Lei G. Wang, Ph.D.

  • Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine
  • OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, School of Medicine

Biography

Dr. Lei Wang is a faculty member in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) with a joint appointment in the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute. With expertise in fluorescence chemistry and optical imaging, Dr. Wang leads an innovative research program aimed at developing novel fluorescence probes and imaging technologies to address clinical challenges. His research interests include near-infrared (NIR) contrast agents for real-time surgical navigation, smart molecular probes for cancer-targeted imaging, and NIR fluorophores for the early detection of neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Wang's research is supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health, Knight Cancer Institute, Brenden Colson Center for Pancreatic Care, and Collins Medical Trust. Motivated by transformative potential of chemistry-driven solutions in precision medicine, Dr. Wang and his team are striving to bridge the gap between clinical needs and basic sciences with innovative imaging technologies.

Areas of interest

  • Fluorophore Chemistry
  • Contrast Agents
  • Fluorescence Imaging
  • Fluorescence Guided Surgery
  • Early Detection

Publications

Elsevier pure profile

Selected publications

  • Montaño AR, Masillati A, Szafran DA, Shams NA, Hubbell GE, Barth CW, Gibbs SL, Wang LG. Matrix-Designed Bright Near-Infrared Fluorophores for Precision Peripheral Nerve Imaging. Biomaterials. 2025, 123190. 
  • McMahon NP,  Solanki A,  Wang LG,  Montaño AR, Jones JA,  Samkoe KS,  Tichauer KM, Gibbs SL. In situ single-cell therapeutic response imaging facilitated by the TRIPODD fluorescence imaging platform. Theranostics. 2024, 14 (7), 2816-2834.
  • Wang LG, Montaño AR, Masillati AM, Jones JA, Barth CW, Combs JR, Kumarapeli SU,  Shams NA,van de Berg N, Antaris AL, Galvis SN, McDowall I, Rizvi SZH, Alani AWG, Sorger JM, Gibbs SL. Nerve visualization using phenoxazine-based near-infrared fluorophores to guide prostatectomy. Adv Mater. 2024, 36 (16), 2304724.
  • Barth CW, Rizvi SZH, Masillati AM, Chakraborty S, Wang LG, Montaño AR, Szafran DA, Greer WS, van den Berg NS, Sorger J, Rao da, Alani AWG, Gibbs SL. Nerve-Sparing Gynecologic Surgery Enabled by A Near-Infrared Nerve-Specific Fluorophore Using Existing Clinical Fluorescence Imaging Systems. Small. 2023; 2300011.
  • Wang LG, Gibbs SL. Improving precision surgery: A review of current intraoperative nerve tissue fluorescence imaging. Curr Opin Chem Biol. 2023; 76, 102361.
  • Wang LG, Montaño AR, Combs JR, McMahon NP, Solanki A, Gomes MM, Tao K, Bisson WH, Szafran DA, Samkoe KS, Tichauer KM, Gibbs SL. OregonFluor enables quantitative intracellular paired agent imaging to assess drug target availability in live cells and tissues. Nat Chem. 2023; 15, 729-739.
  • Bateman LM, Hebert KA, Nunziata JA, Streeter SS, Barth CW, Wang LG, Gibbs SL, Henderson ER. Preclinical evaluation of molecularly targeted fluorescent probes in perfused amputated human limbs. J Biomed Opt. 2023; 28(8), 082802.
  • Barth CW, Shah VM, Wang LG, Masillati AM, Al-Fatease A, Rizvi S. ZH, Antaris AL, Sorger J, Rao DA, Alani A. WG, Gibbs SL. A clinically relevant formulation for direct administration of nerve specific fluorophores to mitigate iatrogenic nerve injury. Biomaterials. 2022; 284, 121490.
  • Barth CW, Shah VM, Wang LG, Antaris AL, Klaassen A, Sorger J, Rao DA, Kerr DA, Henderson ER, Alani A. WG, Gibbs SL. Clinically translatable formulation strategies for systemic administration of nerve-specific probes. Adv Ther. 2021; 4 (7), 2100002.
  • Iizuka S, Leon RP, Gribbin KP, Zhang Y, Navarro J, Smith R, Devlin K, Wang LG, Gibbs SL, Korkola J, Nan X, Courtneidge SA. Crosstalk between invadopodia and the extracellular matrix. Eur J of Cell Biol. 2020; 99 (7), 151122.
  • Wang LG*, Barth CW*, Kitts CH, Mebrat MD, Montaño AR, House BJ, McCoy ME, Antaris AL, Galvis SN, McDowall I, Sorger JM, Gibbs SL. Near infrared nerve-binding fluorophores for buried nerve tissue imaging. Sci Trans Med. 2020;12(542):eaay0712.