Wang, Yaqiang, PhD

Dr. Yaqiang Wang received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He then pursued postdoctoral training at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he investigated the structural biology of noncoding RNAs and ribonucleoprotein complexes using NMR spectroscopy and cryo-electron microscopy. His work focused in particular on long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) such as telomerase RNA and their associated RNP assemblies.

In 2021, Dr. Wang joined Arrakis Therapeutics in Boston as a Principal Scientist, where he led structural biology efforts in RNA-targeted small-molecule drug discovery. His research encompassed target identification, validation, screening, and structure-guided design of small molecules directed against pathogenic RNAs, including those linked to SARS-CoV-2, Myotonic Dystrophy, and the oncogene MYC.

In 2025, Dr. Wang established his laboratory at the Medical College of Wisconsin. His group focuses on elucidating the structural and mechanistic basis of oncogenic noncoding RNAs and their interactions with proteins and small molecules, including the breast and ovarian cancer–associated lncRNAs. By integrating advanced biophysical and biochemical approaches, his laboratory aims to provide molecular insights into RNA recognition and to guide the development of novel RNA-targeted therapeutics.