Tong Wang, MD, PhD
About
Hi, I'm Tong. I'm a physician-scientist completing residency at Stanford Pathology. I am most passionate about translating basic research into innovative diagnostics. I am currently in the Greenleaf Lab, where I am applying deep learning and chemical biology to understand epigenetics.
Projects
beCasKAS
At least 19 ongoing clinical trials use CRISPR base editors. We invented a technology to sensitively detect their off-targets in cells. We additionally show how non-coding edits can be triaged for epigenetic dysregulation using deep learning.
Wang T, Jessa S, Marinov GK, Klemm S, Kundaje A, Greenleaf WJ. Sensitive, direct detection of non-coding off-target base editor unwinding and editing in primary cells. bioRxiv 2025.
DM-Seq
Direct Methylation Sequencing (DM-Seq) is a fully enzymatic sequencing method that detects 5-methylcytosine (5mC) at single-base resolution. This work represents the technological foundation of two patents and a pre-seed diagnostic company ACE Genomics Inc. DM-Seq has been highlighted here by the NIH NHGRI Technology Development Coordinating Center.
Wang T, Fowler JM, Liu L, Loo CE, Luo M, Schutsky EK, Berríos KN, DeNizio JE, Dvorak A, Downey N, Montermoso S, Pingul B, Nasrallah M, Gosal W, Wu H, Kohli RM. Direct enzymatic sequencing of 5-methylcytosine at single base resolution. Nature Chemical Biology 2023. 19, 1004–1012.
5cxmC
I discovered the new DNA base 5-carboxymethylcytosine (5cxmC) for the first time. Unexpectedly, I found that only a single point mutation in an endogenous methyltransferase safeguards the E. coli genome from creating 5cxmC from the trace metabolite carboxy-SAM (CxSAM). This novel DNA modification was later found by independent groups in naturally occurring viral genomes.
Wang T and Kohli RM. Discovery of an Unnatural DNA Modification Derived from a Natural Secondary Metabolite. Cell Chemical Biology. 2021, 28, 1-8.