National Defense Medical University | Taiwan
Prof. Jehng-Kang Wang currently serves as a senior researcher at the National Defense Medical University, Taiwan, where he is recognized for advancing the fields of biomedical science and controlled drug-delivery systems with a focus on dermatology and epithelial biology. Trained through a rigorous academic path that includes foundational studies in molecular and cellular sciences, he has established a research portfolio centered on protease regulation, glycosylation pathways, epithelial barrier function, and innovative therapeutic delivery mechanisms. His scholarly contributions include 49 peer-reviewed publications, collectively cited 1,098 times, with an h-index of 19, underscoring the durable impact of his work across dermatology, molecular genetics, and translational biomedical research. Publication highlights include influential studies on HAI-1 and HAI-2 signaling, protein-folding–associated skin disorders, and emerging drug-delivery methods aimed at improving therapeutic precision in dermatologic and systemic diseases. Prof. Wang has collaborated with more than 170 co-authors globally, demonstrating his active role in interdisciplinary scientific networks, and his research has contributed to improved understanding of skin-related protease pathways and their implications for disease mechanisms. Over the course of his career, he has contributed to several academic committees and has been invited to review manuscripts for specialized journals in cellular biology, dermatology, and biochemical science, reflecting his standing as a subject-matter expert. His work continues to support the development of safer, more effective, and biologically informed therapeutic strategies, with societal impact extending to improved diagnostics and treatment approaches for skin disorders and barrier-compromised conditions. Prof. Wang’s growing body of work positions him as a leading figure in biologically driven innovation for future dermatologic drug-delivery technologies.
Featured Publications
1. Wang, J. K., Teng, I. J., Lo, T. J., Moore, S., Yeo, Y. H., Teng, Y. C., Kaul, M., Chen, C. C., Zuo, A. H., Chou, F. P., Yang, X., Tseng, I. C., Johnson, M. D., & Lin, C. Y. (2014). Matriptase autoactivation is tightly regulated by the cellular chemical environment. PLoS One.
2. Chang, H. D., Xu, Y., Lai, H., Yang, X., Tseng, C. C., Lai, Y. J., Pan, Y., Zhou, E., Johnson, M. D., Wang, J. K., & Lin, C. Y. (2015). Differential subcellular localization renders HAI-2 a matriptase inhibitor in breast cancer cells but not in mammary epithelial cells. PLoS One.
3. Lai, Y. J., Chang, H. H., Lai, H., Xu, Y., Shiao, F., Huang, N., Li, L., Lee, M. S., Johnson, M. D., Wang, J. K., & Lin, C. Y. (2015). N-glycan branching affects the subcellular distribution of and inhibition of matriptase by HAI-2/placental bikunin. PLoS One.
4. Lai, C. H., Lai, Y. J., Chou, F. P., Chang, H. H., Tseng, C. C., Johnson, M. D., Wang, J. K., & Lin, C. Y. (2016). Matriptase complexes and prostasin complexes with HAI-1 and HAI-2 in human milk: Significant proteolysis in lactation. PLoS One.
5. Chen, C. Y., Chen, C. J., Lai, C. H., Wu, B. Y., Lee, S. P., Johnson, M. D., Lin, C. Y., & Wang, J. K. (2016). Increased matriptase zymogen activation by UV irradiation protects keratinocyte from cell death. Journal of Dermatological Science.
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