Xiaofang Wang, PhD, MDS

Biography

Education

• Ph.D., Fourth Military Medical University (2003)
• Exchange Student, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Science (2001-2003)
• M.D.S., Fourth Military Medical University College of Dentistry, Xi'an, China (2000)
• D.D.S., Fourth Military Medical University College of Dentistry, Xi'an, China (1995)

Career History

• Associate Professor, with tenure, Texas A&M College of Dentistry (2019 - present) 
• Assistant Professor, Texas A&M College of Dentistry (2017 - 2019)
• Research Assistant Professor, Baylor College of Dentistry/Texas A&M College of Dentistry (2012 - 2017)
• Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry (2008 -2012)
• Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Oral Biology, Ohio State University, College of Dentistry (2006- 2008) 

Teaching Interests

• General Histology (Instructor)
• Technique in Cell & Molecular Biology (Course Director)
• Cell and Molecular Biology II (Course Director)
• Responsible Conduct in Biomedical Research (Instructor) 
• Craniofacial Growth Track Mechanisms of Development (Instructor)
• Advanced Craniofacial Development & Anomalies (Instructor)

Research Interests

Dr. Wang's research focuses on biomedical and basic sciences. More specifically, he is interested in bone and tooth biology. Currently, his research projects include (1) The role of FAM20C kinase in enamel development; (2) The role of FAM20B kinase in bone and tooth development; (3) The role of a novel nuclear protein in bone and tooth development; and (4) Functional characterization of several novel genes in enamel and limb development.

These studies will bring new insights into the mechanism underlying the morphogenesis, matrix formation and mineralization in bone and tooth and provide molecular clues for therapeutic strategies for hard-tissue disease.

Recent Grants

• A Novel GTPase Regulator Governing the Regenerative Capacity of Murine Teeth. NIH/NIDCR, R01DE033676 (PI), $1,921,250, 09/12/2024-08/31/2029
• The Role of a Rho GTPase Regulator, Known as “Din”, in Tooth Development. Texas A&M Health Science Center, SB-30 Mission-Specific Funding (PI), $99,990, 04/01/2024-08/31/2025
• The Central Role of a Novel GTPase Regulator, Din, in the Homeostasis of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) in Bones and Teeth. Texas A&M Health Science Center, Seedling Grant (PI), $60,000, 06/01/2024-08/31/2025
• The Role of FAM20B-Catalyzed Proteoglycans in Tooth Development. NIH/NIDCR, K02DE028345 (PI), $746,230, 09/18/2018-08/31/2023
• The Role of FAM20B-Catalyzed Proteoglycans in Tooth Development. NIH/NIDCR, R01DE026461 (PI), $1,763,440, 04/01/2017-03/31/2022
• The Critical Role of a Novel Nuclear Protein in the Stem Cell Homeostasis of Mouse Incisors. Texas A&M University, TAMU Interdisciplinary Faculty T3 Award (PI), $30,000, 04/01/2021-03/31/2023
• The Role of a Novel Nuclear Protein in Bone and Tooth Development. College of Dentistry, Texas A&M University, Seedling Grant (PI), $10,000, 09/01/2019-08/31/2020
• EZH2 and Endometrial Cancer. Texas A&M University, TAMU Interdisciplinary Faculty T3 Award (Co-I), $30,000, 04/01/2018-03/31/2020
• The Role of FAM20C in the Phosphorylation of SIBLING Proteins. NIH/NIDCR, R03DE023873 (PI), $218,250, 04/01/2014 - 03/31/2016

Selected Publications

1. Dong C, Lamichhane B, Yamazaki H, Vasquez B, Wang J, Zhang Y, Feng JQ, Margolis HC, Beniash E, Wang X. (2022) The phosphorylation of serine⁵⁵ in enamelin is essential for murine amelogenesis. Matrix Biol. S0945-053X(22)00090-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2022.07.001.
2. Wu J, Tian Y, Han L, Liu C, Sun T, Li L, Yu Y, Lamichhane B, D’Souza RN, Millar SE, Krumlauf R, Ornitz DM, Feng JQ, Klein O, Zhao H, Zhang F, Linhardt RJ, Wang X. (2020) FAM20B-catalyzed glycosaminoglycans control murine tooth number by restricting FGFR2b signaling. BMC Biol. 18:87. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-020-00813-4.
3. Yan W, Ma P, Tian Y, Wang J, Qin C, Feng JQ, Wang X. (2017) The importance of a potential phosphorylation site in enamelin on enamel formation. Int J Oral Sci. 9(11):e4. DOI: 10.1038/ijos.2017.41.
4. Ma P, Yan W, Tian Y, He J, Brookes SJ, Wang X. (2016) The importance of serine phosphorylation of ameloblastin on enamel formation. J Dent Res. 95(12):1408-1414. DOI: 10.1177/0022034516661513.
5. Ma P, Yan W, Tian Y, Wang J, Feng JQ, Qin C, Cheng YS, Wang X. (2016) Inactivation of Fam20B in joint cartilage leads to chondrosarcoma and postnatal ossification defects. Sci Rep. 6:39814. DOI: 10.1038/srep29814.
6. Yang X, Yan W, Tian Y, Ma P, Opperman LA, Wang X. (2016) FAM20C is the primary but not the only kinase for the SIBLINGs in bone. FASEB J. 30(1):121-8. DOI: 10.1096/fj.15-273607.
7. Tian Y, Ma P, Liu C, Yang X, Crawford D, Yan W, Bai D, Qin C, Wang X. (2015) Inactivation of Fam20B in the Dental Epithelium of Mice Leads to Supernumerary Incisors. Eur J Oral Sci. 123(6):396-402.
8. Wang X, Wang J, Liu Y, Yuan B, Ruest LB, Feng JQ, Qin C. (2015) The Specific Role of FAM20C in Dentinogenesis. J Dent Res. 94(2):330-336. DOI: 10.1177/0022034514563334.
9. Wang X, Wang J, Yuan B, Lu Y, Feng JQ, Qin C. (2014). Overexpression of Dmp1 fails to rescue the bone and dentin defects in Fam20C knockout mice. Connect Tissue Res. 55(4):299-303.
10. Wang X, Jung J, Liu Y, Yuan B, Lu Y, Feng JQ, Qin C. (2013) The specific role of FAM20C in amelogenesis. J Dent Res 92(11):995-999. DOI: 10.1177/0022034513504588.
11. Wang X, Wang S, Lu Y, Gibson MP, Liu Y, Yuan B, Feng JQ, Qin C. (2012) FAM20C plays an essential role in the formation of murine teeth. J Biol Chem 287(43):35934-35942. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M112.386862.
12. Wang X, Wang S, Li C, Gao T, Liu Y, Rangiani A, Sun Y, Hao J, George A, Lu Y, Groppe J, Yuan B, Feng J, Qin C. (2012) Inactivation of a novel FGF23 regulator, FAM20C, leads to hypophosphatemic rickets in mice. PLoS Genetics 8(5): e1002708. (Cover story of May issue) DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002708.
13. Wang  X, Hao J, Xie Y, Sun Y, Hernanderz B, Yamoah A, Prasad M, Zhu Q, Feng JQ, Qin C. (2010) Expression of FAM20C in the Osteogenesis and Odontogenesis of Mouse. J Histochem Cytochem 58(11):957-967. DOI: 10.1369/jhc.2010.956565.

Complete list of published work in MyBibliography:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/browse/collection/47369610/?sort=date&direction=ascending

National Service/Recognition

• President, IADR Craniofacial Biology Group (2026)
• President-elect, IADR Craniofacial Biology Group (2025)
• Vice President, IADR Craniofacial Biology Group (2024)
• Tenure & Promotion Committee, Texas A&M University (2024-2026)
• Standing Member, NIDCR DSR Study Section (2021-2027)
• Ad Hoc Reviewer of NIDCR ZDE1 Study Section (2020)
• Secretary/Treasurer of IADR Craniofacial Biology Group (2020-2023)
• Ad Hoc Reviewer of NIDCR SBDD Study Section (2020)
• Basic Research Award (TAMUCOD, 2019)
• Featured Symposium for Press Release (Organizer & Chair, 2018 AADR)
• Associate Editor, Frontiers in Endocrinology (since 2022)
• Editorial Board of Scientific Reports (since 2018)
• Editorial Board of PLoS One (since 2018)
• Editorial Board of Oral Diseases (since 2018)
• Abstract Reviewer of ASBMR Annual Meeting (since 2018)
• Abstract Reviewer of AADR/IADR Annual Meeting (since 2017)
• Ad Hoc Reviewer of NIDCR DSR Study Section (since 2016)
• Harold M. Frost Young Investigator Award (2013 ASBMR)
• Scientific Advisory Board of Journal of Endodontics (since 2013)
• Ad Hoc Reviewer of 13 Scientific Journals (since 2012)

Recognition of Students/Postdocs

• Bloc Travel Grant Award (Veronica Camacho, 2022 AADOCR Annual Meeting)
• Young Investigator Award (Changchun Dong, 2021 ASBMR Annual Meeting)
• Young Investigator Travel Grant Award (Bikash Lamichanne, 2021 ASBMR Annual Meeting)
• Young Investigator Award (Bikash Lamichanne, 2021 IADR, Mineralized Tissue Group)
• ASBMR Young Investigator Award (Dong Yang, 2019 ASBMR Annual Meeting)
• Invited Oral Presentation (Jingyi Wu, 2018 Bones & Teeth Gordon Conference)
• Finalist of Hatton Competition (Tianyu Sun, 2018 AADR)
• 1^st place of Bernard Sarnat Awards (Ye Tian, 2016 IADR)
• 1^st place of Dental Student Oral Presentation (Derrick M. Crawford, 2016 AADR)