Hun-Way Hwang, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Pathology, Division of Experimental Pathology

Dr. Hwang is Assistant Professor in the Section of Laboratory Medicine and Division of Experimental Pathology.

Research Interests

1. Study mRNA processing in different cell types in vivo and its role in human disease.

2. A gene can generate multiple mRNA isoforms through alternative mRNA processing including splicing and polyadenylation. Moreover, different cell types may express distinct mRNA isoform(s) from the same gene. Our lab is interested in understanding the diversity of mRNA expression in different cell types and its biological implications. Our current research focuses on the role of abnormal mRNA processing in human disease. Our approach is to combine powerful in vivo high-throughput profiling methods and CRISPR technology with genetically modified mouse models of human disease to identify candidate mRNA isoforms that may contribute to disease pathogenesis in specific cell types in vivo. These candidate mRNA isoforms will then be further studied by in vitro and in vivo methods to reveal their biological functions and the molecular mechanisms regulating their processing, which will provide novel insights into the management and treatment of human disease. Current areas of research include neurologic disorders, hematological malignancies and liver disease.

Representative Publications

View Dr. Hwang's publications on PubMed.

  • Herron RS, Kunisky AK, Madden JR, Anyaeche VI, Hwang HW. (2022). A twin UGUA motif directs the balance between gene isoforms through CFIm and the mTORC1 signaling pathway. bioRxiv doi: 10.1101/2022.08.31.506015.
  • Kunisky AK, Anyaeche VI, Herron RS, Park CY, Hwang HW. (2021). Shift in MSL1 alternative polyadenylation in response to DNA damage protects cancer cells from chemotherapeutic agent-induced apoptosis. Cell Rep. 37, 109815.
  • Hwang HW, Saito Y, Park CY, Blachère EB, Tajima Y, Fak JJ, Zucker-Schraff I, Darnell RB. (2017). cTag-PAPERCLIP Reveals Alternative Polyadenylation Promotes Cell-Type Specific Protein Diversity and Shifts Araf Isoforms with Microglia Activation. Neuron. 95, 1334-1349.e5.
  • Hwang HW, Park CY, Goodarzi H, Fak JJ, Mele A, Moore MJ, Saito Y, Darnell RB. (2016). PAPERCLIP identifies microRNA targets and a role of CstF64/64tau in promoting non-canonical poly(A) site usage. Cell Rep. 15, 423-435.
  • Hwang HW, Baxter LL, Loftus SK, Cronin JC, Trivedi NS, Borate B, Pavan WJ. (2014). Distinct microRNA expression signatures are associated with melanoma subtypes and are regulated by HIF1A. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 27, 777-787.
  • Hwang HW, Wentzel EA, Mendell JT. (2009). Cell-cell contact globally activates microRNA biogenesis. PNAS. 106, 7016-7021.
  • Hwang HW, Wentzel EA, Mendell JT. (2007). A hexanucleotide element directs microRNA nuclear import. Science. 315, 97-100.