Dr. Xudong Wang will join the leadership team of the Institute for Clinical and Translational Research as co-director of its TL1 Training Awards Program, effective June 16, 2025.
He will lead the program together with current co-directors Dr. Vivek Prabhakaran and Dr. Lauren Trepanier. Trepanier is preparing to rotate off of her TL1 leadership role, and a period of overlap will ensure a smooth transition.
He will contribute to strategic planning, execution, and evaluation for the TL1 Program. Additionally, he will mentor TL1 trainees, guiding them in research methodologies, grant writing, and career development. He will also collaborate with UW–Madison faculty across a wide range of disciplines to enhance translational research training.
The TL1 Training Awards Program is a critical component of ICTR’s Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) from the National Institutes of Health. It is part of ICTR’s broader portfolio of career development programs and educational opportunities.
The program supports the development of predoctoral and postdoctoral scholars engaged in multidisciplinary clinical and translational research. Learn more about the program.
About Dr. Wang
Dr. Wang is based in the UW–Madison College of Engineering, one of ICTR’s partner schools/colleges. There, he is a Grainger Institute for Engineering Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, where he also serves as Associate Chair for Accelerated Master’s Education.
He brings extensive experience in securing research funding, mentoring students, and shaping academic programs to his new role with ICTR.
Collaboration is a cornerstone of his research philosophy. He has successfully coordinated efforts with researchers across cell biology, surgery, biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, and computation.
Earlier this year, Dr. Wang was elected as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He was recognized for distinguished contributions to the field of biomaterials engineering, particularly for flexible and biocompatible piezoelectric materials developments and nanogenerator innovations, facilitating the creation of self-sustaining and battery-free medical devices. Learn more about his Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Group on its website.
Dr. Wang’s interaction with ICTR dates back to 2011, when he served as a co-investigator on an ICTR Translational Research Pilot Program led by Dr. Weibo Cai and began working on ZnO-based biomaterials.
He is also a long-time collaborator with KL2 program co-director Dr. Bo Liu on several ongoing research projects, including the development of self-powered intracardiac pacemakers, anti-restenosis stents, and blood vessel grafts.
Over the past two years, Dr. Wang has participated in the ICTR KL2 Boundary Crosser Innovator Workshop as a presenter, sharing his experience in fostering collaboration between engineering and biomedical science.
He earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2005.
Welcome, Dr. Wang!