Biography
Dr. Wankun Deng, PhD, obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Bioinformation Technology from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China, in 2012, and his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the same institution in 2017. He subsequently completed postdoctoral training in Bioinformatics at Huazhong University of Science and Technology and at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. In February 2023, he joined UTHealth Houston as an Assistant Professor in the McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics, and he is currently an Assistant Professor at UTHealth Houston McGovern Medical School.
Dr. Deng’s research focuses on computational bioinformatics, systems biology, and temporal regulation of disease-associated molecular networks. His work integrates circadian biology, single-cell and bulk transcriptomics, RNA regulation, post-translational modification prediction, and biological knowledgebase development to uncover mechanisms underlying disease phenotypes and therapeutic vulnerability. His recent contributions include studies on dynamic retrotransposon dysregulation in neurodegenerative diseases, circadian regulation of myocardial injury through the BMAL1-HIF2A axis, and computational frameworks for deciphering RNA modification and post-transcriptional regulation. His broader research interests are in developing computational approaches to understand how regulatory architecture shapes disease progression and precision therapeutic opportunities.
Fun fact: you may see me swimming with sharks in Moody Garden Aquarium.