Group Leader Chan Zuckerberg Biohub

Chicago, Illinois, USA

I am a researcher and entrepreneur passionate about advancing immune cell therapies for cancer and inflammatory diseases through innovative technologies. My research team designs microdevices to enable high-throughput and highly multiplexed cell and tissue analyses. One notable example is Magnetic Ranking Cytometry (MagRC), a technology capable of sorting immune cells at a throughput of up to 3.2 billion cells per hour. This allows cell therapists to purify the most effective cell phenotypes for therapy. 

What inspired you to apply to the LDP or what are you looking forward to with the LDP? 

The LDP program represents an incredible opportunity to connect with like-minded researchers, contribute to the cytometry community, and further hone my leadership skills. It provides a platform to prepare myself for the challenges of translational science and to expand the impact of my work. 

How did you get into Cytometry? 

My journey into cytometry began during graduate school when I started working on circulating tumor cell (CTC) analysis. These rare cells, considered the seeds of tumor metastasis, were almost impossible to detect using conventional flow cytometry. This challenge inspired me to design a new approach for CTC analysis and sparked my passion for innovative cytometric technologies. 

Tell us a fun cytometry anecdote or a fun cytometry fact 

The technology I developed, Magnetic Ranking Cytometry (MagRC), was initially designed as an image-based cytometer for rare cell detection. Unexpectedly, we discovered its true strength was in ultra-high throughput. We later commercialized it as a cell sorter, omitting the imaging unit, but kept the name “cytometer” because of its roots in cytometric analysis. It is a fun nod to its origins and evolution. 

Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zongjie-daniel-wang-96837587/