Dr. Wang has headed a program as a senior investigator that studies trophic factors, small molecules, and genes with potential neuroprotective or neuroregenerative properties in various neurodegeneration disorders at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH since 1998. He previously demonstrated re-establishment of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway in Parkinsonian pre-clinical models by trophic factors and a bridge transplantation technique. His ongoing experiments involve small molecules with antioxidant properties or the capacity to activate neuroprotective genes in models of Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and methamphetamine intoxication. These compounds include diadenosine tetraphosphate, inosine, retinoic acid, vitamin D3, astaxanthin, and PFT-a. For gene function studies, regulation of protective or regenerative genes, such as GDNF, MANF, BMP7, were examined in pre-clinical models of Parkinson’s disease and stroke. The goal of research conducted in his laboratory is to lead to the development of therapies aimed at preventing neurodegeneration and promoting neuroregeneration.