Dr. Shudong Wang (Ph.D., MRACI Chartered Chemist, FRSC) is a Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Head of Drug Discovery and Development at the University of South Australia. Her research focuses on innovative cancer therapies, including target validation, drug discovery, and clinical development.
After earning her Ph.D. in 1998, Dr. Wang spent seven years at Cyclacel Inc. (NASDAQGM:CYCC) in the UK, where she served as Head of Chemistry and Oncology Program Manager. During her tenure, she advanced the company’s medicinal chemistry and drug discovery efforts, leading multiple projects to preclinical and clinical stages. In 2005, she joined the University of Nottingham's School of Pharmacy, UK, as Associate Professor and Reader in... Read more
About me
Dr. Shudong Wang (Ph.D., MRACI Chartered Chemist, FRSC) is a Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Head of Drug Discovery and Development at the University of South Australia. Her research focuses on innovative cancer therapies, including target validation, drug discovery, and clinical development.
After earning her Ph.D. in 1998, Dr. Wang spent seven years at Cyclacel Inc. (NASDAQGM:CYCC) in the UK, where she served as Head of Chemistry and Oncology Program Manager. During her tenure, she advanced the company’s medicinal chemistry and drug discovery efforts, leading multiple projects to preclinical and clinical stages. In 2005, she joined the University of Nottingham's School of Pharmacy, UK, as Associate Professor and Reader in Medicinal Chemistry, where she led the development of the first-in-class oral CDK9 inhibitor I-73, now in Phase 2 clinical trials for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).
In December 2011, Professor Wang joined the University of South Australia, where she established the region’s first Drug Discovery and Development Centre. She has led to build capabilities in drug design, medicinal chemistry, cellular & animal pharmacology, and clinical trials. With over 120 patent applications and seven drug candidates, she has an extensive track record in translational research. One of her drug candidates has completed Phase 1/2a trials in patients with advanced solid tumors, including brain, pancreatic, liver, colorectal, and ovarian cancers.
Professor Wang is highly experienced in the drug development process, including intellectual property protection, clinical trials, regulatory pathways, and commercialization. She has founded two oncology drug companies that are conducting clinical trials with her drug candidates.
As a chief investigator, Professor Wang has secured over $20 million in research grant funding over the past 10 years, including support from NHMRC, ARC, Cancer Council SA, The Foundation for Children, Tour de Cure, and pharmaceutical companies. She held SA Cancer Council's Principal Cancer Research Fellowship (2013-2017), and received the NHMRC Research Excellence Award in 2017. In April 2024, Professor Wang was appointed as a Member of the MRFF Australian Brain Cancer Mission's first Expert Advisory Panel by the Minister for Health and Aged Care.
About me
Professor Shudong Wang is a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. She is also a member of American Association of Cancer Research, American Chemical Society and Royal Australian Chemical Institute.
About me
Doctor of Philosophy Central Queensland University
Master of Philosophy University of Southern Queesland
Bachelor of Science Sichuan University, China
Professor Wang’s research focuses on the discovery and development of novel kinase inhibitor drugs for cancer treatment. Current ongoing research programs include:
The discovery of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) as key regulators of the cell cycle by Hartwell, Nurse, and Hunt, which earned them the 2001 Nobel Prize in Physiology & Medicine, established CDKs as important targets in cancer therapy. Tumor-associated cell-cycle defects often arise from alterations in CDK activity. While several CDK4/6 inhibitors have been approved for the treatment of breast cancer in the clinic, progress in developing mono-specific inhibitors remains limited. Our research aims to... Read more
Research
Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.
Development of a novel and highly selective CDK4/6 inhibitor for treating cancer, NHMRC - Development Grant, 01/01/2018 - 30/04/2022
Discovery and development of CDK 4/6 inhibitors as anti-cancer agents, Changzhou Qianhong Bio-pharma Co Ltd, 12/12/2016 - 11/12/2021
Targeting cyclin-dependent kinase 4 in glioblastoma, Neurosurgical Research Foundation, 24/08/2020 - 21/08/2021
Development of CDK9 inhibitors for treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia, Bio Innovation SA, 01/06/2016 - 30/09/2018
Development of a new and effective therapeutic agent to treat childhood leukemia, Tour de Cure Ltd, 14/10/2016 - 30/06/2018
Novel inhibitors of map kinase-interacting kinase for cancer treatment, Cancer Council SA - Beat Cancer Fellowship, 03/01/2013 - 31/03/2017
Research
Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. Some long-standing staff members may have older outputs included. To see earlier years visit ORCID or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2025 |
Open access
|
| 2024 |
1
|
| 2024 |
Open access
8
8
167
|
| 2024 |
Open access
3
4
107
|
| 2024 |
Open access
1
1
|
| 2023 |
Open access
4
4
11
|
| 2023 |
Open access
12
12
1
|
| 2023 |
Open access
2
1
3
|
| 2023 |
3
4
|
| 2023 |
Open access
5
4
2
|
| 2022 |
Open access
11
10
23
|
| 2022 |
Open access
5
5
9
|
| 2022 |
Open access
21
21
97
|
| 2022 |
7
8
2
|
| 2022 |
Open access
24
25
2
|
| 2021 |
Open access
9
10
|
| 2021 |
Open access
94
91
2
|
| 2021 |
10
10
33
|
| 2021 |
Open access
11
10
1
|
| 2021 |
18
16
1
|
| 2021 |
Open access
8
7
|
| 2021 |
Open access
14
12
1
|
| 2020 |
13
16
1
|
| 2020 |
57
54
7
|
| 2020 |
Open access
23
22
|
| 2020 |
Open access
16
15
1
|
| 2020 |
Open access
9
8
1
|
| 2020 |
Open access
223
210
20
|
| 2020 |
Open access
10
8
5
|
| 2019 |
6
5
|
| 2019 |
Open access
10
10
3
|
| 2019 |
Open access
21
19
1
|
| 2019 |
Open access
125
114
8
|
| 2019 |
Open access
45
42
|
| 2019 |
33
32
3
|
| 2019 |
198
197
16
|
| 2018 |
91
88
13
|
| 2018 |
Open access
22
21
3
|
| 2017 |
7
7
1
|
| 2017 |
Open access
23
21
|
| 2017 |
15
16
2
|
| 2017 |
Open access
35
34
|
| 2017 |
Open access
31
31
6
|
| 2017 |
Open access
15
15
2
|
| 2017 |
Open access
68
62
9
|
| 2016 |
44
43
|
| 2016 |
64
57
22
|
| 2016 |
20
19
3
|
| 2016 |
Open access
22
21
3
|
| 2016 |
14
15
|
| 2016 |
Open access
63
58
5
|
| 2016 |
Open access
9
8
1
|
| 2016 |
Open access
32
32
14
|
| 2015 |
Open access
|
| 2015 |
7
8
1
|
| 2015 |
43
44
9
|
| 2015 |
Open access
26
21
7
|
| 2015 |
Open access
15
15
3
|
| 2015 |
Open access
30
27
6
|
| 2015 |
30
27
7
|
| 2015 |
37
37
3
|
| 2015 |
Open access
126
120
|
| 2014 |
Open access
87
83
|
| 2014 |
Open access
77
74
|
| 2014 |
Open access
50
49
|
| 2014 |
Open access
30
28
|
| 2014 |
41
39
|
| 2014 |
Open access
76
69
|
| 2013 |
Open access
12
11
|
| 2013 |
59
55
|
| 2013 |
Open access
122
120
|
| 2012 |
71
62
|
| 2012 |
Open access
56
55
|
| 2012 |
Open access
139
129
|
| 2012 |
11
8
|
| 2012 |
Open access
54
53
|
| 2012 |
68
62
|
| 2011 |
Open access
16
16
|
| 2011 |
22
19
|
| 2011 |
113
110
|
| 2010 |
16
14
|
| 2010 |
32
31
|
| 2010 |
Open access
96
90
|
| 2010 |
Open access
99
89
|
| 2009 |
1
|
| 2009 |
11
7
|
| 2008 |
209
|
1. S. Diab, A. M Abdelaziz, P. Li, T. Teo, S.K C. Basnet, B. Noll, M. H Rahaman, J. Lu, J. Hou, M. Yu, B. T. Le, H. Albrecht, R. W Milne and S. Wang. Dual Inhibition of Mnk2 and FLT3 for Potential Treatment of Acute MyeloidLeukaemia. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2017, DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.08.006, in press.
2. J. L Lenjisa, S. Tadesse, N. Z Khair, M. Kumarasiri, M. Yu, H. Albrecht, R. Milne, and S. Wang. CDK5 in Oncology: Recent Advances and Future Prospects. Future Medicinal Chemistry. Accepted 8th June 2017.
3. S.Tadesse, L. Bantie, K. Tomusange, M. Yu, S. Islam, N. Bykovska, B. Noll, G. Zhu, P. Li, F. Lam, M. Kumarasiri, R. Milne and S. Wang. Discovery and Pharmacological Characterisation of a Novel Series of Highly Selective Inhibitors of Cyclin-Dependent Kinases 4 and 6 as Anticancer Agents. British Journal of Pharmacology, 2017, in press.
4. S.Tadesse, G. Zhu, L. B Mekonnen, J. L Lenjisa, M. Yu, M. P. Brown, and S. Wang. A novel series of N-(pyridin-2-yl)-4-(thiazol-5-yl)pyrimidin-2-amines as highly potent CDK4/6 inhibitors. Future Medicinal Chemistry. 2017, In press.
5. S. Tadesse, M.Yu, L. B. Mekonnen, F. Lam, S. Islam, K. Tomusange, M. H. Rahaman, B. Noll, S. K. C. Basnet, T. Teo, H. Albrecht, R. Milne, and S. Wang. Highly Potent, Selective, and Orally Bioavailable 4‑Thiazol‑N‑(pyridin-2-yl)pyrimidin-2-amine Cyclin-Dependent Kinases 4 and 6 Inhibitors as Anticancer Drug Candidates: Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 60, 1892−1915, 2017.
5. M. Kumarasiri, T. Teo, M. Yu, S. Philip, S.K. C. Basnet, H. Albrecht, M. J. Sykes, P. Wang, and S. Wang. In Search of Novel CDK8 Inhibitors by Virtual Screening. Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling, 57 (3), pp 413–416, 2017.
Research
Professor Wang’s research focuses on the discovery and development of novel kinase inhibitor drugs for cancer treatment. Current ongoing research programs include:
The discovery of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) as key regulators of the cell cycle by Hartwell, Nurse, and Hunt, which earned them the 2001 Nobel Prize in Physiology & Medicine, established CDKs as important targets in cancer therapy. Tumor-associated cell-cycle defects often arise from alterations in CDK activity. While several CDK4/6 inhibitors have been approved for the treatment of breast cancer in the clinic, progress in developing mono-specific inhibitors remains limited. Our research aims to develop inhibitors with high specificity against individual CDK family members, particularly CDK2, CDK4, CDK5, CDK6, CDK8, or CDK9. These inhibitors are being designed as highly effective, low-toxicity therapeutics for a range of cancers, including haematological malignancies (AML, ALL, CLL) and solid tumors such as brain, breast, colorectal, lung, melanoma, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate cancer, respectively.
TAM kinases (Tyro3, Axl, Mer) are over-expressed in many cancers and are associated with poor prognosis, drug resistance, and metastasis. Acting as immune checkpoints, similar to CTLA-4, PD-1, and PD-L1, TAM kinase inhibition can enhance tumor immunity. We have identified a class of highly potent and selective TAM kinase inhibitors that demonstrate strong anti-cancer activity across multiple cancer cell lines. In animal models, our lead candidate has shown significant anti-tumor efficacy, inducing tumor regression at a single-digit low milligram dosage by oral administration. Additionally, the compound enhances anti-tumor immune responses by increasing CD3+/CD8+ T cell populations in murine syngeneic models. This project aims to understand the mechanism of action and evaluate the therapeutic potential of these compounds as cancer immunotherapies.
FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) is highly expressed in a range of hematologic malignancies, including 70-100% of AML subtypes, as well as ALL and CML. Patients with FLT3 mutations have poor prognoses, experience higher relapse rates, and face increased mortality. We have identified a highly selective FLT3 inhibitor that exhibits picomolar potencies against FLT3 and all eight known FLT3 mutations, including FLT3 (ITD), FLT3 (D835Y), FLT3 (F594_R595insR), FLT3 (F594_R595insREY), FLT3 (ITD)-NPOS, FLT3 (ITD)-W51, FLT3 (R595_E596insEY), and FLT3 (Y591V592insVDFREYEYD). The candidate demonstrates high efficacy against tumor xenografts and induced complete remission in all in vivo AML models, leading to a 100% survival rate. Moreover, the compound is highly synergistic with venetoclax, a BCL-2 inhibitor, and has the potential to overcome venetoclax resistance. We seek partnership to advance this program toward clinical trials.
Professor Wang’s research is committed to advancing targeted cancer therapies, improving patient outcomes through the pre-clinical and clinical development of innovative kinase inhibitors.
Research
| Details | Registry | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Derivatives of 2-oxo-n-(4-(pyrimidin-4-yloxy/thio)phenyl)-1,2-dihydropyridine-3-carboxamide for use as protein kinase inhibitors for therapy Wang, Shudong; Goh, Aik Wye |
World | Granted |
|
N-(pyridin-2-yl)-4-(thiazol-5-yl)pyrimidin-2-amine derivatives as therapeutic compounds Wang, Shudong; Zeleke, Solomon Tadesse; Yu, Mingfeng |
WO | Filed |
External engagement & recognition
| Organisation | Country |
|---|---|
| Adelaide Oncology and Haematology | AUSTRALIA |
| Ain Shams University | EGYPT |
| Cardiff University | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Children's Hospital Zurich | SWITZERLAND |
| Chinese Academy of Sciences | CHINA |
| Cresset Discovery | UNITED KINGDOM |
| CSIRO Australia (Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research organisation) | AUSTRALIA |
| Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc | UNITED KINGDOM |
| East China University of Science and Technology | CHINA |
| Essen University Hospital | GERMANY |
| Flinders University | AUSTRALIA |
| Garvan Institute of Medical Research | AUSTRALIA |
| German Cancer Research Center | GERMANY |
| GlaxoSmithKline | AUSTRALIA |
| Goethe University Frankfurt | GERMANY |
| Griffith University | AUSTRALIA |
| Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Lebanese American University | LEBANON |
| Macquarie University | AUSTRALIA |
| Monash University | AUSTRALIA |
| National Organization for Drug Control and Research | EGYPT |
| National Research Centre | EGYPT |
| Newcastle University, United Kingdom | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Open University | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre | AUSTRALIA |
| RMIT University | AUSTRALIA |
| Royal Prince Alfred Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
| Shandong University | CHINA |
| Shanghai Children's Medical Center | CHINA |
| Shanghai Jiao Tong University | CHINA |
| South Australian Health and Medical and Research Institute (SAHMRI) | AUSTRALIA |
| Sydney Children's Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
| Technical University of Munich | GERMANY |
| The Kinghorn Cancer Centre | AUSTRALIA |
| Topharman Shanghai Co. Ltd | UNITED STATES |
| University of Adelaide | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Birmingham | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of Melbourne | AUSTRALIA |
| University of New South Wales | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Newcastle | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Nottingham | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of Oxford | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of Queensland | AUSTRALIA |
| University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| University of South Carolina - Columbia | UNITED STATES |
| University of Southampton | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of St Andrews | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of Sussex | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of Sydney | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Tasmania | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center | UNITED STATES |
| University of Toronto | CANADA |
| Yabao Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd | CHINA |
| Zhejiang Chinese Medical University | CHINA |
| Zhejiang University | CHINA |
External engagement & recognition
| Engagement/recognition | Year |
|---|---|
FellowRoyal Society of Chemistry |
2018 |
MemberRoyal Australian Chemical Institute |
2018 |
MemberAmerican Chemical Society (ACS) |
2018 |
MemberAmerican Association for Cancer Research (AACR) |
2018 |
FellowRoyal Society of Chemistry |
2017 |
MemberAmerican Chemical Society (ACS) |
2017 |
MemberAmerican Association for Cancer Research (AACR) |
2017 |
MemberRoyal Australian Chemical Institute |
2017 |
Recipient, Top Development Grant for 2017Annual Research Excellence Awards, National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) |
2017 |
Principle Cancer Research FellowshipCancer Council SA |
2013 |
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
| Thesis title | Student status |
|---|---|
| CDK inhibitors as immunotherapeutic agents for cancer treatment | Current |
| Discovery of Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 6 (CDK6) small-molecule inhibitors and degraders for cancer therapy | Current |
| Identification of the mechanism of resistance against PI3K inhibitors in human leukemia | Current |
| Novel small-molecule inhibitors as potential anticancer agents: design, synthesis, and evaluation | Current |
| Preclinical evaluation of a novel CDK2 inhibitor as a potential cancer therapy | Current |
| Preclinical evaluation of transcription regulator/ tyrosine kinase inhibitors for the treatment of cancer | Current |
| Targeting tankyrases for the treatment of cancer | Current |
| A combined lipophilic prodrug and lipid-based drug delivery approach to enable oral chemotherapy (with SN38) | Completed |
| Derivatives of 4-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)pyrimidine CDK2 inhibitors as potential anticancer agents: design, synthesis & evaluation | Completed |
| Design, synthesis, and evaluation of novel CDK2 inhibitors as potential anticancer agents | Completed |
| Developing inhibitorsof MAP kinase-interacting kinases as potential anti-cancer agents | Completed |
| Development of cyclin dependent kinase 9 inhibitors for the treatment of cancer | Completed |
| Discovery and evaluation of MNK inhibitors as potential anti-cancer agents | Completed |
| Discovery and evaluation of styrylsulfonyl-methylpyridine derivatives as anticancer agents | Completed |
| Discovery of cyclin-dependent kinase 2/5 inhibitors for the potential treatment of cancer | Completed |
| Discovery of novel cyclin-dependent kinase 8 inhibitors as potential antitumour agents | Completed |
| Discovery of novel inhibitors of MAPK-interacting kinases as anti-tumour agents | Completed |
| Discovery of protein kinase inhibitors as potential anti-cancer agents | Completed |
| Identification and characterisation of Mnk inhibitors as potential anti-cancer agents | Completed |
| Identification and preclinical evaluation of kinase-targeted drugs for repurposing in cancer | Completed |
| Investigating a novel CDK9 Inhibitor, CDKI-73, as a treatment for AML | Completed |
| Novel cyclin-dependent kinase 9 inhibitors for the treatment of cancer: identification and preclinical evaluation | Completed |
| Novel inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 as anticancer agents: design, synthesis and evaluation | Completed |
| Pharmacological evaluation of protein kinase inhibitors as anti-cancer agents | Completed |
| Polymeric micelles to improve the delivery of poorly soluble antimicrobial agents to bacterial and fungal biofilms | Completed |
| Pre-clinical development of a CDK inhibitor for the treatment of cancer | Completed |
| Pre-clinical Evaluation of FLT3 Inhibitors for Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia | Completed |
| Preclinical evaluation of inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 for the treatment of cancer | Completed |
| Preclinical evaluation of novel dual CDK2/5 inhibitors as anticancer drug candidates | Completed |
| Preclinical evaluation of TAM kinase inhibitors as potential anticancer agents | Completed |
| Protein kinase inhibitors as potential anti-cancer agents: design, synthesis and evaluation | Completed |
