About

Thomas Wang is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan. His research interests include biomedical instrument design, imaging systems, micro-optics, bio-microelectromechanical systems (bio-MEMS), miniature sensors, mirrors, and actuators. He is involved in the development of microsystem-based optical imaging technologies, serving as a principal investigator in a $6 million project to establish a new National Center for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering at U-M. His work focuses on advancing biomedical imaging and bioengineering technologies through innovative microsystem and optical system design.

Research topics

• Computer Science
• Artificial Intelligence
• Cancer research
• Optics
• Computer vision
• Pathology
• Biology
• Physics
• Materials science
• Nanotechnology
• Medicine
• Radiology
• Internal medicine

Selected publications

• Compact, Scan-Pattern-Switchable 2-D Piezoelectric MEMS Mirror With 1-D Addressable Scanning

  Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems · 2026-01-21

  articleOpen access

  chip) achieve a total mechanical scan angle (MSA) of 112° in slow axis resonance, including 11° of addressable static scan angle, and a total MSA of 15° excited at 3 kHz in the fast axis. A bar and hinge simulation model is introduced that accurately captures nonlinear dynamics. These capabilities are suitable for high frame rates in either Lissajous or raster scan patterns in microendoscope form factors, while static scan angle in bending enables significant 1D addressability.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• NCBIB: a national resource for microsystems development, training, and collaboration in biomedical imaging

  2026-03-05

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Identification of tumor initiating cells and early marker genes in histologically normal colonic mucosa that lead to neoplastic transformation

  Neoplasia · 2026-03-27

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  BACKGROUND & AIMS: Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of cancer‑related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although the adenoma-carcinoma sequence and its genetic drivers are well described, the earliest cellular and molecular events initiating tumorigenesis within histologically normal colonic epithelium remain poorly defined. This study aims to identify tumor‑initiating cells (TICs), distinguish them from normal stem‑like cells (nSTMs), and delineate early transcriptional and signaling programs using single‑cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‑seq) from paired normal‑appearing and transformed human colonic tissues. METHODS: Fresh biopsies from histologically normal mucosa and matched polyps, including tubular adenomas, sessile serrated adenomas, and adenocarcinomas, were collected from seven subjects. Single‑cell transcriptomes were generated using the 10x Genomics platform and analyzed with Seurat, Monocle2, CytoTRACE, GSEA/GSVA, RNA velocity, InferCNV, CellChat, and NicheNet. Spatial validation was performed using RNA‑FISH. RESULTS: We resolved 51,054 high‑quality single‑cell transcriptomes into 33 clusters. Tumor-specific stem-like (tSTM) and deep crypt secretory (tDCS) populations were enriched in adenomas. Subclustering of tSTM identified TIC-like subsets predominantly derived from histologically normal mucosa that localized to the root of lineage trajectories leading to polyp-enriched tSTM states. Compared to nSTMs, TICs exhibited enhanced stemness potential, early epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and interferon signaling, suppression of oxidative phosphorylation, and distinct genomic and signaling features, indicating early neoplastic reprogramming. ETS2, SLC12A2, and LEFTY1 were identified as TIC‑specific markers; SOD3 and GPRC5A increased along the TIC‑to‑tSTM trajectory. RNA‑FISH confirmed candidate marker localization. Independent validation using the COLONMAP dataset (30 polyps, 35 normal samples) demonstrated that TIC-like cells were predominantly enriched in tubular adenomas but were scarce in serrated lesions. Across this independent cohort, TIC marker genes showed reproducible upregulation in TIC-like populations, supporting the robustness of these observations across cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Our results identify TICs as the origin of neoplastic stem‑like states in the conventional tubular adenoma pathway and define early transcriptional, metabolic, and microenvironmental reprogramming events that distinguish TICs from nSTMs. In contrast to serrated pathways described in other atlases, our data support a stem‑like expansion model for tubular adenomas and nominate biomarkers with translational potential for early CRC detection and intervention.

  PublisherDOI

• Integrating Optics and Parametrically-Resonant Micro-Scanner Design for Large Working Distance Implantable Microscopy

  IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics · 2025-04-04

  articleOpen access

  This article examines interdependent design of an optical path and a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) scanning mirror for a miniature, implantable fluorescence microscope with large working distance (WD). Linearized and numerical ray analyses are used to approximately decouple optical and mechanical functions during design. We then maximize scan rate in the scenario of high-NA focusing with a specified WD and field-of-view (FOV). To do so, dynamic rotational analysis is combined with a novel model for expected failure voltage of parametrically-resonant electrostatic MEMS scanning mirrors. Mirrors parameters are set to optimize mirror speed within constraints fixed by optical specifications, while compatible optical path is selected for small objective diameter. A prototype instrument achieving sub-cellular resolution up to approximately 500 x 500 μm<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> FOV at up to 300 μm WD is validated on imaging targets and excised mouse brain tissue.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• A Novel Peptide Multimer Biosensor for Enhanced Imaging and Multivalent Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

  SSRN Electronic Journal · 2025-01-01

  preprintOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• A novel peptide multimer for enhanced imaging and multivalent detection of hepatocellular carcinoma

  Sensors and Actuators B Chemical · 2025-07-15 · 1 citations

  articleSenior authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Molecularly targeted photoacoustic endoscopy with fiber-scanning side-view probe for in vivo staging of early mucosal tumors

  Biosensors and Bioelectronics · 2025-07-04 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Identification of tumor initiating cells and early marker genes in normal colonic epithelium that lead to neoplastic transformation

  Research Square · 2025-10-27

  preprintOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Supplementary Figure S5 from GRAIL1 Stabilizes Misfolded Mutant p53 through a Ubiquitin Ligase-Independent, Chaperone Regulatory Function

  2024-11-01

  preprintOpen access

  &lt;p&gt;Supplementary Figure S5. Intracellular localization of Frag J and Frag J-Δ.&lt;/p&gt;

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in an Orthotopic Patient-Derived Xenograft with an Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-Specific Peptide

  Cancers · 2024-08-10 · 4 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has emerged as a major contributor to the worldwide cancer burden. Improved methods are needed for early cancer detection and image-guided surgery. Peptides have small dimensions that can overcome delivery challenges to achieve high tumor concentrations and deep penetration. We used phage display methods to biopan against the extra-cellular domain of the purified EpCAM protein, and used IRDye800 as a near-infrared (NIR) fluorophore. The 12-mer sequence HPDMFTRTHSHN was identified, and specific binding to EpCAM was validated with HCC cells in vitro. A binding affinity of kd = 67 nM and onset of k = 0.136 min−1 (7.35 min) were determined. Serum stability was measured with a half-life of T1/2 = 2.6 h. NIR fluorescence images showed peak uptake in vivo by human HCC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) tumors at 1.5 h post-injection. Also, the peptide was able to bind to foci of local and distant metastases in liver and lung. Peptide biodistribution showed high uptake in tumor versus other organs. No signs of acute toxicity were detected during animal necropsy. Immunofluorescence staining of human liver showed specific binding to HCC compared with cirrhosis, adenoma, and normal specimens.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• Multiplexed Multi-Modal Endoscopic Imaging of Cancer Biomarkers

  NIH · $1.4M · 2015–2020

• Early Targets in Progression of Barrett's Esophagus to Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

  NIH · $18.5M · 2022–2024

• NIH Grant R03DK075603

  NIH · $148k · 2009

• NIH Grant R33CA109988

  NIH · $1.1M · 2009

• NIH Grant K08DK067618

  NIH · $607k · 2008

Frequent coauthors

• Kenn R. Oldham

  University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

  56 shared

• Xiyu Duan

  China Medical University

  51 shared

• Bishnu Joshi

  45 shared

• Henry D. Appelman

  University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

  40 shared

• Haijun Li

  38 shared

• Gaoming Li

  State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials

  33 shared

• Sharon Miller

  University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

  27 shared

• Christopher H. Contag

  Michigan State University

  26 shared