Areas of Interest
My research group is interested in the fundamental questions relevant to the design of vaccines, with a special focus on B cell responses to particulate antigens such as viruses and nanoparticles. Toward a molecular understanding of the underlying mechanisms, we also develop single-molecule and single-particle techniques, and use these techniques to dissect the mechanisms of these processes.
Honors & Awards
Upjohn Research Award, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, 2017
George Fishman Memorial Fund Award, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, 2013
CAREER Award, National Science Foundation, 2012
3M Nontenured Faculty Award, 3M, 2012
NIH Director's New Innovator Award, National Institutes of Health, 2011
Basil O'Connor Starter Scholar Research Award, March of Dimes, 2011
Ara G. Paul Assistant Professorship, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, 2009
Published Articles or Reviews
Recent Publications
Molecular basis for potent B cell responses to antigen displayed on particles of viral size.
Brooks JF, Riggs J, Mueller JL, Mathenge R, Wholey WY, Meyer AR, Yoda ST, Vykunta VS, Nielsen HV, Cheng W, Zikherman J.
Nat Immunol. 2023; 24: 1762–77.
Site-Specific and Stable Conjugation of the SARS-CoV-2 Receptor-Binding Domain to Liposomes in the Absence of Any Other Adjuvants Elicits Potent Neutralizing Antibodies in BALB/c Mice.
Wholey WY, Yoda ST, Cheng W.
Bioconjug Chem. 2021; 32: 2497–2506.
Probability of Immobilization on Host Cell Surface Regulates Viral Infectivity.
DeSantis MC, Tian C, Kim JH, Austin JL, Cheng W.
Phys Rev Lett. 2020; 125: 128101.
Synthetic Liposomal Mimics of Biological Viruses for the Study of Immune Responses to Infection and Vaccination
Wholey WY, Mueller JL, Tan C, Brooks JF, Zikherman J, Cheng W.
Bioconjug Chem. 2020; 31: 685–97.
Self-Antigens Displayed on Liposomal Nanoparticles above a Threshold of Epitope Density Elicit Class-Switched Autoreactive Antibodies Independent of T Cell Help.
Chen Z, Wholey WY, Hassani Najafabadi A, Moon JJ, Grigorova I, Chackerian B, Cheng W.
J Immunol. 2020; 204: 335–47.
Back-focal-plane interferometric detection of nanoparticles in spatially confined microfluidic channels.
Kotnala A, Zheng Y, Fu J, Cheng W.
Rev Sci Instrum. 2019; 90: 023107.
For a list of publications, click HERE
