Dr. Changning Wang is trained in molecular imaging, chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences and neuroscience, specialized in conducting research in developing and applying novel imaging probes for preclinical and clinical application to investigate the human disease mechanism. Over the past few years, he has developed a novel PET radiotracer, termed [11C]Martinostat, for class I histone deacetylase (HDAC). The exploratory IND was approved by FDA for first-in-human trials. Currently, he is leading clinical research projects on PET/MR imaging of HDAC in people with Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and substance use disorders) and in preclinical imaging in animal models. Dr. Wang is also working on developing new probes for imaging molecules such as sigma 1 receptors, orexin receptors, bromodomain and sirtuin 1 in the brain. He served as PI or co-investigator for many grants, and he leads a growing lab that includes graduate students, medical students, research assistants, postdoctoral fellows and faculty.