Wesley S. Email & Phone Number

United States

Chapel Hill, Nc, Us

US Army Reserve Otolaryngologist (60T); F. Edward Hébert Armed Forces Program Awardee

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States

I am a scientist and clinician working at the forefront of head and neck cancer research and treatment. My science has helped to shed light on how human papillomavirus (HPV) blocks the immune system and how doctors can use tumor-specific therapies to improve treatment of the cancers that HPV causes. I am also an inventor on a patent pending approach to predict the aggressiveness of head and neck cancers. I completed my PhD in Microbiology & Immunology through the National Institutes of Health and Georgetown University. I currently work with a multidisciplinary cancer research team at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the lab, while completing my surgical residency in Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery. When not in the hospital or lab, I enjoy running, rock climbing and reading historical non-fiction.

Chapel Hill, Nc

I investigate RNA expression patterns for immune-regulatory and oncogenes in multiple subtypes of head and neck tumors, with a focus on HPV-driven head and neck cancers. In this role, I have published on the molecular differences of tumors with varying degrees of lymph node involvement and currently have a patent pending that describes a genetic approach for identifying oropharyngeal tumors that are more likely to have nodal involvement. We continue to investigate the role of the immune system in the interplay between host and virus.

Chapel Hill, Nc

Attended medical school at the University of North Carolina. I received an NIH training grant following the completion of my Ph.D. at Georgetown University that aims to develop Ph.D. scientists into physician-researchers.

Chapel Hill, Nc

I investigated the mechanism underlying burn-mediated immunosuppression by comparing gene expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory markers in patients who have suffered mild-to-severe burn injuries. Project accomplishments include the development a novel biomarker profile that correlates with the severity of burn injury, underlying immunoparalysis, and skin graft rejection.

Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area

Adjunct faculty at Durham Technical Community College. Courses taught include BIO 169-Anatomy and Physiology II and BIO 275-Microbiology.

Bethesda, Md

Studied the role of host proteins involved in anti-viral response to HPV infections. Specifically, I identified a host protein, Sp100, that is important for keratinocyte intrinsic immunity against HPV infection at the initial and late stages of the viral lifecycle.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Examined how mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) response to different wound environments and how these environments contribute to MSC differentiation in the background of traumatic blast injuries. Additionally, I managed patient enrollment and sample collection of clinical specimens (obtaining informed consent, sample harvest, and laboratory analysis).

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Worked on the generation of mammalian-derived hepatitis delta virus protein, HDVAg, and initiated studies into the in vitro binding properties of the HDVAg with HDV RNA genomes using mammalian-derived proteins.

Doctor Of Medicine (Md), Medicine

Doctor Of Philosophy (Phd), Microbiology

Master Of Science (Ms), Microbiology

Bachelor Of Science (Bs), Cellular Biology

Activities and Societies: Alpha Tau Omega