In July 2025, the journal Laboratory Investigation published a paper by newly-appointed Assistant Professor of Pathology Bangchen Wang, MD, PhD, titled “Hidden in the Absence: Clinicopathologic Insights on Kidney Diseases Associated with Selective IgA Deficiency.” (Wang, B., Singh, H., Ellis, M., Barisoni, L., & Howell, D. N., 2025)
The paper describes a cohort of 15 patients whose underlying lack of circulating immunoglobulin A (IgA) was discovered fortuitously when it was found to be absent in their renal biopsies. IgA is a type of protein that protects the body from germs. A majority of the patients in the series had biopsy findings and clinical histories indicative of autoimmune diseases, particularly systemic lupus erythematosus. The paper describes the possible interplay between an absence of IgA and autoimmunity.
In addition to autoimmune disorders, patients with selective IgA deficiency are prone to infections and can experience allergic reactions if they receive infusions (e.g., plasma) containing IgA, thus, establishing the diagnosis is of practical value.
The manuscript was based on an abstract and poster presented at the 2024 meeting of the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP), for which Wang received an USCAP Pathologist-in-Training Travel Award during his final year of residency at Duke.
Wang has received wide recognition of his excellent work:
- In November 2023, he presented at the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week meeting, where he won two accolades. He garnered the Renal Pathology Society’s Liliane Striker Young Investigator Award for his work (sponsored by David Howell, MD, PhD); and received an invitation from Dr. Sharon Adler, Editor-in-Chief of the journal Glomerular Diseases, to submit a manuscript based on his findings.
- In June 2023, he received The Fred and Janet Sanfilippo Resident Research Award, which recognizes the Pathology resident or fellow who has demonstrated exceptional research effort and ability, either from a basic science or clinical research-related project or publication. Recipients are chosen by votes from residents, fellows and faculty.
- In March 2023, he won the First Prize for Excellence in Uropathology Research from the Genitourinary Pathology Society (GUPS) for the abstract he submitted to the USCAP Annual Meeting 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana.