Zhen Chen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Dept. of Diabetes Complication and Metabolism
and the Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences
City of Hope
Faculty Host: Adam Engler, Ph.D.
Seminar Information
Dr. Zhen Bouman Chen is an associate professor at the Dept. of Diabetes Complication and Metabolism and the Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences at City of Hope, a world-renowned institute with pioneering research in cancer and diabetes. With a medical degree from Peking University Health Sciences Center in China and a PhD degree in Biomedical Sciences from University of California Riverside, Dr. Chen completed a postdoctoral training at University of California San Diego, mentored by faculty at Division of Cardiology and Dept. of Bioengineering.
Dr. Chen directs a robust research program focused on noncoding RNAs and epigenetic regulation in vascular biology. Her team integrates innovative high-throughput sequencing technologies, bioinformatics approaches, and multi-scale models to elucidate novel mechanisms underlying diabetes and diabetic complications with an emphasis on endothelial biology. Her work has been well published in many high-impact journals such as Circulation, Nature Communications, Journal of Clinical Investigations, Proceeding of National Academy of Sciences. She has been well funded by the National Institution of Health (NIH), American Heart Association (AHA), the Chan Zuckerberg Foundation, California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), and etc. She is currently funded by multiple R01s and has recently received a prestigious R35 Emerging Investigator Award from National Heart Lung and Blood Institute which will fund her innovative work in RNA-mediated diabetic vasculopathy for seven years.
Dr. Chen has received many awards from different scientific communities. She was a finalist for the AHA ATVB Junior Investigator Award for Women and a recipient of the New Investigator Award from American Physiological Society Cardiovascular Section, Springer Junior Investigator Award from North American Vascular Biology Organization, a Junior Investigator Award from Chinese American Diabetes Association (CADA). She has been actively involved in numerous services and volunteer activities, including serving as the current Chair of the AHA-ATVB Women’s Leadership Committee. She is passionate about mentorship and scientific outreach.
On her spare time, she coaches the Diseases Detective and Poisons and Potions events of Science Olympiad at local schools.