Jian Chen
2004 – 2011 UTsouthwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Genetics & Development, PhD, Postdoc
1999 – 2003 Peking University, Collage of Life Sciences, Bachelor
2019-present Assistant Investigator, Chinese Institute for Brain Research, CIBR, Beijing, China
2014 – 2019 Professor, Soochow University, Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials
2012 – 2014 Director, Origene Technologies, Senior Scientist
Glioblastoma is one of the most malignant tumors, and after decades of research, treatment regimens for glioma patients are still limited to surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy regimens, while the survival of glioblastoma patients is still only more than 10 months old. Our previous studies have shown that gliomas are likely to originate from adult neural stem cells that have the ability to renew themselves. In an established malignant glioma, there are some tumor cells that express stem cell markers, which are very important for the tumor’s resistance to chemotherapy and tumor recurrence.
By utilizing mouse genetics, primary (tumor) cell culture, we are trying to understand key components that drives malignant transformation or responsible for tumor maintenance. We are also interested in the unique relationship between the immune system and brain microenvironment. Meanwhile, we are exploring the use of small molecules, CAR-T and tumor lytic virus for tumor progression intervention.
1. Zhao.J, Chen J. (2026) A modular alliance: Probiotics and macrophages converge on glioblastoma. Cell Host Microbe, 34(2), 198-200. doi:10.1016/j.chom.2026.01.005
2. Huang Y, Deng Z, Zhou Z, Fu K, Liu F, Zhang H, Chen J#, Yang J#, Cao Y#. (2026) MerTK-triggered TGFβ1 autocrine signal regulates microglial response to neurodegeneration. Nat Commun. 17, 2312. doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-69189-3.
3. Wang X, Li J, Jiang C, Zhang C, Yuan L, Zhang T, Liu Y, Ma S, Kang P, Li D, Guan X#, Chen J#, Jia W#. (2026) Splicing factor FUS facilitates the progression of PIT1-lineage PitNETs by upregulating MDM2. Theranostics. 16(6), 3032-3049. doi: 10.7150/thno.124068.
4. Zhang J*, Jin Y*, Lin H, Deng J, Ju Y, Hu X, She J, Liang Z, Dai K, Qiu M, Sun K, Wang J, Yang F#, Chen J#, Yang E#, Li X#. (2025) Amplification of extrachromosomal MYC paralogs shapes immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in small cell lung cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 31(21), 4529-4542. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.Ccr-24-3399.
5. Zhao C*, Hu X*, Guan X*, Fu X*, Wang T*, Li M, Liu X, Zhao J, Wu D, Zhang F, Fu J, Li J, Zhang T, Jiang X#, Yan C#, Jia W#, Yang E#, Chen J#. (2025) Molecular landscape, subtypes, and therapeutic vulnerabilities of central nervous system solitary fibrous tumors. Nat Commun. 16, 7870. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-63039-4.
6. Wu D*, Cao Y*, Chen H*, Du M, Wang T, Zhao J, Li M, Wu W, Zhang H, Yang E#, Yang J#, Chen J#. (2025) Common signatures of neutrophils in diverse disease conditions. Cell Discov. 11, 66. doi: 10.1038/s41a421-025-00818-9.
7. Ren F*, Yi Y*, Lu T*, Liu X*, Cui G, Huang S, Parada L#, Chen J#. (2025) Synthetic lethality through Gsk3β inhibition in glioma stem cells via the WNT-WWC1-YAP axis. Oncogene. 44(28), 2427-2439. doi: 10.1038/s41388-025-03418-9.
8. Zhao J*, Wu D*, Liu J*, Zhang Y*, Li C, Zhao W, Cao P, Wu S, Li M, Li W, Liu Y, Huang Y, Cao Y, Sun Y, Yang E, Ji N#, Yang J#, Chen J#. (2024) Disease-specific suppressive granulocytes participate in glioma progression. Cell Rep. 43(12). doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.115014.
9. Wu M*, Wang T*, Ji N*, Lu T*, Yuan R*, Wu L*, Zhang J, Li M, Cao P, Zhao J, Li G, Li J, Li Y, Tang Y, Gao Z, Wang X, Cheng W, Ge M, Cui G, Li R, Wu A, You Y#, Zhang W#, Wang Q#, Chen J#. (2024) Multi-omics and pharmacological characterization of patient-derived glioma cell lines. Nat Commun. 15(1), 6740. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-51214-y.
10. Xu Q, Cao Y, Kong F, Liu J, Chen X, Zhao Y, Lai C-H, Zhou X, Hu H, Fu W, Chen J, Yang J#. (2024) Multiple cancer cell types release LIF and Gal3 to hijack neural signals. Cell Res. 34(5), 345-354. doi: 10.1038/s41422-024-00946-z.
11. Yan C, Meng Y, Yang J, Chen J#, Jiang W#. (2023) Translational landscape in human early neural fate determination. Development. 150(6), dev201177. doi: 10.1242/dev.201177.
12. Wu M*, Wu L*, Wu W*, Zhu M*, Li J*, Wang Z, Li J, Ding R, Liang Y, Li L, Zhang T, Huang B, Cai Y, Li K, Li L, Zhang R, Hu B, Lin F, Wang X, Zheng S, Chen J, You Y, Jiang T#, Zhang J#, Chen H#, Wang Q#. (2023) Phagocytosis of Glioma Cells Enhances the Immunosuppressive Phenotype of Bone Marrow–Derived Macrophages. Cancer Res. 83(5), 771-785. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.Can-22-1570.
13. Wu D*, Chen Q*, Chen J#. (2022) Case Report: Malignant Brain Tumors in Siblings With MSH6 Mutations. Front Oncol. 12(0), 920305. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.920305.
14. Wei J*, Wu D*, Zhao S, Shao Y, Xia Y, Ni D, Qiu X, Zhang J, Chen J#, Meng F#, Zhong Z#. (2022) Immunotherapy of Malignant Glioma by Noninvasive Administration of TLR9 Agonist CpG Nano-Immunoadjuvant. Adv Sci. 9(13), 2103689. doi: 10.1002/advs.202103689.
15. Chang J, Guo C, Li J, Liang Z, Wang Y, Yu A, Liu R, Guo Y, Chen J#, Huang S#. (2022) EN1 Regulates Cell Growth and Proliferation in Human Glioma Cells via Hedgehog Signaling. Int J Mol Sci. 23(3), 1123. doi: 10.3390/ijms23031123.
16. Ding S*, Lan X*, Meng Y, Yan C, Li M, Li X#, Chen J#, Jiang W#. (2021) CHD8 safeguards early neuroectoderm differentiation in human ESCs and protects from apoptosis during neurogenesis. Cell Death Dis. 12(11), 981. doi: 10.1038/s41419-021-04292-5.
17. Sanchez-Ortiz E, Cho W, Nazarenko I, Mo W, Chen J#, Parada L#. (2014) NF1 regulation of RAS/ERK signaling is required for appropriate granule neuron progenitor expansion and migration in cerebellar development. Genes Dev. 28(21), 2407-2420. doi: 10.1101/gad.246603.114.
18. Chen J, Li Y, Yu T, McKay R, Burns D, Kernie S, Parada L#. (2012) A restricted cell population propagates glioblastoma growth after chemotherapy. Nature. 488(7412), 522-526. doi: 10.1038/nature11287.
19. Chen J, McKay R, Parada L#. (2012) Malignant glioma: Lessons from genomics, mouse models, and stem cells. Cell. 149(1), 36-47. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2012.03.009.
20. Alcantara Llaguno S*, Chen J*, Kwon C*, Jackson E, Li Y, Burns D, Alvarez-Buylla A, Parada L#. (2009) Malignant Astrocytomas Originate from Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells in a Somatic Tumor Suppressor Mouse Model. Cancer Cell. 15(1), 45-56. doi: 10.1016/j.ccr.2008.12.006.
21. Wang P*, Chen J*, Zheng A*, Nie Y, Shi X, Wang W, Wang G, Luo M, Liu H, Tan L, Song X, Wang Z, Yin X, Qu X, Wang X, Qing T, Ding M#, Deng H#. (2004) Expression cloning of functional receptor used by SARS coronavirus. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 315(2), 439-444. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.01.076.
