Name: Jianjun Chen Lab
Keywords: Jianjun Chen Lab

Research Overview

The Chen laboratory at City of Hope^® is interested in discovering novel genetic/epigenetic regulations and the associated molecular mechanisms of both protein-coding genes and noncoding RNAs (e.g., microRNAs) in normal developmental processes (e.g., hematopoiesis) and tumorigenesis (e.g., leukemogenesis). In recent years, Chen and colleagues have been focusing on both basic and translational research associated with RNA/DNA epigenetics, especially RNA methylation/demethylation related to the N6 methyladenosine (m6A) machinery and DNA demethylation related to the TET1/2/3 family, and have developed several small-molecule compound inhibitors to selectively target cancer-related RNA/DNA epigenetic modifiers that hold therapeutic potential.

The ultimate goal of the lab is to translate the laboratory discoveries into the development of effective novel therapeutic strategies to treat cancers, especially acute leukemia, in the clinic.

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Principal Investigator: Jianjun Chen, Ph.D.

Professor and Chair of the Department of Systems Biology, Jianjun Chen conducts research that focuses on systems biology. He received his Ph.D. from Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China, and then conducted postdoctorate training with Dr. Janet D. Rowley at University of Chicago, Department of Medicine where he launched his independent laboratory in 2009.

Full bio

Lab Members

Yuan Che

Postdoctoral Fellow

Research Focus Role of DNA and RNA modifiers in

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Xiaolan Deng

Assistant Research Professor, Department of Systems Biology

Research Focus New cancer therapy targeting methyltransferaseRole

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Yongjie Deng

Postdoctoral Fellow

Research Focus:Artificial intelligence in cancer diagnosis and

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Wei Li, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Systems Biology

Research Focus Functional analysis of DNA/RNA regulators during

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Wenjie Liu

GSP-Visiting Scholar

Research FocusMechanisms of Leukemogenesis and Therapeutic

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Douaa Moussalem

Postdoctoral Fellow

Research FocusRole of RNA modifications in leukemiaIdentification

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Ying Qing, Ph.D. | Postdoctoral Fellow | Duarte, CA | Department of Systems Biology | City of Hope

Ying Qing, M.D., Ph.D.

Staff Scientist

Ying Qing received her M.D. from Shandong University, China, and

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Ying Qing, M.D., Ph.D.

Staff Scientist

Ying Qing received her M.D. from Shandong University, China, and her Ph.D. from the Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences at City of Hope. She joined the Jianjun Chen lab in 2017. Her current research is focused on (1) deciphering the common epitranscriptomic mechanism underlying obesity and cancer and (2) comparing the different roles of TET1 protein in leukemia and solid tumors and identifying the different regulatory pathways. Her long-term research interests involve developing a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms, especially epigenetic or epitranscriptomic mechanism, underlying cancer initiation, promotion, and progression, and how to develop novel effective anti-cancer therapies based on that knowledge.

Research Focus

Uncovering the common epitranscriptomic signaling pathway that mediates the development of obesity and cancer induced by Western lifestyle

Different roles of TET1 in leukemia and solid tumors

Degrees

2021, Ph.D., Biological Sciences, Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences at City of Hope, Duarte, CA
2015, M.D., Clinical Medicine (Internal Medicine), Shandong University, Jinan, China

Professional Experience

2021-present, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA

Publications

Qing, Y.*, Dong, L.*, Gao, L.*, Li, C., Li, Y., Han, L., Prince, E., Tan, B., Deng, X., Wetzel, C., Shen, C., Gao, M., Chen, Z., Li, W., Zhang, B., Braas, D., Hoeve, J.T., Sanchez, G.J., Chen, H., Chan, L.N., Chen, C.W., Ann, D., Jiang, L., Müschen, M., Marcucci, G., Plas, D., Li, Z., Su, R., & Chen, J. R-2-hydroxyglutarate attenuates aerobic glycolysis in leukemia by targeting the FTO/m6A/PFKP/LDHB axis. Molecular Cell. 2021;81(5):922-39. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2020.12.026, 2021. PubMed PMID: 33434505. (*Co-first authors)
Qing, Y., Su, R., & Chen, J. RNA modifications in hematopoietic malignancies: A new research frontier. Blood. 2021;138(8):637-648. doi: 10.1182/blood.2019004263. PubMed PMID: 34157073.
Qing, Y., Gao, L., Han, L., Su, R., & Chen, J. Evaluation of glycolytic rates in human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells after target gene depletion. STAR Protoc. 2021;2(2):100603. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2021.100603. PubMed PMID: 34169295.
Su, R.*, Qing, Y.*, & Chen, J. Targeting Differentiation Blockade in AML: New Hope from Cell Surface-based CRISPR Screens. Cell Stem Cell. 2021;28(4):585-7. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2021.03.006. PubMed PMID: 33798415. (*Co-first authors)
Qing, Y., Tian, Z., Bi, Y., Wang, Y., Long, J., Song, C.X., & Diao, J. Quantitation and mapping of the epigenetic marker 5-hydroxymethylcytosine. Bioessays. 2017;39(5):1700010. doi: 10.1002/bies.201700010. Review. PubMed PMID: 28332209.
Qing, Y., Wang, M., Lin, Y.M., Wu, D., Zhu, J.Y., Gao, L., Liu, Y.Y., & Yin, T.F. Correlation between Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric diseases and colorectal neoplasia. World J Gastroenterol. 2016;22(18):4576-84. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i18.4576. PubMed PMID: 27182167.

Lillian Sau

Research Associate II

Research Focus Role of DNA and RNA modifiers in

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Tingting Tang

Postdoctoral Fellow

Research Focus Developing the epigenetic or epitranscriptomic

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Buren Tian

GSP-Visiting Grad Researcher

Research FocusDNA and RNA modifications in cancerBiomarker

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Kainan Wang

GSP Visiting Scholar

Research FocusInvestigating DNA and RNA modifications involved in

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Kitty Wang

Research Associate II

Research Focus Role of DNA and RNA modifiers in

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Yifei Wang

Postdoctoral Fellow

Research FocusGenetic modulators in cancer immunologyOncology

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Tianzi Wei

Postdoctoral Fellow

Research FocusIdentifying novel RNA modification regulators and

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Le Wen

Postdoctoral Fellow

Research FocusInvestigation of RNA modifications within the tumor

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Dong Wu, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow

Research Focus Association between metabolic disorder and cancer

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Dong Wu, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow

Research Focus

Association between metabolic disorder and cancer development

Degrees

2013-2018, Ph.D., Shandong University, Jinan, China
2016-2018, visiting Ph.D. student, University of Cincinnati, OH
2008-2013, M.D., Shandong University, Jinan, China

Fellowship

2020-2022, Fellowship in Pancreatic Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China

Residency

2018-2020, Residency in General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China

Professional Experience

2022-present, Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA

Awards

2019, First prize of Shandong Province Science and Technology Progress Award (11/12)
2014, Outstanding Graduate Students of Shandong University
2012, National Scholarship
2009, National Endeavor Scholarship

Publications

Wu, D., Cheng, Y.G., Huang, X., Zhong, M.W., Liu, S.Z., & Hu, S.Y. Downregulation of lncRNA MALAT1 contributes to renal functional improvement after duodenal-jejunal bypass in a diabetic rat model. J Physiol Biochem. 2018 Aug;74(3):431-439. doi: 10.1007/s13105-018-0636-y. Epub 2018 May 21. PMID: 29781038.
Wu, D.*, Yan, Z.B.*, Cheng, Y.G., Zhong, M.W., Liu, S.Z., Zhang, G.Y., & Hu, S.Y. Deactivation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in infiltrating macrophages by duodenal-jejunal bypass surgery mediates improvement of beta cell function in type 2 diabetes. Metabolism. 2018 Apr;81:1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2017.10.015. Epub 2017 Nov 10. PMID: 29129820.
Zhan, H.X., Xu, J.W., Wu, D., Wu, Z.Y., Wang, L., Hu, S.Y., & Zhang, G.Y. Neoadjuvant therapy in pancreatic cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. Cancer Med. 2017 Jun;6(6):1201-1219. doi: 10.1002/cam4.1071. Epub 2017 May 23. PMID: 28544758; PMCID: PMC5463082.