Overview
The major research interest in the Chen Laboratory is to manipulate stem cell fate using chemical and biological approaches and to generate functional tissues and organs that can be used for translational research. Our current main focus is on human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), including human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). We combine our knowledge of stem cell biology, developmental biology, chemical biology, medicine chemistry and tissue engineering to derive functional cells, tissues and organs from human pluripotent stem cells. Our long-term goal is to apply patient specific PSC-derived tissues or organs for replacement therapy and build up “disease in a dish” platforms for drug discovery.
Dr. Chen is a faculty member in the Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology.
Highlights
- 1Cell stem cell · 2020
- 2Cell stem cell · 2024
- 3Nature · 2020
Publications
Funding
Active
18 grants- PIR01DK149670-01Dissecting the Role of Endogenous Retroviruses in Type 1 Diabetes ProgressionNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2026–2031
- Co-IR01NS148533-01Development of An Integrated Pipeline for Early PD Prediction and Disease Modifying Drug RepurposingNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke · 2026–2031
- Co-IR37AI189285-02Characterization of Allogeneic T cells mediating HIV cureNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2025–2030 · via Oregon Health & Science University
- Sub-PIP30DK020541-50New York Regional-Diabetes Research Center, NYR-DRCNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2025–2030 · via Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- PIU01DK143498-02Decoding the Cell-specific Impact of Epigenomic and Alternative Splicing Regulation during T1D ProgressionNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2025–2029
- PIR01DK142414-03Functional Interrogation of Type 2 Diabetes-associated Genetic NetworkNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2024–2029
- KP3-PDF-2026-1866-A-NChemical Perturb-seq to identify small molecules controlling the maturation, proliferation, and survival on human beta cellsBreakthrough T1D · 2026–2029
- MPIU24DK097771-13dkNET Coordinating Unit: Harnessing the Power of AI and Data Science for Collaborative Discovery and Sharing in the DK CommunityNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2024–2029 · via University of California, San Diego
- Sub-PIU24DK138515-03PanKbase: a community hub for integrated pancreas knowledgeNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2024–2028 · via University of Michigan
- PI2-SRA-2026-1929-S-BDeriving Functional, Mature hPSC-derived Islet Organoids for Subcutaneous TransplantationBreakthrough T1D · 2026–2028
- MPIR01DK137517-04Abnormal Extracellular Vesicles and Particles from Human Islets Impact T1D progressionNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2023–2028
- MPIR01HL186602-01Dissecting the molecular pathways controlling human pacemaker developmentNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute · 2026–2028
- Sub-PIR01AI170596-04Functional Interactions Between MAPKs and SARS-CoV-2 InfectionNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2023–2028 · via Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- PIR01DK136005-03Role of GLIS3 in Human Pancreatic Beta Cell Generation, Survival and ProliferationNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2024–2027
- Sub-PIOT2OD038003-01Co-designing Ethical Multimodal AI Systems for Mapping T1D ProgressionOffice of the Director, NIH · 2025–2027 · via University of Michigan
- KP26BTPA1622818Cardioprotective Role of Brown Fat in Atrial FibrillationAmerican Heart Association · 2026–2027
- Sub-PI1-SRA-2025-1742-S-BEnhancing Functional Maturation of Stem Cell-Derived Beta Cells Using Harmine for Improved Diabetes TherapyBreakthrough T1D · 2025–2026 · via Mount Sinai School of Medicine
- PIU01DK127777-04Determining the Intrinsic and Environmental Signal Contributing to Early T1D ProgressionNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2020–2026
Completed grants (35)
- PITri-Sci #2023-005Human pluripotent stem cell-derived lung organoids to determine the role of interferon stimulated genes in viral infectionTri-Institutional Stem Cell Initiative (Weill Cornell) · 2023–2025
- KP9-22-PDFPM-06A hPSC-based multiplex platform to interrogate diabetogenic interactions of T2D-associated genes in human pancreatic beta-cells.American Diabetes Association · 2022–2025
- Co-IU01CA224326-05Studies of the initiation and progression of small cell lung cancer using cells derived by differentiation from human pluripotent stem cellsNational Cancer Institute · 2018–2025
- KPP50CA247749-04Targeting Metabolism to Improve BRCA-deficient Breast Cancer TreatmentNational Cancer Institute · 2024–2024 · via Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- MPIR01DK130454-03Decode the Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on Human PancreasNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2021–2024
- Sub-PIR01DK136624-01Role of Metallothionein 1 E in the protection of cystic fibrosis-related diabetesNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2023–2024 · via Georgia State University
- PIR01DK124463-04A High Content Chemical Screen to Identify the Drug Candidates Promoting Human Beta Cell ProliferationNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2020–2024
- PITri-SCI #2021-026Identifying therapeutic vulnerabilities for COVID-19 using stem cell-derived tissuesTri-Institutional Stem Cell Initiative (Weill Cornell) · 2022–2023
- PIAddgene 702995Addgene 702995Addgene, Inc. · 2022–2023
- MPIR01DK119667-04Metallothionein 1E as a Central Regulator of Human Pancreatic Beta Cell Function and SurvivalNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2019–2023· 2 renewals
- PIINV-037420SARS-CoV-2 antiviral mechanism in human lung organoid culturesBill & Melinda Gates Foundation · 2021–2022
- KPF32HD096810-01TROPHOBLAST PROGENITORS AS A ROUTE FOR MOTHER TO FETUS ZIKV TRANSMISSIONEunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development · 2019–2022· 2 renewals
- Co-IBP 220583-01Evans BP Alliance AgreementDaedalus Fund for Innovation (Weill Cornell) · 2021–2022BioPharma Alliance
- Co-IR01DK121072-0S1Optimization of the engineered 3D hepatic microenvironment enhances pluripotent stem cell derived hepatocyteNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2020–2022
- Co-IDOH01-C32591GG-3450000Deriving Functional Cardiac Pacemaker Cells from Human Embryonic Stem CellsNew York State Stem Cell Science (NYSTEM) · 2018–2021
- Sub-PIC32599GGHuman PSC-derived Schwann cells for modeling and treating diabetic neuropathyNew York State Stem Cell Science (NYSTEM) · 2018–2021 · via Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research
- Co-IPSF 210730-01Targeting Cellular Protein Kinases As Treatment For COVID-19Pershing Square Foundation · 2020–2021
- PIBMGF INV-018723COVID-19 CTA: Compound screening using organoid modelBill & Melinda Gates Foundation · 2020–2021
- PIADA 204683-01Determine the Impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on Human Pancreatic Endocrine CellsAmerican Diabetes Association · 2020–2021
- PI18CSA34080171Identify Pathogenic Genetic Variants Associated with Anthracycline-related CardiotoxicityAmerican Heart Association · 2018–2021
- PIDP3DK111907-01 Yr 2Discovery of T1DM Associated Functional Variants in Human Pancreatic Beta Cell Development and SurvivalNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2016–2021
- Sub-PIR01NS099270-05Modeling Enteric Nervous System Development and Hirschsprung’s Disease in Human Pluripotent Stem CellsNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke · 2016–2021 · via Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research
- PIR01DK116075-03A High Throughput Screening to Identify Compounds Rescuing Human Pancreatic Beta Cell Function in Diabetic ConditionsNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2018–2021
- PIADA 1-17-IBS-019 YR 2Discover the Role of ZNT8 in Human Pancreatic Beta Cell Function and SurvivalAmerican Diabetes Association · 2017–2019
- Co-IDFI 191231-01A novel small molecule that directly promotes and accelerates osteoblast differentiation and mineralizationDaedalus Fund for Innovation (Weill Cornell) · 2018–2019
- PIWCMC 192902-01Role of microRNAs in colon cancer (Ithaca/Weill Seed Grant)Weill Cornell Medical College · 2018–2019
- PIDFI 180508-01Evaluation of Anti-ZIKV Drug CandidatesDaedalus Fund for Innovation (Weill Cornell) · 2017–2019
- Sub-PI78839-10611-1Preclinical Development of the Traffic System for T1DNovo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals, Inc. · 2016–2018 · via Cornell University - Ithaca
- KP2016-004Discovery of Genetic and Environmental Modifiers of Diabetes-Spectrum Diseases Associated With GATA6 Haploinsufficiency Using Novel hPSC PlatformsTri-Institutional Stem Cell Initiative (Weill Cornell) · 2016–2018
- PI16-20-25Targeting Chemoresistant Stem Cells in Pancreatic CancerAmerican Association for Cancer Research · 2016–2018
- Co-IC029156A Shared Facility for the Derivation, Validation, and Distribution of Stem Cells for Disease ModelingNew York State Stem Cell Science (NYSTEM) · 2014–2018
- PITRI-SCI 2013-033Probing the Interaction of Pancreatic and Neural Crest LineagesTri-Institutional Stem Cell Initiative (Weill Cornell) · 2013–2017
- PIDP2DK098093-01S2Studying the Progression and Regression of Beta Cell Dysfunction in Type 2 DiabetesNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2012–2017· 2 renewals
- Sub-PIU01DK072473-09Creating Human Beta Cell Lines Using hESCs Containing Doxycycline Inducible Polyoma Middle T AntigenNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2012–2014 · via Vanderbilt University
- Sub-PIUH2TR000516-02 EWMicrophysiological Systems and Low Cost Microfluidic Platform With AnalyticsNational Center for Advancing Translational Sciences · 2012–2014 · via Cornell University - Ithaca
Clinical research
Active
1 study- PIExtracellular vesicles and particles as biomarkers for Type 1 diabetes (Request Expedite Review for NIH grant activation)Weill Medical College of Cornell University · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2024)
Available technologies
- Platform for Screening for Chemotherapy-Induced Cardiotoxicity8784Application filedPoC DataPMID 35434558PMID 31173076
News mentions
- NIH Awards $10 Million for the New York Regional Diabetes Research CenterOctober 23, 2025
Albert Einstein College of Medicine has received a five-year, $10.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to create the New York Regional Diabetes Research Center (NYR-DRC), a newly expanded multi-institutional center co-led with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Weill Cornell Medicine.
- New Tool Identifies Proteins That Control Gene ActivityOctober 2, 2025
A new tool greatly improves scientists’ ability to identify and study proteins that regulate gene activity in cells, according to research led by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators.
- NIH Funds Study of Type 1 Diabetes DevelopmentSeptember 11, 2025
Weill Cornell Medicine has received a four-year, $3.4 million grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, for a study of the details and dynamics of the autoimmune process that causes type 1 diabetes.
- Small Molecule Treatment Could Make Islet Transplantation Therapy More EffectiveJune 24, 2025
A pretreatment step could help transplanted pancreatic islets survive longer in patients with type 1 diabetes, according to a new preclinical study from Weill Cornell Medicine investigators.
- Study Reveals How COVID-19 Infection Can Cause or Worsen DiabetesSeptember 13, 2024
Researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine have used a cutting-edge model system to uncover the mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, induces new cases of diabetes, and worsens complications in people who already have it.
Show 14 more mentions
- SARS-CoV-2 Can Infect Dopamine Neurons Causing SenescenceJanuary 17, 2024
A new study reported that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID, can infect dopamine neurons in the brain and trigger senescence—when a cell loses the ability to grow and divide.
- Scientists Use Organoid Model to Identify Potential New Pancreatic Cancer TreatmentDecember 26, 2023
A drug screening system that models cancers using lab-grown tissues called organoids has helped uncover a promising target for future pancreatic cancer treatments, according to a new study from researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine.
- Drug Screen Points Toward Novel Diabetes TreatmentsNovember 9, 2023
A drug currently in clinical trials as a cancer therapy can also stimulate pancreatic beta cells to secrete insulin, revealing a previously unknown mechanism for insulin regulation in type 2 diabetes, according to a new study by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators.
- Large-Scale Study Reveals New Genetic Details of DiabetesOctober 18, 2023
In experiments of unprecedented scale, investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine and the National Institutes of Health have revealed new aspects of the complex genetics behind Type 2 diabetes.
- Losing Key Type of Pancreatic Cell May Contribute to DiabetesMarch 16, 2023
Multiple types of beta cells produce insulin in the pancreas, helping to balance blood sugar levels. Losing a particularly productive type of beta cell may contribute to the development of diabetes.
- Study Identifies Human Genes Enabling SARS-CoV-2 InfectionMarch 13, 2023
The activity of a gene called CIART is a key factor in the establishment of the viral infection that causes COVID-19.
- Stem Cell-Based Genomic Study Yields Insights on Viral Infection SusceptibilityOctober 6, 2022
A mitochondrial gene plays a crucial role in genetic susceptibility to Zika, Dengue, and SARS-CoV-2 infections, a study by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators showed.
- COVID-19 Virus Can Cause Inflammation in Infected PlacentasMay 31, 2022
SARS-CoV-2 infections of women in late pregnancy frequently spread to their placentas and led to inflammation.
- Are COVID-19-Linked Arrhythmias Caused by Viral Damage to the Heart’s Pacemaker Cells?April 1, 2022
The SARS-CoV-2 virus can infect specialized pacemaker cells that maintain the heart’s rhythmic beat, setting off a self-destruction process within the cells, according to a preclinical study co-led by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian and NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
- COVID-19 Virus Linked to Pancreatic Cell Identity ShiftJune 4, 2021
SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing the global COVID-19 pandemic, can infect human pancreatic cells and alter their physiology.
- Study Reveals a Cause of Heart Damage in COVID-19 and Potential TreatmentsApril 23, 2021
The heart damage seen in many severely ill COVID-19 patients results in part from infection-activated immune cells called macrophages, which infiltrate the heart and secrete cell-damaging chemicals, according to a study co-led by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
- Lung and Colon Organoids Are Valuable Lab Model to Screen for COVID-19 DrugsOctober 28, 2020
Human organoids, tiny organ-like structures grown in the laboratory, can be used to identify potential COVID-19 drugs in an automated, high-throughput fashion.
- Pluripotent Stem Cells Shed Light on How COVID-19 Infects the Pancreas and Liver and Its Relationship with DiabetesJuly 23, 2020
The study of human pluripotent stem cells, which can develop into any cell type in the body, is providing Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian investigators with new insights into the virus that causes COVID-19 and how it may infect organs such as the pancreas and liver.
- Weill Cornell Medicine Tackles COVID-19May 7, 2020
Physicians and scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian have rapidly mobilized to confront the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing a broad spectrum of expertise on the critical issues the disease is posing to healthcare workers and public health officials.
Mentoring
PhD · 2
- JJJ. Jeya VandanaTri-I Program in Chemical Biology (PhD) · Class of 2025
- SMSuranjit MukherjeePharmacology (PhD) · Class of 2018
Postdoc · 6
- XDXiaohua DuanPostdoc mentee · 2021–2026
- TLTiankun LuPostdoc mentee · 2023–2025
- YHYuling HanPostdoc mentee · 2021–2023
External relationships
Leadership Roles
iOrganBio INC
Ownership
iOrganBio INC
Advisory/Scientific Board Member
Cell Press · iOrganBio INC