Dr. Zhijian James Chen This is Me

Education

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1. 1. www.tamest.org

   www.tamest.org/award/ - [Cached]

   Published on: 6/28/2007   Last Visited: 6/28/2007

   Zhijian "James" Chen, Ph.D.
   ...
   Zhijian "James" Chen is a Professor of Molecular Biology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.He received his undergraduate degree in 1985 from the Fujian Normal University in China in Biology and his Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo . He then spent a year at the Salk Institute as a post-doctoral fellow before beginning his independent career in 1992 as Research Scientist at Baxter Healthcare in Irvine, California and then Senior Scientist at ProScript, Inc. in Cambridge, Massachusetts.In 1997, he joined the faculty of UT Southwestern Medical Center.Dr. Chen's research focuses on understanding the mechanisms and pathways of ubiquitin signaling.His research has the potential to extend the role of ubiquitin signaling beyond inflammation and immunity, into the realm of growth control and cancer.Dr. Chen's work has been recognized by numerous awards, including the Searle Scholar Award (1998-2001), the Greater Dallas Asian Chamber of Commerce Award for Outstanding Contributions to Medicine (2003) and the Welch Foundation Norman Hackerman Award in Chemical Research

2. 2. Page 2 @ hopeforhepcnews.bravehost.com - A Bravenet.com Hosted Site

   hopeforhepcnews.bravehost.com/ - [Cached]

   Published on: 8/25/2005   Last Visited: 4/30/2006

   "This is the first mitochondrial protein known to be involved in immune defense against any microbial infection," said Dr. Zhijian "James" Chen, associate professor of molecular biology at UT Southwestern and the study's senior author.
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   levels of MAVS may endow different individuals with varying ability to fight off viral diseases," said Dr. Chen, who also is an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute."Viruses have evolved along with humans and have developed strategies to evade the host's immunity.It's quite possible that some viruses may target MAVS in order to achieve successful infection. In those cases, therapies that enhance MAVS expression or activity may be a viable option for boosting immune responses against viral diseases."
   
   The fact that MAVS is located within the membrane of the mitochondrion makes sense for a couple of reasons, Dr. Chen said.
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   The fact that MAVS is located in the membrane of mitochondria suggests it may play a role in coordinating cell death and immune response, Dr. Chen said.
   
   Secondly, many scientists believe that mitochondria originally evolved from bacteria that lived within a host organism's cells, eventually developing a symbiotic relationship with host cells.Now that mitochondria are an integral part of our cells, Dr. Chen speculated that mitochondria may have acquired new functions by serving as a sentinel to detect invading pathogens and other stressful signals, ensuring that the host cells survive and thrive even in adverse environments.
   
   Dr. Chen and his research group are currently working to determine how the MAVS protein functions within the complex series of biochemical reactions that takes place when the body is infected with a virus.
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   Dr. Chen said he and his group believe MAVS is among a group of molecules that play a role in activating other proteins - including IRF-3 and NF-kappaB - that prod the cell into making interferon.He also said there is evidence that MAVS binds with RIG-I, but more experiments are needed to determine just how MAVS functions within the cell.

3. 3. Dallas Scientist Honored as Rising Star in Chemistry

   welch1.vertex.com/NewsRoomRepo - [Cached]

   Published on: 1/19/2005   Last Visited: 7/21/2005

   Welch Foundation names Chen 2005 Hackerman Award Recipient
   
   HOUSTON - January 19, 2005 - Although he is only 38, biochemical researcher Zhijian "James" Chen has successfully challenged conventional thinking in science, opening up new realms of possibility by changing the way the world views molecular function.
   
   Dr. Chen, associate professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center, was honored today with the 2005 Norman Hackerman Award in Chemical Research for his work.
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   The fourth recipient of the award, Dr. Chen received a $100,000 check and crystal sculpture today at a luncheon on the UT Southwestern campus.
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   "Dr. Chen has made seminal discoveries in biochemistry that will go a long way toward advancing chemistry and improving life, primary goals of the Foundation," says Welch Foundation Chairman Richard J. V. Johnson.
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   Dr. Chen uses rigorous biochemical testing to unravel complex problems in the lab.His most substantial discovery has been uncovering an unanticipated second function of a small protein called ubiquitin.Known as the "Kiss of Death" for its role in targeting other proteins for destruction, ubiquitin was thought to have only one molecular function.Through his meticulous biochemical methods, Dr. Chen discovered ubiquitin's role in activating proteins.
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   Dr. Chen also has developed assays to identify and optimize the proteasome inhibitor Velcade, a medicine recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat multiple myeloma.Last year, his lab became the first to reconstitute the T cell signaling pathway in vitro using purified proteins.The research is helping immunologists better understand and treat human diseases.
   
   "I am deeply honored to receive this prestigious honor, particularly so early in my career when I still have so much ahead of me yet to learn, discover and accomplish," says Dr. Chen."I feel very fortunate to have contributed to this field, been recognized for my work and had such wonderful guidance from the talented people I've worked and studied with through the years."
   
   Raised in a remote village in southern China, Dr. Chen received his undergraduate degree from Fujian Normal University in 1985 and a doctorate from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1991.He completed postdoctoral work at The Salk Institute in San Diego in 1992 before entering the private sector.
   
   A member of the department of molecular biology at UT Southwestern since 1997, he conducts research, teaches and is actively involved in the student and postdoctoral committees at the medical center.
   
   Since its inception in 1954, the Houston-based Welch Foundation has provided $520 million in support of science, primarily in Texas.