Xin Chen, Ph.D., Investigator

E-mail:xinchen@shsmu.edu.cn

Work Phone:021-67722498

Brain tumor mechanics and function of mechanosensitive ion channels

 

Educational Experience

2011-2015 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Ph.D. in Neurobiology)

2009-2011 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (M.Sc. in Neurobiology)

2005-2009 Wuhan University (B.S. in Biology)

 

Professional Experience

2023-          Investigator, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine

2015-2022 Postdoctoral research fellow, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto




Xin Chen

    One important physical hallmark of brain tumors is the alteration of tissue mechanical properties, but little is known about the way by which tumor cells sense and respond to their mechanical microenvironment. Based on our previous discoveries, we seek to further investigate how mechanosensitive ion channels confer mechanosensitivity to the tumor and tumor-associated cells to regulate cancer progression. Investigating mechanosensitive ion channels in brain tumors represents a new frontier to discover therapeutic opportunities by revealing novel mechano-electrical-chemical signaling mechanism in cancer biology and providing effective treatment targets for precision medicine in brain tumors. We will investigate:

    1. How mechanosensitive ion channels link physical traits to biochemical features in brain tumor stem cells to regulate their transit from quiescent state to activated state?

    2. Whether the biomechanical properties of neuronal and glial cells are coupled with their electrical and biochemical features to regulate brain tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, and drug resistance? How mechanosensitive ion channels are involved in these processes?

    3. How mechanosensitive ion channels perceive biophysical cues to control the mechanics of neuroimmune system, and regulate the development of cancer within nervous system?