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'''The Chen Lab is a system biology research group''' interested in computational modeling of cell identity regulation in development and diseases. Different cell types in a healthy body share the same genetic sequence. Difference in | '''The Chen Lab is a system biology research group''' interested in computational modeling of cell identity regulation in development and diseases. Different cell types in a healthy body share the same genetic sequence. The Difference in identities of these cell types is determined by epigenetic mechanism. Meanwhile, many genetic variations in germ line or somatic cells were found to affect epigenetic factors, and can cause disease due to cell identity dysregulation. To study cell identity regulation in development, we are focused on endothelial lineage specification, and further work with collaborators to apply our knowledge to other cell lineages such as embryonic stem cell, cardiomyocyte, and neuron cells. To study cell identity dysregulation in diseases, the lab is focused on heart failure, and further works with collaborators to apply our knowledge to other diseases such as cancers, Rett Syndrome, and Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome. | ||
'''The most important discovery in the lab''' is that the cell identity genes as a unique group are distinct from other genes in the molecular mechanisms to regulate their expression (Nature Genetics 2015). Our findings further provide insights into the molecular regulation of normal cell identities in development (Science 2019), molecular regulation of genetic variations (Nature 2018), and dysregulation of cell identity in diseases, particularly in cancers (Molecular Cell 2018). These findings build a knowledge foundation for us to develop bioinformatics techniques for discovery of cell identity regulators (manuscript submitted) and cancer driver genes (manuscript submitted). These techniques have been proved to successfully recapture known cancer driver genes, and further, overcome critical constraint on current technologies by successfully identifying many cancer driver genes that were not detectable by conventional mutation analysis. These cancer driver genes led to new therapeutic targets and diagnostic markers as have been verified in cell, xenograft, and PDX models (Nature Communications 2018; IJC 2018; Oncogene 2019) and thus, will benefit numerous cancer patients. | '''The most important discovery in the lab''' is that the cell identity genes as a unique group are distinct from other genes in the molecular mechanisms to regulate their expression (Nature Genetics 2015). Our findings further provide insights into the molecular regulation of normal cell identities in development (Science 2019), molecular regulation of genetic variations (Nature 2018), and dysregulation of cell identity in diseases, particularly in cancers (Molecular Cell 2018). These findings build a knowledge foundation for us to develop bioinformatics techniques for discovery of cell identity regulators (manuscript submitted) and cancer driver genes (manuscript submitted). These techniques have been proved to successfully recapture known cancer driver genes, and further, overcome critical constraint on current technologies by successfully identifying many cancer driver genes that were not detectable by conventional mutation analysis. These cancer driver genes led to new therapeutic targets and diagnostic markers as have been verified in cell, xenograft, and PDX models (Nature Communications 2018; IJC 2018; Oncogene 2019) and thus, will benefit numerous cancer patients. | ||
