Chen Lab Research: Bioinformatics, Functional Genomics and Macrophage Signaling
Description:
Chen lab research centers on understanding how cells communicate, with a focus on signal transduction by human macrophages and the host-pathogen interaction. Macrophages play critical roles in mediating host defense, inflammation, tissue remodeling, aging, and diseases such as atherosclerosis and cancers. The long-term research interest of Chen laboratory is to study the molecular mechanisms and the signal pathways in human macrophages in response to various stimuli including herbal extracts and the anti-inflammatory reagent adenosine. We employ both bioinformatics and functional genomics to integrate information into hypotheses and derived models. There are currently three active projects in progress:
- Human macrophage responses to herb extracts
- The effects of adenosine on regulation of anti-inflammatory pathway
- Integration of bioinformatics into functional genomics