Baoyu Chen

Baoyu Chen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center and a member of its Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases. He holds a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Hunan University (China), a master's in biochemistry and molecular biology from Tsinghua University (China), and a doctorate in chemical biology from Pennsylvania State University (USA). His research integrates biochemical, biophysical, computational, and structural approaches to investigate molecular mechanisms linking membrane signaling to cytoskeletal dynamics.

• Education:
  • BSc in Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, China
  • MS in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Tsinghua University, China
  • PhD in Chemical Biology, Pennsylvania State University, USA

Research Interests:
Dr. Chen’s work focuses on protein assemblies regulating actin polymerization and endosomal trafficking (WAVE, WASH, CCC-Retriever, Retromer complexes) and their roles in cellular processes like migration, adhesion, immune activation, and neural development. His lab employs cryo-electron microscopy and collaborations with clinicians to uncover disease mechanisms.

Recent Research Trends:
His publications emphasize structural insights into WAVE complex activation, endosomal trafficking regulation, and pathogen hijacking of cytoskeletal systems. These studies span cell biology, structural biology, and synthetic biology applications.

Scientific Awards:
His work is supported by prestigious grants including the

• NIH MIRA
• NSF CAREER Award

Professional Affiliations:
Active member of

• American Heart Association
• American Society for Cell Biology
• Society for Neuroscience

Laboratory:
The Stone Chen Lab at UT Southwestern investigates membrane-to-cytoskeleton signaling and its implications in human disease. The lab collaborates with biologists and clinicians and welcomes opportunities for collaboration.