Chen Hongwen

Chen Hongwen is a Researcher at the Institute of Biochemistry, Academia Sinica. His work focuses on the molecular mechanisms governing trophoblast stemness and differentiation, particularly through the regulation of the GCM1 transcription factor and its associated signaling pathways. This research has critical implications for understanding placental development and pathologies like preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction.

His laboratory investigates:

• Upstream regulators of trophoblast stem cell maintenance
• Induction of pluripotency for autologous cell therapy
• Molecular links between placental dysfunction and long-term metabolic diseases in offspring

Recent publications highlight studies on:

• HtrA proteases in trophoblast invasion
• ΔNp63α-GCM1 antagonism in stem cell regulation
• Epac1/Rap1/CaMKI/HDAC5 cascades in cell fusion
• SFRP3-WNT10B-FZD7 axis in migration control

Collaborations with international institutions and extensive use of structural biology and biochemical assays underscore his technical approach. The lab's findings contribute to both developmental biology and clinical interventions for pregnancy-related disorders.