Chuan He

Chuan He is the John T. Wilson Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Chicago, with significant contributions across chemical biology, RNA biology, and epigenetics. His laboratory is located in Room E319B of the Gordon Center for Integrative Science.

Professor He's research focuses on RNA modifications and their critical roles in gene expression regulation. His groundbreaking work includes the discovery of the first RNA demethylase and characterization of RNA methylation binding proteins, which established the foundation for modern epitranscriptome research. He has developed innovative genomic methods for mapping RNA and DNA modifications, enabling new insights into transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation.

His research has led to transformative applications in multiple fields: developing liquid biopsies for early cancer detection with 95% accuracy for colorectal cancer; creating plant modifications that increase crop yields by 50% while improving drought tolerance; and pioneering new cancer immunotherapies that enhance the immune system's ability to detect and eradicate tumors. His work on RNA methylation has revealed its essential roles in stem cell differentiation, tumor development, and immune response regulation.

Professor He's publications span high-impact journals including Nature Biotechnology (2025) on colorectal cancer detection, along with numerous papers on RNA modification mechanisms, plant biology applications, and cancer therapeutics. His work demonstrates consistent innovation across fundamental molecular biology and translational applications.

• Wolf Prize in Chemistry (2023)
• Elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2024)
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator

Professor He leads an active research group collaborating with the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation to commercialize multiple technologies. His laboratory receives substantial grant funding for research on RNA modification biology, cancer epigenetics, and agricultural applications. The He Group maintains strong connections with clinical researchers for developing diagnostic and therapeutic applications of RNA modification science.

His laboratory operates state-of-the-art facilities for chemical biology, genomics, plant science, and cancer research, with specialized equipment for single-cell sequencing, photosynthetic rate measurement, and RNA modification analysis. The group maintains greenhouse facilities for plant research and collaborates extensively across disciplines to advance RNA modification science.