Gefei Chen

Gefei Chen is an Associate Professor at Karolinska Institutet, with additional affiliation at Uppsala University. Their research bridges protein biochemistry, neurodegenerative diseases, and bacterial interactions, focusing on amyloid aggregation mechanisms.

• Academic Background: PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, followed by postdoctoral training (2014–2019).
• Career Progression: Assistant Professor (2019–2023) in medical protein biochemistry, transitioning to Principal Researcher in medical protein biochemistry and structural biology.

Research centers on understanding amyloid formation in neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's, Parkinson's) and bacterial biofilms. Gefei's recent work demonstrates how a Helicobacter pylori protein fragment (CagAN) inhibits amyloid-beta and tau aggregation, potentially offering novel therapeutic avenues for Alzheimer's and other amyloid-related diseases like type 2 diabetes and Parkinson's. The study employs fluorescence readers, electron microscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance to analyze protein interactions.

Findings suggest a cross-talk between amyloid proteins across diseases, with CagAN blocking multiple toxic aggregates. Future directions include testing in animal models and exploring personalized approaches to H. pylori infections, balancing its harmful and potentially protective effects. Gefei's work also examines amyloid assemblies in natural silk fibers for biomaterial applications.