معرفی
Dr. Han-Jou Chen is a Lecturer in Neuroscience at the Department of Biology, University of York. Their research investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying protein aggregation in neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s, with a focus on chaperone response systems and RNA-protein interactions. Current projects include exploring cell-specific responses to TDP-43 pathology and developing small molecule activators of the HSF1 pathway for therapeutic applications.
- Education: PhD in VAPB mutation studies (Imperial College London), MSc in Molecular Medicine (National Taiwan University), Postdoc in TDP-43 pathogenesis (King's College London)
Research interests center on protein homeostasis in neuronal cells, particularly how dysregulation of the heat shock protein (HSP) network and RNA binding contributes to TDP-43 aggregation. Their work combines cellular models, CRISPR editing, and collaborations with biophysicists for drug screening.
Recent publications highlight their dual focus on understanding TDP-43 pathology and developing chaperone-targeted therapies. They actively supervise PhD students through cell-based projects and maintain collaborations with European networks focused on ALS treatment.
As an educator, Dr. Chen teaches advanced neuroscience and genetics courses, emphasizing critical thinking and translational research approaches. Their tutorials encourage deep exploration of neuroscience topics through paper discussions and evidence-based essay writing.
