James K. Chen

James K. Chen is the Herbert and Marguerite Jauch Professor and Professor of Chemical and Systems Biology, Developmental Biology, and Chemistry at Stanford University. He joined the Stanford faculty in 2003 after completing his postdoctoral studies at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

• Education: A.B. in Chemistry (1991) and Ph.D. in Chemistry and Chemical Biology (1998) from Harvard University.

The Chen Lab at Stanford explores interdisciplinary research at the intersection of chemistry, developmental biology, and cancer biology. Current studies focus on:

• Developing small-molecule modulators of cancer stem cell metabolism
• Innovating optogenetic tools for precise control of cell signaling
• Investigating biochemical processes driving spermiogenesis
• Designing non-hormonal male contraceptives based on HIPK4
• Creating chemical technologies like photoactivatable antisense oligonucleotides
• Using zebrafish and mouse models to study tissue patterning

These projects integrate synthetic chemistry, protein biochemistry, and animal models to address biomedical challenges.

The lab has produced groundbreaking work including:

• First specific inhibitors of cytoplasmic dyneins regulating primary cilia
• Novel aldehyde dehydrogenase 1B1 inhibitors for cancer therapy
• Caged oligonucleotides enabling spatiotemporal gene regulation
• Time-resolved lanthanide microscopy with Harbury lab

Current lab team includes diverse researchers from graduate students to postdoctoral fellows, with recent alumni now pursuing careers in academia, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology. The lab fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration through initiatives like the Stanford Innovative Medicines Accelerator and Molecular Pharmacology Training Program.