Peiwen Chen

Peiwen Chen, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Molecular Medicine at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University and Associate Staff in the Department of Cancer Biology at Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute. Dr. Chen leads a research laboratory focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms of brain cancers, particularly studying tumor-immune symbiotic interactions in primary and metastatic brain malignancies.

Dr. Chen earned his PhD from the University of Padova, Italy, with support from the Italian Cariparo Foundation, where he studied collagen VI in the nervous system. After completing a postdoctoral fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center studying myeloid cells in glioblastoma, he joined Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery from October 2020 until July 2024, when he moved to Cleveland Clinic.

Dr. Chen's research focuses on the molecular and biological processes governing brain cancer development and progression, with particular emphasis on understanding the symbiotic interactions between cancer cells/cancer stem cells and immune cells. His laboratory employs integrated strategies combining gain- and loss-of-function approaches, in vitro and in vivo systems, and proteomic and transcriptomic analyses to study how tumor context shapes immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments and how these interactions can be targeted therapeutically. His work has significant implications for developing novel combination therapies for glioblastoma and brain metastatic breast cancer.

Dr. Chen's laboratory has produced numerous high-impact publications in top journals including Nature Immunology, Nature Communications, Cell Reports, and Journal of Clinical Investigation, with research focusing on tumor-macrophage/microglia interactions, circadian regulation in brain cancer, protease functions in tumor microenvironments, and novel therapeutic approaches for brain malignancies.

• Cancer Research Institute (CRI) CLIP Award (2025-2027)
• Tony Hunter Award in Cancer Research (2024)
• American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant Award (2022)
• Department of Defense Career Development Award-Scholar Option (2021-2024)
• Cancer Research Foundation Young Investigator Award (2021-2023)
• Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation Lynn Sage Scholar Award (2021-2023)
• NCI K99/R00: Pathway to Independence Award (2020-2023)

Dr. Chen has successfully mentored numerous trainees in his laboratory and has received recognition as a "CIMER Trained Mentor," indicating completion of advanced mentorship training. His research has been supported by multiple significant grants that have enabled his team to pursue innovative approaches to understanding and treating brain cancers. Dr. Chen's laboratory maintains active collaborations with other leading researchers at Cleveland Clinic and beyond to advance the field of neuro-oncology.

The Chen Laboratory operates at the intersection of cancer biology, immunology, and neuroscience, with a focus on translating basic science discoveries into potential therapeutic strategies for patients with brain cancers. The lab is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for molecular, cellular, and in vivo studies of brain tumor models.