Shiuan Chen

Dr. Shiuan Chen is the Lester M. and Irene C. Finkelstein Chair in Biology and Professor and Chair of the Department of Cancer Biology and Molecular Medicine at the Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope in Duarte, California. With over three decades of academic and research experience, Dr. Chen has established himself as a leading expert in breast cancer research, particularly in hormone-directed therapies and natural therapeutics.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Biochemistry, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii
• B.S. in Chemistry, National Taiwan College of Marine Science and Technology, Keelung, Taiwan

Dr. Chen's research focuses on multiple critical areas in cancer biology. He was one of the three investigators who originally isolated full-length human aromatase cDNA clones. His laboratory characterizes ER+ and AR+ patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models to study biomarker analysis, molecular characterization of triple-negative breast cancers, and drug responses. He has pioneered the application of single-cell RNA sequencing to understand breast carcinogenesis and has conducted groundbreaking research on the effects of natural products like white button mushrooms in cancer prevention and therapy. His work on endocrine disruptors and their impact on breast cancer risk has provided crucial insights into environmental factors in cancer development.

Dr. Chen's recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward innovative methodologies like single-cell transcriptomics and spatial transcriptomics to unravel the complexity of breast cancer heterogeneity. His research spans from basic molecular mechanisms to clinical applications, with a particular emphasis on hormone receptor-positive cancers and their resistance mechanisms. The integration of natural therapeutics with conventional treatments represents a distinctive aspect of his research program.

Scientific Awards and Honors:

• 2023 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow
• 2021 Walk for Hope Medical Honoree
• 2017 Lester M. and Irene C. Finkelstein Endowed Chair in Biology
• 2016 Keynote speaker at the 19th Congress of the International Society for Mushroom Science
• 2012 City of Hope Portrait Gallery of Scientific Achievement
• Multiple other national and international recognitions

Dr. Chen has successfully secured significant research funding, including an NIH R01 grant (CA227230) supporting a Phase 2 clinical trial on white button mushroom for prostate cancer. He has mentored numerous researchers and maintains an active laboratory with postdoctoral fellows and research associates working on various aspects of cancer biology. His collaborative approach is evident in multiple interdisciplinary projects spanning breast cancer, prostate cancer, and environmental carcinogenesis research.

Dr. Chen leads a dynamic research team that includes postdoctoral fellows and research associates focusing on breast cancer translational research, prostate cancer studies, and endocrine disruptor research. His laboratory has initiated several clinical trials, including a Phase 1 trial on mushroom effects for breast cancer prevention in high-risk women (NCT04913064) and a Phase 2 trial for prostate cancer (NCT04519879), demonstrating the translational impact of his research program.