Yi-Chun Chen

Dr. Yi-Chun Chen serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Anatomy, Physiology & Pharmacology at the University of Saskatchewan, with a Visiting Scholar appointment at the Helmholtz Institute of Diabetes Research in Munich, Germany. Her research targets endocrine cell adaptation in metabolic diseases to develop novel therapies for obesity and diabetes.

Her academic foundation includes:

• PhD in Cellular and Integrative Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, USA
• MSc in Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, USA
• BSc in Medical Laboratory Science, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan

Research centers on pancreatic islet biology and peptide hormone dynamics, with three core thrusts: 1) Insulin biosynthesis regulation under nutrient stress, 2) Defective peptide processing in autoimmune diabetes pathogenesis, and 3) IAPP clearance mechanisms in type 2 diabetes. The lab employs animal models, histological analysis, and immunological assays to investigate β-cell dysfunction.

Active recruitment for undergraduate, MSc, and PhD positions reflects ongoing research momentum. The lab emphasizes scientific integrity and inclusive mentorship while advancing translational diabetes research through multidisciplinary collaboration.

The Chen Lab operates within the University of Saskatchewan's Health Sciences Building (3D01.16 HLTH), investigating cellular mechanisms of metabolic disease with direct clinical relevance to diabetes treatment development.