Christopher Chen, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor (BME, MSE)

Email chencs@bu.edu
Website Chen Lab - Tissue Microfabrication Lab

In the News

Converging on Training Tomorrow’s Bioengineers

With an NSF grant, a BU program will train a diverse group of PhD students for tomorrow’s workforce in biotech, synthetic biology, and other sectors. [ More ]
Chen Elected NAI Fellow

Recognition for pioneering cures for heart attacks, liver disease, and more. [ More ]

Convergent Themes

Christopher Chen is an active interdisciplinary researcher in the following area:

Synthetic Biology, Tissue Engineering, & Mechanobiology |͟↗̱|

Our research transcends disciplines across Boston University and the College of Engineering, drawing upon diverse thinking to solve societal challenges.

Areas of Interest

Vascular, Cardiac, and Stem Cell Biology and Engineering; Mechanobiology; Micro- and Nanotechnology; Biomaterials; Cell Adhesion and Extracellular Matrix

Research Areas

Prof. Chen’s laboratory seeks
1) to understand how adhesive, mechanical, and biochemical interactions drive cell and tissue function
2) to use this knowledge to build biomimetic tissues as experimental models of disease and physiology
3) to direct tissue remodeling and regeneration
Prof. Chen is studying how the cooperation between adhesive, mechanical and biochemical signaling drives tissues to organize during development, adapt to physical stresses, and devolve during disease. Dr. Chen’s laboratory examines these questions through the development and application of innovative technologies to control how cells interact with their surroundings, advancing numerous technologies from microfluidics, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), nanofabrication, mechanobiology, biomaterials, and synthetic and stem cell biology. Dr. Chen’s research applies insights from these efforts to the biology and engineering of stem cells, tissue vascularization, cardiac tissue, and cancer.
At this interface between technology, cell biology, and medicine, Chen and his lab’s mission is to provide new tools for biomedicine, to gain new insights into the control of cell and tissue function, to train scientific leaders that transcend traditional disciplines, and to demonstrate the boundless opportunities for impacting the future of research, medicine, and education.

Publications

View a complete list of publications chronologically by year.
View a complete list of publications by citation.

Departments or Divisions: Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering

Affiliations: Primary & Affiliated Faculty, Synthetic Biology, Tissue Engineering & Mechanobiology

View all profiles

Christopher Chen, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor (BME, MSE)

In the News

Converging on Training Tomorrow’s Bioengineers

Chen Elected NAI Fellow

Convergent Themes

Publications