Chun-Jen Chen, PhD

Associate Professor

Department of Biochemical Science and Technology

National Taiwan University

Microbial infections and tissue injury can trigger Inflammatory responses, which play important functions in removing microbes and injured cells, as well as promoting tissue repair. However, uncontrolled inflammation may result in excessive infiltration of immune cells which produce enormous amounts of cytokines, leading to cytokine storm, tissue injury, and organ dysfunction, such as the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in COVID-19. In allergic and autoimmune diseases, continuous inflammation may cause irreversible tissue damage including fibrosis. In addition, inflammatory responses activated in the tumor microenvironment may promote tumorigenesis and suppress antitumor immune responses. We are studying how the inflammatory processes are regulated, such as how inflammatory leukocytes (neutrophils, monocytes, etc.) can degrade the extracellular matrix and migrate to the inflamed tissue. We aim to identify key molecules regulating inflammation, which may serve as targets for developing therapeutics to regulate inflammation associated with infection, injury, cancer, allergy, and autoimmune diseases. 

Most pathogens enter the body via mucosal surfaces, where specialized lymphoid tissues can mount immune responses against the invading microbes, for example, by secreting IgA antibodies to bind and neutralize microorganisms. When designing vaccines, it is desirable to deliver antigens and elicit immune responses at mucosal tissues in the respiratory or gastrointestinal tracts, where infectious agents can be cleared more effectively early during infection. We are developing novel adjuvants and delivery systems for mucosal vaccines.