Dr. Dong Chen is a preeminent immunologist currently serving as Vice President and Dean of the School of Medicine at Westlake University, where he also holds the prestigious Feng Ying Chair Professorship. He completed his undergraduate education at Wuhan University in 1989 before earning his PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1996, followed by postdoctoral training at Yale School of Medicine from 1997 to 2000. His distinguished academic career began in the United States with an appointment as Assistant Professor at the University of Washington from 2000 to 2004, after which he joined the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center where he rose to become a tenured Professor and Director of the Center for Inflammation and Cancer. In 2013, Dr. Chen returned to China, assuming prominent leadership roles including Professor at Tsinghua University, Dean of Tsinghua University School of Medicine from 2016 to 2020, and Director of the Institute of Immunology at Tsinghua University until 2021.
Dr. Chen's groundbreaking research has fundamentally transformed immunological science through his seminal work defining Th17 and T follicular helper cell subsets and elucidating their critical biological and pathological functions in immune regulation. His discoveries regarding the molecular mechanisms of immune and inflammatory responses have provided essential insights for developing novel approaches to treating infections, autoimmune disorders, allergies, and cancer. Recognized for their profound impact, his contributions were rated by Nature Reviews Immunology in 2021 as two of the twenty major immunological breakthroughs in the past two decades, representing paradigm-shifting advances in cellular immunology. With an extensive publication record exceeding 290 papers, Dr. Chen has been recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher seven consecutive times from 2014 to 2020, demonstrating the exceptional influence of his scientific contributions across the global research community.
Dr. Chen's exceptional contributions have been honored with numerous prestigious awards including his election as a Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2019, the International Cytokine and Interferon Society Biolegend-William E. Paul Award in 2019, and the New Cornerstone Investigator Award in 2023. As the founding Dean of Westlake University's School of Medicine, he is spearheading an innovative medical education and research program that integrates cutting-edge immunological science with clinical applications. His leadership extends to directing major research initiatives that bridge basic immunology with translational medicine, positioning Westlake University at the forefront of biomedical innovation in China. Dr. Chen continues to advance the field through his laboratory's ongoing investigations into immune tolerance mechanisms and tumor immunity, while mentoring the next generation of scientists to address pressing challenges in human health and disease.
