Dr. Zhijian Chen is a preeminent molecular biologist whose pioneering work has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of cellular immune mechanisms. He currently serves as an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and holds the George L. MacGregor Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Science at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. After earning his undergraduate degree in biology from Fujian Normal University in China, he completed his Ph.D. in Biochemistry at the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1991. His early career included significant contributions at biotechnology firms including ProScript Inc., where he helped develop the proteasome inhibitor VELCADE for cancer treatment, before establishing his independent laboratory at UT Southwestern in 1997.
Dr. Chen's transformative research has uncovered critical signaling pathways that govern how cells detect and respond to pathogens and cellular damage. His laboratory discovered the Mitochondrial Antiviral Signaling protein (MAVS), revealing a previously unrecognized role of mitochondria in immunity against RNA viruses such as influenza and Ebola, a finding humorously named after the Dallas Mavericks basketball team. Most significantly, he identified cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) as the primary cytosolic DNA sensor that activates immune responses through production of cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP), solving the decades-old mystery of how cells detect foreign and self DNA. This seminal work has profound implications across multiple medical fields, providing critical insights into immune defense mechanisms, cancer immunotherapy development, and autoimmune disorders like lupus, earning him the prestigious 2024 Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award.
Beyond his groundbreaking discoveries, Dr. Chen has established himself as a scientific leader through his directorship of the Center for Inflammation Research at UT Southwestern, where he cultivates interdisciplinary collaborations to address complex immunological challenges. His election to both the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Medicine, along with his recognition as a Fellow of the Royal Society, underscores his international standing as a transformative figure in molecular immunology. Dr. Chen has mentored numerous scientists who have gone on to establish their own research programs while continuing to advance his laboratory's work on nucleic acid sensing mechanisms. His current research focuses on further elucidating the cGAS-cGAMP pathway with the goal of developing novel therapeutic approaches for infectious diseases, autoimmune conditions, and cancer immunotherapy, positioning his work at the forefront of translational immunological research.
