David (Chun-Wei) D. Chen, Ph.D.

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SUMMARY

David D. Chen, Ph.D., studies advanced cancer therapies by understanding genomic, epigenomic and metabolomic regulators and their networks. He leads the Gene Editing and Cellular Engineering Laboratory and the Genetic Screening and Engineering Core. He aims to investigate gene expression, epigenetic landscape, cellular metabolism and genome integrity under normal and disease conditions, striving to develop therapeutic opportunities for leukemia and other cancers. He is particularly focused on developing new approaches to use the gene-editing tool CRISPR.

Focus areas

• CRISPR gene-tiling technology. Dr. Chen's lab developed a single-cell CRISPR gene-tiling screen (sc-Tiling). This method allows for the identification of protein functional elements by combining microarray oligosynthesis, viral library cloning, drug screens and multi-omics sequencing.
• CRISPR-TICA drug discovery. Integrating CRISPR tiling with computer-aided compound docking simulations, Dr. Chen has developed workflows for identifying therapeutic pockets on protein surfaces, advancing drug discovery.
• Therapeutic targets in leukemia. Dr. Chen identified the importance of the SGF29 gene in leukemias using CRISPR-tiling screens and structural analysis, leading to the development of the first SGF29 inhibitor.
• Metabolic networks in leukemia. Dr. Chen's team revealed critical roles of KDSR (ER sphingolipid) and COX4I1 (mitochondrial respiration) homeostasis in leukemia progression and therapeutic response.
• Epigenetic mechanisms in cancer. Dr. Chen's research in Ewing sarcoma and hepatocellular carcinoma has uncovered the roles of the NuA4 complex in MYC chromatin targeting and ACTR5 (an INO80 complex member) in CDKN2 regulation, suggesting new therapeutic strategies.

Significance to patient care

Dr. Chen's research helps doctors find better ways to treat leukemia and other cancers. He uses new tools to change genes and studies how cells work, which may lead to new kinds of medicine for cancer. His work gives hope for better treatments for patients who need them.

Professional highlights

• Mayo Clinic:
  • Director, Gene Editing and Cellular Engineering Laboratory, 2025-present.
  • Director, Genetic Screening and Engineering Core, 2025-present.
  • Member, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2025-present.
• City of Hope:
  • Vice chair, Institutional Biosafety Committee, 2023-2025.
  • Associate professor, Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute, 2021-2025.
  • Director, Division of Epigenetics and Transcriptional Engineering, 2021-2025.
  • Assistant professor, Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute, 2017-2021.
• Instructor (K99), Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, 2016-2017.
• Senior scientist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 2012-2016.